New 03 Phone Numbers Go Live

In Ofcom's annual report of 2006/7 they announced that a new UK-wide 03 number range was to be introduced early in 2007, it's now late 2007 and the 03 range of numbers have gone live.

Ofcom claimed that calls to 03 numbers will cost no more than geographic numbers, and will be included as part of any inclusive call minutes or discount schemes for geographic calls and it has happened.

Today we received notification from or telephone provider that 03 numbers have been rolled out and can now be dialed from BT landlines. Other operators will follow suit soon but at this time only Vodafone allow 03 numbers to be connected.

So what does this mean for the caller?

Hopefully an end to the overpriced 08 numbers used by businesses as revenue earners. Callers will know what the call is going to cost per minute. No huge phone bills for calls made to service and support desks when you have to hold. You can use your free minute call allowance to call an 03 number, previously unavailable to 08 numbers.

And for the businesses?

A non-geographic phone number that their customers can trust making for a happy customer and a happy customer is a returning customer.

Ofcom are also developing clearer and simpler structures for 08 numbers, with the first three digits of a number sending a signal about the cost and nature of the call, but it is likely that the bad press recently given to some of the 08 number ranges, we will see them become very unpopular.

So the introduction of 03 numbers might be later than originally planned by Ofcom, but at least it has happened and that has to be good news for customers and businesses alike.

John trained as a Life Coach with the internationally accredited Coaches Training Institute (CTI) and together with his wife Sara, they formed the Personal and Career Coaching Company "Future You". Together they offer their clients the advantages of wide experience coupled with professional training and a friendly welcome.

Other articles by John Berry

Newest Articles in Communications

Pay Phones - The Much Needed Devices - by Dennis Jaylon
In this crazily chaotic world of everyday developments in technology, there hardly seems to be anything left to be explored. Almost everything has been worked upon, and apparently the communication industry has arguably gained maximum momentum in the race

Understanding The Pricing System Of Prepaid Call Cards - by Vanessa A. Doctor
Prepaid call cards are extremely useful communication tools for people, especially students and travelers. People use prepaid call cards to communicate with their loved ones and friends, in the most affordable manner possible.
There are plenty of prepaid call cards

A Short History of Southwestern Bell - by G. Evans
The Southwestern Bell Telephone Company is a household name and has been around for around for 87 years. Now doing business as AT&T Southwest, this company has been through a rollercoaster of breakups over the years and has evolved

Business and Consumer Two Way Radios - by Dennis Jaylon
People are still confused about the utility of two way radios in a professional environment. It is important to note that though two way radios have similar features and look almost alike, consumer radios are relatively cheaper than the

Business Phones - Keep Your Corporate Buzz Alive - by Dennis Jaylon
If you are a business professional, there are a lot of things you need to maintain within your corporate agenda to move in tandem with the changing times. Not only will these factors keep you posted with the latest