Now, OFCOM has finally announced an extension of the 01 and 02 numbering with 03 numbering for UK wide numbers at the same cost as geographic (01 and 02) numbers.
See 1.18 of the statement from OFCOM on 03 numbers for confirmation of 03 charging rules. "For 03 calls, retail pricing must match that for calls to 01 and 02 numbers, with immediate effect. This includes a requirement to treat calls to 03 numbers like calls to standard 01 and 02 numbers in respect of their inclusion in bundled minutes and whether they qualify for discount packages".
AVAILABLE NOW! 033 and 030 numbers.
You can call our test numbers 03333400123 and 03000400123 to test if your network is allowing calls. If not, please do hassle them.
As with all of our number ranges, we offer numbers for £1.18/mon/month each which can be delivered to a SIP phone, or via SIP, IAX, or H.323 to your phone system. You can make and received calls on the numbers and use various features like voicemail, and call recording. You can also have numbers re-directed to your existing phone lines if you prefer (for the call charge of calling your phone line).
For 033 numbers we also offer DDI (Direct Dial In) blocks. That is blocks of 10, 100, or even 1000 numbers. These are delivered to your phone system where you can set up any call handling. You can make calls from any of your numbers via us using IAX or SIP from your phone system. We can supply and install phone systems. And no, there is no call charge to you for receiving the calls.
Two number types (0845 local and 0870 national) have caused concern. The concept was simple - 0845 is local rate and 0870 is national rate. A nice idea as alternatives to real local and national numbers without having a specific area of the country.
Unfortunately the prices were set based on the undiscounted standard BT rate for calling a local or national number. Over the years prices for calling landline numbers have dropped dramatically and nobody pays BT standard rates. This makes 0870 expensive to call and many times the actual cost of a national call to a landline number. Even 0845 are expensive compared to local calls.
To add to the complication 0845 and 0870 numbers are often not included in call packages and free call allowances. The fact that these numbers cost more means the telcos get more, and so they have become in effect a low cost premium rate service.
There are even campaigns and web sites trying to "say no to 0870" which all helps to reduce public acceptance of such numbers.
Many organisations need to have general non geographic numbers. They may not need or want freephone numbers where they pay for the incoming calls. They may not want numbers tied to specific locations especially as staff may move about. Many companies want somethine like an "ordinary phone number" that they can use as they want and is not expensive to call but costs them nothing either.
OFCOM did come up with a nice idea of corporate numbering, but sadly it has several problems. The concept is simple - allow a company to have their own block of numbers directly from OFCOM and then negotiate with the telco(s) of their choice to handle routing of those numbers. A company could have a large block of numbers - give every member of staff a unique permanent number regardless of their location. Handle calls as they want to.
There are two main problems. Firstly OFCOM are not allowing companies to register number blocks. Only telcos can. Now, becoming a telco is getting very easy so companies can do that but it is hassle they do not want. It also means OFCOM end up dealing with hundreds of micro telcos that don't actually sell telephone services to the public at all.
The other problem is the complete lack of public awareness of 055 numbers. People don't know what they are, how much they are, or whether they even work. They are distrusted as not being "normal" numbers, and people have been caught out by 0870 numbers and expensive 070 personal numbers and the like.
03 numbers follow on from 01 and 02. The idea is simple - they are the same cost to call as 01 or 02 numbers and (the theory goes) have to be treated the same for call packages and free call allowances. The plan is to increase public awareness and trust in 03 numbers as being "normal" numbers at a "normal" cost. The only difference being that they are not tied to a specific location.
The 03 number space is vast. Unlike 01 and 02 numbers where each telco has to get at least 10,000 numbers (1000 in some areas) in every area code, they only need one block of 03 numbers at a time. It makes the use of the numbers more efficient and allows a lot more numbers to be made available.
As a telco, we can offer 03 numbers to customers. This can be individual, or in blocks. Your company could have 1000 numbers or more if you need. Allocate each member of staff their direct number and route to home phones, desk phones, mobile phones (at cost), whatever you like. Have individual voicemail. Pick nice numbers from your block for main company sales numbers. Do whatever you want with them.
OFCOM have designated some of the 03 range specially for use by charity and non-profit organisations. There are special rules as to what type of organisation may have one of these blocks - starting 030. We have an allocation of 0300 numbers for such customers, please ask sales if you are interested. You will need to meet the criteria.
03 numbers are available now - we have 033 and 030 numbers working from BT lines now. 030 numbers are already in use by some organisations such as RSPCA replacing their 0870 numbers.
You can order single numbers, or blocks of 10, 100 or 1000 from our web site for 033 numbers. If you want 030 numbers contact sales.
Obviously we can provide inbound services and outbound services on these numbers with presentation numbers if you need (e.g. present main sales number not direct number, etc).
Whilst we like our 055 numbers, we do feel that having "normal" numbers is likely to be important for companies. With OFCOMs refusal to register even 055 blocks in the customers name, we see 03 number blocks as the way forward. Any corporate customer requiring a 10,000 block will be able to choose their block and we can ask OFCOM to re-assign to another telco in the future if you ever want. We can also arrange the necessary paperwork for a customer to "become a telco" and get their own 10,000 allocation which we can handle for you.