Vanity numbers have been around for a long time. They are great ways to promote your telephone number but some caution needs to be taken as user acceptance and technology could add barriers to effective communication. For example, if you operated a plastic surgery clinic and advertised ‘To get some good looks call us on 1-800-NOTUGLY’, some potential customers may not be familiar with alphanumeric keypads and what you mean, others may not have letters on their phones and there is also, in some parts of the world at least, phones with different alphanumeric formats. A better ploy would be to print the vanity number with a traditional number next to it. For example, you could advertise with ‘call us on 1-800-NOTUGLY or 1-800-668 8459. Until we all have the same telephone keypads and are fully conversant with vanity numbers it may be worth the extra effort! ContactCenterWorld.com