Call centers have existed since the telephone was introduced as “new technology.” With the precipitous drop in international telecommunications costs from deregulation and VoIP technology, remote call centers can now be used to provide interactive voice services to consumers anywhere on the planet.
Through creative approaches, call centers can be used to conduct virtually any business function that involves contacts with other people. Call centers are ideal for telesales, market research, opening and administering accounts for any type of consumer business (from banking to baseball tickets), product warranty claims management, scheduling of appointments for deliveries of goods to the home, etc.
As a result, the regulation of call centers can be extensive. It starts with restrictions on invasion of privacy. Regulations may extend to include requirements that the call center be licensed for a particular business function. The call center itself might have to post a bond for violation of law or regulation.