4004, 4003 and 3003 numbers: definition and a practical example
Short answer: 4004, 4003 and 3003 numbers are eight-digit fixed-line access codes that Brazilian carriers sell as a single nationwide number, dialed without an area code in the locations the carrier serves.
In Portuguese: Números 4004, 4003 e 3003
What are 4004, 4003 and 3003 numbers?
They are eight-digit fixed-line numbers, in the format 4004-1234, that Brazilian carriers sell as a single nationwide number. The company advertises one number, and callers dial it without an area code in the locations the carrier serves. Unlike 0800 and 0300, they are not a category in Anatel’s numbering plan: they are a carrier product. According to the carriers, the caller usually pays the price of a local call.
Behind the number, the carrier configures the same code in each local area where it offers the service and forwards every call to the company’s real destination, usually a SIP trunk or E1 trunk that delivers the call to the PBX and the IVR.
That design has a consequence for anyone monitoring it. There is one number, but routing is configured per location. A wrong change can make the 4004 number work for callers in São Paulo and fail for callers in Recife. There can also be differences between calls from landlines and from mobile phones, depending on the dialing format the carrier accepts in each case.
In practice
Three ways to publish a customer service number:
| Number | Who pays | Format | Reach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0800 123 4567 | Subscriber | Non-geographic code | Nationwide |
| 4004-1234 | The caller, usually as a local call | Eight digits, no area code | The carrier’s locations |
| (11) 3456-7000 | The caller, depending on distance | Fixed-line number with area code | One local area |
Example: a company moves its 4004 destination from an old trunk to a new one. If the carrier updates 20 locations and forgets one, calls from that city fail while the rest work.
How Monitor uses this
Any dialable number can be monitored, including 4004, 4003 and 3003. The test dials the number itself, just as a customer would, and goes through the carrier’s routing, the trunk and the IVR, testing the full path the customer uses. See toll-free and IVR monitoring.
Frequently asked questions
Is 4004 the same as 0800?
No. 0800 is a category in Anatel's numbering plan and is free for the caller. The 4004, 4003 and 3003 numbers are not an Anatel category: they are eight-digit fixed-line numbers that carriers sell as a single nationwide number. Instead of the company paying for the call, the caller usually pays for a local call, as the carriers describe the service.
Is calling a 4004 number free?
Generally not. Carriers describe the service as a number where the caller pays the price of a local call, even from another city. The exact cost depends on the caller's plan and where the call comes from. For free customer service, the right number is 0800 (toll-free), paid by the subscriber.