Star Numbers (*XXXX) in Israel: The Complete Guide for Businesses
A star number is one of the most powerful marketing tools a business in Israel can have — a short, catchy number like *1234 that customers remember instantly and can dial from any phone. On the radio, a billboard or a TV ad, a star number turns “call us” into something you can’t forget. This guide explains what a star number is, how it works, what it costs, and how to get and route one for your business.
In short
- What it is: a short, memorable phone number that starts with a star (*) — e.g. *1234 — made for businesses, easy to remember and dial from any phone in Israel.
- Why it’s worth it: branding and marketing — one national number people remember from a campaign and dial from anywhere in the country, plus the ability to measure which ads drive calls.
- What it costs: depends on how short and “premium” the number is — catchier numbers cost more. There’s an allocation fee and a monthly cost, on top of the system it routes to.
- How to start: check availability, allocate the number through a licensed provider, and route it to your cloud PBX or contact center.
What is a star number?
A star number is a shortened phone number that begins with a star symbol followed by a few digits (e.g. *1234). Unlike a regular ten-digit number, a star number is short, catchy and easy to remember — which is why it’s become a standard for businesses in Israel that want one national, unforgettable number for customers.
These numbers are allocated under the oversight of Israel’s Ministry of Communications and provided through licensed operators and telecom providers. They can be dialed from any mobile or landline phone in Israel.
How does a star number work?
The star number is the “front door” — behind it sits your phone system. When a customer dials *1234, the call is routed to the destination you’ve set: a cloud PBX, a contact center or an IVR menu. From there the call continues exactly like any inbound call — into a queue, to the right agent, or to an auto-attendant.
The practical point: the number itself doesn’t “do” anything — the value comes from the system it connects to. A star number routed to an overloaded center with no smart routing creates frustrated customers; a star number routed to a smart call routing & IVR setup turns every campaign into calls that reach the right place.
Why businesses in Israel use star numbers
- Memorability in campaigns. It’s far easier to remember *1234 than a ten-digit number you heard once on the radio. That translates directly into more calls from every ad.
- One national number. Different branches, one line. The customer dials the same number from anywhere in the country, and you route behind the scenes by region, time or availability.
- Branding and credibility. A star number signals an established business. It becomes part of your identity — just like your brand name.
- Marketing measurement. You can see how many calls came from a campaign and tie it back to your contact-center and CRM reports.
How much does a star number cost?
The price is set mainly by how short and “catchy” the number is. A memorable or repeating sequence (e.g. consecutive digits) is premium and costs more; a standard available number costs less. On top of that there’s a one-time allocation fee and a monthly cost.
Remember this is only the cost of the “door” — above it you also need to budget for the system the number routes to (a cloud PBX or contact center). The way to get an exact price is to check the availability of a specific number with a provider — talk to us and we’ll check for you.
Star number vs 1-800 vs a regular number
| Star number (*) | 1-800 (toll-free) | Virtual / regular landline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorability | Very short, very catchy | Medium | Regular |
| Who pays for the call | Usually the caller (standard rate) | The business (free to caller) | The caller |
| Main use | National marketing & branding | ”Free” customer service | Regular business line |
| Reach | Within Israel | Within Israel | Local or international |
| Routing | To a PBX / contact center | To a PBX / contact center | To a PBX / contact center |
For many businesses the right mix is a star number for campaigns alongside a regular virtual number for the day-to-day business line.
Who is a star number for?
- Businesses that invest in advertising (radio, TV, billboards, digital) and want a number people remember.
- Chains and multi-branch operations that want one national number with smart regional routing.
- Service, sales and appointment centers with inbound call volume.
- Businesses that want to measure which campaigns drive calls.
How to get and route a star number
- Pick a number. Decide on a catchy sequence and check availability (the “good” numbers go fast — check before you launch a campaign).
- Allocate it through a licensed provider. Allocation is done with a telecom operator/provider.
- Route it to a cloud system. Connect the number to a cloud PBX or contact center, and set up an IVR menu, queues and routing.
A star number is only worth it when it routes to a system that can handle the call. At Reshetcall we help you secure a star number and route it to your cloud PBX or contact center, with smart routing & IVR that makes sure every campaign call reaches the right place. Talk to us and we’ll find a catchy number that fits your business.