What is a 13 number and how do I get one?

A 13 number is an inbound number allows your business to offer a short and memorable phone number and allows you to manage or control where the numbers are directed to at any point in time.

With a range of built in features on our platform including Call recording, Call reporting IVRs and per announcements, along with all of the routing features, a 13 Inbound Number makes sense for most mid sizedbusinesses. You can set your number up so you present a professional image as your callers can be greeted with a preannouncement or an IVR or be directed to the correct department at the press of a button.

Please read the following FAQ on 13 Numbers and how they operate in Australia, how to get a 13 number, why you would get an inbound 13 number for your business and the costs involved.

Next Telecom specialises in providing highly featured and cost effective 13 numbers for business.

What is a 13 Number?

A 13 number is a simple and easy to remember phone number as it only has 6 digits and allows your customers to call you from any fixed line or mobile in Australia. The customers calling from a landline get charged a flat rate regardless of how long the call runs for. Clients calling from a mobile get charged the applicable mobile carriers call rate.

Why would I get a 13 number?

13 numbers help making your advertising phone numbers easier to recall and can be matched to word. Eg 13 PIZZA or 13 TAXI turning them into very effective marketing tools. Customers only really need to remember the past 4 digits.

The main features of an Inbound 13 number are:
* With only 6 digits on a 13 number they are easier to remember.
* Calls from a landline in the same area get a free 15 minutes call period before charges commence to the number owner.
* Call rates on 13 numbers are usually very cheap when compared to other landline services.
* 13 Inbound phone numbers allow businesses to route calls to different sites at different times of the day, days of the week.
* 13 inbound phone numbers can help increase sales calls as clients are more likely to recall a shot number.
* Gives your business a professional image.
* Landline calls can be routed based on area code, region and state.
* All calls can be routed based on time of day and day of the week.

Why choose a 13 number vs a 1300 or 1800 Inbound phone number?

The main obvious difference between 13 numbers and 1300/1800 numbers is the that a 13 number only has 6 digits while the other 2 have 10 digits. With only 6 digits its easier to recall eg 13 ABCD.

Since the 13 Number are shorter than 1300 and 1800 numbers, many businesses in competitive fields use these numbers attract more sales and assist with clients recalling the numbers for service & support.

Because they are a virtual phone number service, 13 numbers are not restricted geographically. When a client calls your 13 number, the calls get directed automatically to the nominated location on your existing phone services.

What do 13 numbers Cost?

13 Numbers do attract a federal government surcharge which adds to the cost of the service and this is why they are typically used by medium sized businesses.

The monthly access fee for a 13 Phone number can be as low as $15 per month plus the government surcharge. The government surcharge is is currently approximately $800 per month.

While not toll free, the cost of 13 number calls are divided between the business owner and the caller.

When your clients call you from a local landline the calls to 13 numbers are not charged for the first 15 minutes. The business owner does not get charged until the first 15 minutes has expired and only then will the call get charged at the nominated rate. Calls from outside of your charge zone or from a mobile get charged for the whole call from the time it connects.