Perhaps it will never<\/em> be available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or, that number straight-up doesn\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, what then? Do you give up and resort to whatever phone number is given to you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n No. You have other options. More than you might initially think! You just need to dig a little deeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Customers contact our sales and customer support teams often to ask if we can obtain a specific telephone number for them. The reasons vary but it\u2019s typically some combination of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n NumberBarn has connections with many different landline carriers, giving you access to some terrific numbers that can be ported to any supporting wireline or wireless carrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With millions of numbers available in our marketplace, it\u2019s always a great idea to come to the Barn (AKA NumberBarn) to see if we have a perfect match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help you find the perfect phone number, we\u2019ll first take you on a brief behind-the-scenes tour of how phone numbers are created, assigned and redistributed thereafter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The telecommunications industry as we know it today was shaped by multiple dominant companies and organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLike T-Mobile and AT&T?\u201d<\/em> you might ask. Close, but even further behind the curtain and most notably, we find the North American Numbering Plan<\/a> (NANP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NANP was devised in the 1940s by AT&T and other prominent telephone companies at the time to come up with a plan<\/strong> to create and assign phone numbers<\/strong> throughout North America<\/strong>. (Pretty appropriate name for the association, huh?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n They eventually came up with phone numbers as we know them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NANP originally created 86 area codes, but that number has increased significantly to over 400 area codes (and counting) to deal with a growing population and solve for exhausted area codes (meaning all possible number combinations for an area code have been created and assigned). <\/p>\n\n\n\n With over 400 existing area codes coupled with seven-digit number strings\u2026that leads us to a lot of possible numbers, but we\u2019ll get to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once phone numbers are created, they\u2019re assigned to local rate centers, which are then operated by different carriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aaaaalll of these steps contribute to how phone numbers are operated today. It takes several stars aligning for your dream phone number, or maybe your lucky phone number, to end up in your hands. Fortunately, a lot has changed since the 1940s, and phone number marketplaces like NumberBarn can add another star to that cosmic lineup to help increase your chances of obtaining that perfect phone number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, how do we do that? First things first, let\u2019s check that the number is even available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NumberBarn is the world\u2019s largest phone number marketplace. With millions and millions of phone numbers available to purchase or lease, your chances of finding the phone number you need is best with us compared to most other marketplaces out there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To see if the exact phone number you wish to own is out there, head over to our phone number search<\/a>. Unlike other marketplaces, you don\u2019t need to create an account \/ choose a plan in order to search for that perfect number. And we won\u2019t make it extra difficult to port away. We\u2019ll even help<\/em> you port it to your preferred carrier (although we do have some fantastic, ultra-budget-friendly, no-contract plans<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the search, simply select the area code and type in the seven digits you want (you can include numbers or letters).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the phone number pops up, we have it!<\/em> <\/strong>Congratulations! Now, get to it before someone else has the same idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what if the number doesn\u2019t show up?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n What makes the phone number industry so unique is just that: every individual phone number is purely unique. There are no phone numbers like the one you own or desire to own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If there\u2019s a demand for a specific phone number, there\u2019s no way to increase the supply. The first person to buy it, gets it. No ifs, ands or buts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (HINT: That reinforces the importance of jumping on a phone number if you discover it IS available!)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, if someone already owns that phone number you want, the chances are high they aren\u2019t willing to part with it. Sure, if the owner discovers they own a lucrative phone number, they may be willing to list it for sale on our marketplace<\/a>. But I wouldn\u2019t bank on that. Additionally, you could also check who the carrier is<\/a> for that specific number and try to inquire directly with them about gaining ownership of the phone number. (The chances are high however that the phone number is already in use.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n PSA: This section might feel like a bit of a downer. But if you stick through it, we promise to make it worth it with some good news. There <\/em><\/strong>is<\/em><\/strong> a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though phone numbers consist of 10 digits, that doesn\u2019t mean there are 10 billion possible number combinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Currently, there\u2019s only a possibility of 3,299,970,000 phone numbers (not including toll-free). Of course, this is subject to change with the creation of new area codes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why only that \u22483.3 billion, compared to the 10 billion everyone says? There are a lot of exceptions and guidelines when it comes to the creation of new phone numbers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, area codes, also referred to as a numbering plan area (NPA) follow a specific rule that we\u2019ll call the \u201c(NPA) Rule\u201d where:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for prefixes (the three digits following the area code), there\u2019s what we coined the \u201cNYY Rule\u201d where:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to line numbers (the last four digits of a phone number), there really are no rules. They follow the \u201cXXXX Rule\u201d where:<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, if the phone number you had in mind doesn\u2019t follow those rules, it doesn\u2019t exist and will never exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But that\u2019s okay! There are still over 3 billion other combinations\u2026 right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n On paper, yes. In reality, no. A lot of those phone numbers are active & in use by other individuals or businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the NANP creates a new phone number, that number gets assigned to a carrier (think AT&T, Verizon, etc.). The only way those numbers are distributed to individuals or businesses is by opening a plan (wireless or landline) and being assigned a phone number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As of now, those carriers don\u2019t give you a choice of a phone number nor do they offer those numbers for individual sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That means every phone number ever created is in ownership, either by a carrier or a user (like you or me). A vast majority of those numbers assigned by the original carrier are still happily in use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think of how long you\u2019ve owned your phone number, especially, that landline everyone says is obsolete. That\u2019s the case for a majority of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, how do these phone numbers become available to purchase?