Ofcom and Non Geographic Numbers 28/01/11
Posted by Cloud Net on Fri, Jan 28, 2011 @ 01:46 PM
Simplifying Non Geographic Numbers
None geographic numbers are a nightmare for all concerned. The pricing structure is opaque at best and misleading at worst. Ofcom is now consulting on the way forward. It has published a great deal of detailed information and is proposing to simplify the numbering ranges and standardise charges.
Ofcom wants to simplify numbering ranges by:
• making 0800 numbers free from mobiles
• encouraging use of 03 numbers and insisting that they are included in bundles
• removing 0870 and changing 0845 numbers (or removing 0845 numbers)
• reforming 070/076 ranges. 070 numbers were introduced as personal numbers which could follow an individual. 076 numbers are intended for pagers. Both suffer from the closeness to mobile numbers and have been extensively used for scams.
Ofcom also wants to standardise charges. Ofcoms preferred option is to insist that call costs are identified by how much the end provider gets paid plus the phone companies charges In addition when call costs are advertised, for example on a TV show, it will state clearly the amount charged to call the service (which would be added to the amount charged by the phone company). For example: "This call will cost £1.50 per minute plus your phone company's charge."
So the number ranges could then be described as
Geographic 01, 02, 03
Mobile 07
Free 0800
Business rate 0843, 0844, 0845, 0871, 0872,0873
Premium 090, 091, 098
This is great as far as it goes but it doesn't address the built in complexity.
What about personal numbers which start with 07?
What about 999/112 calls?
What about 0330 calls?
What about 0500 numbers?
What about 116 numbers?
What about access codes?
It would be great if Ofcom took the opportunity to sort out the numbering ranges once and for all, rather than trying to sort out some of the muddle without annoying anyone. Lets move on and make it simpler by abolishing some of the outdated number ranges rather than just pretend they don’t exist.
So lets get rid of personal numbers, and pager numbers (we don’t have fax numbers after all). Let us make all 0800 numbers free to the caller from wherever Lets abolish 0843,0844,0871,0872 and 0873. Let us abolish 0500 numbers entirely.
But this is far too bold for Ofcom who will simplify the system a bit. Which I guess has to be a good thing.
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