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V3: Can I use a U.S. toll-free number for two-way, international texting?
V3: Can I use a U.S. toll-free number for two-way, international texting?

Find out the purpose of U.S. toll-free numbers, why you can't use them for two-way international texting + the solution.

Anne Heath avatar
Written by Anne Heath
Updated over a year ago

The short answer is no.

Here is the explanation…

Purpose of U.S. toll-free numbers

These numbers give your callers a ‘no charge’ option to contact your church.

The numbers are organized for domestic, inbound calls. In other words, people calling you from inside the country.

They are not designed for outbound calls nor international calls.

General international issues

Telephone communication which crosses borders means that different carriers and systems are handling your message.

Not all carriers and systems operate in the same way.

For example, a carrier may change your sender ID. This could be done to satisfy the local communication rules. It could also be done to make sure that message delivery is successful.

As a result, U.S. toll-free numbers are not suitable for international, two-way communication.  

How to have two way communication with people in other countries

The most reliable way is to use a number local to the country. 

For example, if you want to have two-way communication with contacts in England, you would need a British phone number.     This number will allow you to send and receive text messages as well as send and receive calls.        

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