<\/p>\n\n\n\n For carriers, they agree to list select phone numbers in their possession on our marketplace, along with continuing to assign numbers to their<\/em> customers. Any carrier can agree to this or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For users, they sign up for our brokerage program<\/a> and list the phone numbers they have in their possession. Any<\/em> individual, whether they own 1 phone number or 1,000 phone numbers, can sign up to sell their phone numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But not every carrier and not every individual does this. Thus, only tens-of-millions of numbers are offered on NumberBarn, compared to the BILLIONS<\/em> that currently exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, this isn\u2019t all bad news. Companies like NumberBarn exist to help you<\/em> find the perfect phone number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You have more options than you think!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAw, shucks. We don’t have that number.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This doesn\u2019t happen often. Don\u2019t be discouraged if your search doesn\u2019t immediately yield the specific phone number you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As industry experts, we can assure you that with a couple tweaks or extra clicks, a search query exists that will result in a number you love. Perhaps even multiple options to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few expert tips to find that number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first question you should ask yourself when looking for a phone number is, \u201cDo I need a local or a toll-free phone number?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This depends on your expected call volume and location. If you\u2019re expecting a large quantity of inbound phone calls and\/or phone calls from across the nation, a toll-free phone number<\/a> is the ideal pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are seven toll free codes: 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888. To add to the complexity, these codes have different rules than local area codes (which you can find here<\/a>). Taking those rules and exceptions for toll free codes into account, there\u2019s a total of 55,740,000 phone numbers available if you desire a toll free number. (Or 7,860,000 options for 800 numbers and 7,980,000 options for the other toll-free codes.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n That leaves you with fewer options, but if you have a specific 7-digit phrase or pattern you want, you have seven different codes to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, let\u2019s say your Perfect Phone Number<\/strong> is \u201c1-800-PERFECT\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Go to our search<\/a> and toggle for \u201cToll Free\u201d at the top. Then, click on the \u201c8**\u201d dropdown and select \u201c800.\u201d Type in \u201cPERFECT\u201d and your results shall appear from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It looks like this query has 0 options available. From here, you can individually search 888, 833, etc. or 8** for all toll free codes. If your<\/em> search is available for any of these, congrats! Add it to your cart and check out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If not, you have two options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n So you looked up \u201c1-8**-PERFECT\u201d and found zero phone numbers available. That\u2019s okay!<\/p>\n\n\n\n From here, you can check if it\u2019s available in your local area code. Just toggle back to \u201cLocal\u201d at the top and type in your area code and phrase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s say you live in Santa Monica where your local area codes are 310<\/a> and 424<\/a>. Type in \u201c310\u201d and \u201cPERFECT\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Swap out the area code for \u201c424\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still nothing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Try searching by state instead! If you remove the area code, the state (in this case \u201cCalifornia\u201d) will stay there, showing you all \u201cPERFECT\u201d phone numbers in that state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this case, there is a \u201c(213) PERFECT\u201d phone number available! And guess what? 213 is a Los Angeles phone number<\/a>, neighboring Santa Monica (plus, 213 is a more desirable area code<\/a>, making it more attractive to potential callers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re okay with your phone number branching outside of your city\u2019s border, consider a neighboring area code. More populous cities and metro areas are likely to have multiple area codes serving the same cities, enabling you to choose from even more options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What if you\u2019re in a small city or your search doesn\u2019t get any results for your city or neighboring areas?<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s time to open your mind a bit to see if alternate phrasing or patterns work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shucks. You\u2019ve exhausted all possible code variations for the specific phone number you wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We apologize if that\u2019s the case. Luckily for you, we\u2019re super familiar with situations like this. Since you understand why<\/em> that number isn\u2019t available, you can hopefully expand your search to allow for a different phrase or pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the case of our \u201c1-800-PERFECT\u201d example, are there any synonyms or slang for \u201cPERFECT\u201d that work? If \u201cPRECISE\u201d makes sense for your brand (maybe you\u2019re in the design, construction or architectural industry and pride yourself in precise measurements\/construction), start the search again, using \u201cPRECISE\u201d as your phrase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If nothing shows up, maybe the slang \u201cPERF\u201d makes sense for you. You can put a repeating or memorable pattern like 777, 333, 700, etc. in front for an \u201c8**-777-PERF\u201d phone number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this example, NumberBarn actually carries \u201c844-222-PERF\u201d, \u201c844-844-PERF\u201d and a few other popular patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind, when exploring alternate phrases or patterns, they should still<\/em> make sense for your vision and your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if you\u2019re a personal injury attorney, popular phrases to search would be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, some synonyms wouldn\u2019t work for this purpose, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have fun with it! Opening yourself up to alternative phrases and patterns can reveal a whole new world of possibilities. But, it\u2019s easy to get carried away with your creativity, so don\u2019t be afraid to keep it simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It helps to keep the end in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s the end?<\/p>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s Our Perspective<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A Look Behind the TelecommuniCurtain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"phone](\"https:\/\/www.numberbarn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Phone-Number-Breakdown-1.gif\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSee if Your Number IS<\/em><\/strong> Available<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why Is Your Number Not Available?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nMaybe it Doesn\u2019t Exist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Maybe it\u2019s Already in Use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tips to Find Your Dream Phone Number<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.numberbarn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/We-dont-have-that-number-body-1.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nLocal vs Toll-Free<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Find](\"https:\/\/www.numberbarn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/800PERFECT-Search-body-2.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
Try Other Area Codes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Find](\"https:\/\/www.numberbarn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/3.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Find](\"https:\/\/www.numberbarn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/California-PERFECT-Search-body-4.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"how](\"https:\/\/www.numberbarn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/213PERFECT-Phone-Number-body-5-1024x183.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGet Creative!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Okay\u2026 Not Too Creative<\/h3>\n\n\n\n