Smart Numbers

Phone Words are 13, 1300 or 1800 numbers that spell a word using the letters on a phone's alphanumeric keypad. So instead of memorising a string of digits, customers only need to remember the word and the prefix. A business can incorporate its product name, service or industry type right into the number, meaning that every time someone 'dials' it, they're effectively 'dialling' your brand.

The main appeal is memorability. Research shows that phone words are up to 5 times more memorable than standard phone numbers which makes marketing more effective, it strengthens branding, and encourages word-of-mouth referrals because the number sticks in people's minds.

In Australia, phone word numbers are allocated through the ACMA database, and their price varies according to the word's value and memorability. Prices range between $250 and $20,000, with the majority of numbers starting at $250.

Phone Names are 13, 1300 or 1800 numbers that spell out a business's name using the letters on a phone's alphanumeric keypad. Rather than remembering a string of digits, customers only need to recall the business name along with the 13, 1300 or 1800 prefix, which makes the number far easier to remember and keeps promoting your brand every time it's 'dialled' or displayed.

The main draw is memorability and brand awareness. Research has shown that phone names are up to 5 times more memorable than ordinary phone numbers, and because every call effectively spells out your business name, the number continually reinforces your brand on your website, ads and marketing material.

In Australia, these numbers are administered and sold through the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority). Prices vary based on a number's word value or memorability, ranging between $250 and $20,000, with the majority of numbers starting at $250. Once you've chosen and purchased a number, you own the Rights of Use so the number becomes your asset.

Yes. Phone Words and Phone Names are both types of Smart Numbers. Smart Numbers are 13, 1300 and 1800 numbers that either have a memorable numeric pattern (such as 1300 00 1300), spell a word (such as 1300 RUBBISH), or spell a name (such as 1300 HILTON) using the phone's alphanumeric keypad.

There are two ways to get a Smart Number. You can purchase one directly from ACMA through the Numbering System, or you can use our Free Search and Advice service, where we manage the entire process on your behalf. Either way, the number is allocated to you and becomes your asset.

To buy directly from ACMA, you'll need to register an account and pay a registration fee. From there, you can search for an available number and purchase it directly. Smart Numbers range from a once-off $250 to $20,000, with pricing dependent upon memorability i.e. the more memorable the number, the higher the cost. Once purchased, you'll still need to connect the number to a provider like B1300 to activate it and start receiving calls.

Our Free Search and Advice service takes the hassle out of the ACMA process and the number costs exactly the same.

Smart Numbers are grouped into six categories based on how memorable they are. 13 Smart Numbers range from $400 to $16,000, while 1300 and 1800 Smart Numbers range from $250 to $20,000, with most priced at $250.

Getting your Smart Number through B1300 takes the hassle out of the whole process. With our Free Search and Advice service, one of our Inbound Specialists searches the ACMA database on your behalf to find available numbers that fit your business and budget. They'll walk you through the various options, suggest popular patterns and explore alternatives with you, and it costs no more than going direct to ACMA yourself. Once you've chosen your number, we take care of the purchase and ensure it's allocated to you, then connect it to a network so it's fully functional and ready to take calls.

No, you don't necessarily need to be an established business owner to acquire a Smart Number. Smart Numbers can be held by companies, sole traders, partnerships, and in many cases individuals who intend to use the number in the future. Many people secure a Smart Number while setting up a new venture, before the business is fully trading, to lock in a memorable number or phone word early.

Yes, you can sell your Smart Number. Because you hold the Rights of Use (ROU) to the number as a business asset rather than merely leasing it, those rights can be traded or transferred to another party. This is one of the key advantages of a Smart Number, it can be bought and sold like other business assets.

ACMA stands for the Australian Communications and Media Authority. It is the Australian Government agency responsible for regulating communications and media services across the country, including telecommunications, broadcasting, radio communications, and the internet.

In relation to phone numbers, ACMA manages the national numbering plan which is the framework that governs all telephone numbers in Australia, including 1300 and 1800 numbers. ACMA oversees the allocation of these numbers and runs the Numbering System through which smart numbers are made available.

The ACMA Numbering System is the platform through which all Smart Numbers are managed and made available to the public. It is operated on behalf of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the regulator responsible for the national numbering framework. Smart Numbers can be purchased through the platform.

ROU stands for Rights of Use. When you acquire a Smart Number, you aren't buying the number outright, the number itself remains the property of the Commonwealth. Instead, you're granted the Rights of Use, which give you the exclusive right to use that number and hold it as a business asset.

Please be aware that holding the ROU comes with responsibilities. To keep your Rights of Use, you need to connect the number to an active service within 3 years and comply with ACMA's numbering rules. If a number is left disconnected or the rules aren't followed, the Rights of Use can eventually be lost and the Smart Number returned to the pool. In short, the ROU is what makes a Smart Number yours to use, keep, and trade.