Calling someone on the telephone has changed a lot over the years since this technology was first introduced over 100 years ago.
In fact, where we once had frequently-called phone numbers memorized, these days, we often don’t know the numbers of our family members or best friends since we usually just touch their name in our mobile’s contact list to phone them!
However, we still need to pay attention to phone numbers, including area codes, when we are calling a new number.
We can tell something about a number based on the area code although not as much as we could before the days when mobile phones were common.
In this article, we’ll talk about what you can tell about a phone call you are getting from area code 844.
What does area code 844 mean?
When you see area code 844, you know that you are looking at a phone number that is part of the North America Numbering Plan and that is toll-free. It is not linked to a specific area but could be in Canada, the United States or 23 other countries or territories, mostly in North America.
What can you tell about a call coming from an 844 area code?
Some area codes in the 800s are reserved for toll-free numbers, but this is not the case for all of them. Therefore, when you see an 800 number, it may be but is not necessarily toll-free.
These types of area codes are given to businesses. You would not be assigned an 844 number as your landline in a normal residence.
Normally, an 844 area code should be toll-free to call. The original idea behind these area codes was to allow customers to contact a company if they needed to without having to pay high long-distance charges.
This should still be the case if you call from a landline.
However, on some cell phones, you can incur a charge even for a toll-free number, so make sure that you know the rules for your carrier if you are worried about cost.
Area codes usually indicate location, but when you see the 844 area code, you only know that the call is coming from the United States, Canada or from one of the many islands in North America, including the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico and a number of Caribbean islands.
Telecommunications are in flux these days, with mobile phones operating within a system originally designed to be location-specific. As landlines become even less common, how toll-free numbers function may change.
You should be aware that an 844 area code does not guarantee that a caller is a legitimate business. Scammers may take advantage of the trust people have in the toll-free system and spoof these numbers.
So if you get a call from this number, be sure to double-check the number online or in other ways that it is the business that it claims to be.
You can read more about how to check who owns a phone number online by reading about the meaning of area code 855.
Frequently Asked Questions About Area Code 844
Can I get an 844 area code?
To get an 844 area code, you would need to work with what is known as a Responsible Organization, which in turn works with the Federal Communications Commission to manage toll-free numbers.
You can contact the SOMOS help desk online or at 1-844-HEY SOMOS to get connected to a RespOrg and get started on obtaining an 844 area code for your business.
Why do some 844 number listings have letters instead of numbers?
A number like 1-844-HEY SOMOS is known as a vanity number. This is a clever way to make your phone number easier to use by giving it the same name as your company or organization or a phrase that is related to your organization.
The letters correspond to the numbers on a keypad. Note that HEY SOMOS has an extra letter since this part of the phone number is three digits.
You would just leave off the final S, which corresponds to 7.
Can I text a number that has an 844 area code?
As long as the number is text-enabled, you can text the number just as you would any other. However, standard texting rates may apply.
Are there other toll-free area codes besides 844?
Yes, there are several other area codes that are toll-free in the same vein as 844. They include the numbers 888, 877, 866, 855, 833 and 800.
Do area codes always have 3 digits?
Area codes in the North American Numbering Plan always have three digits. However, area codes in other countries may vary from one to five digits, and different places within a single country may have area codes of different lengths.