what are 03 numbers?

03 numbers are the fastest growing section of the Non-Geographical marketplace and were introduced by

So, what are 03 numbers?.

These are non-geographical numbers that can be dialled from overseas and are free from mobiles as long as you do not go over the talk time package.

03 numbers have been introduced by Ofcom in March 2007 and its main objectives were as follows:

It has six main proposals:

Create a new countrywide number range – 03 – which would be charged to the consumer at the same rate as calling a geographic number. Organisations requiring a national presence would be able to use this range without charging consumers a premium for contacting them; and calls to 03 numbers could be included in any inclusive or low-cost call packages offered by landline or mobile phone companies.

Introduce a new consumer protection test to the allocation system, which would deny numbers to providers who have previously abused consumer trust and might do so again through their involvement in telephone scams.

Introduce a new 06 number range for personalised number services. Over time this new number range would replace the current 070 personal numbers, and both the old and new numbers would have a price ceiling. Many consumers confuse 070 numbers with mobile numbers (which also begin with 07), leading to the potential for abuse and scams. The use of 06 numbers would remove confusion, strengthen consumer protection, and allow the 07 number range to be uniquely identified with mobile services.

Simplify the structure of the 08 range used for chargeable services. Ofcom plans to band new numbers by price and type of service to develop an association in the consumer's mind that the lower the digit that follows 08 the lower the price in that range. For example, calls to a number beginning 082 would be charged at a lower rate than those to a number beginning 089.

Simplify the structure of 09 premium rate service numbers in a similar way to 08, by making different groups of 09 numbers represent different prices and services. This would also enable consumers to bar specific types of 09 numbers.

Introduce a new allocation system to avoid changes to geographic numbers in the future. Ofcom wants to encourage providers to use the numbers available in blocks already allocated to them as efficiently as possible and is consulting on principles for a new administrative pricing system (at a nominal cost). It also proposes to allocate more numbers in smaller blocks of one thousand instead of ten thousand, to maximise supply.

A new guide to Number Portability for Business Telephone Numbers

Many end users of Non-Geographic Numbers are not aware that they can port their numbers to other providers in order to get a better deal. Often Communication Service providers simply stall or misinform their clients on the options available to them.
This document sets out to clarify the position as outlined by Ofcom in their change of policy with effect from September 2009 and help customers make more informed decisions on their number options.
The key changes to the policy are as follows:-
Ofcom requires of communications providers delivering Publicly Available Telephone Services (PATS) regarding their A href=”http://www.intelesis.co.uk/numberPorting.php”>number portability obligations.

In particular to comply with General Condition 18 and General Condition 10 Ofcom says, “It is reasonable for communication providers to make clear whether or not they have porting arrangements established.

And “We consider that providers should supply, at least on reasonable request, details of who they have established porting arrangements with”

In addition, “to minimise the impact of this clarification, we consider it proportionate and appropriate for communications providers to make the necessary amendments to any marketing materials, written documentation and websites as part of any standard upgrade programmes”

How do I port geographic or non-geographic telephone number?

Every communication service provider has access to a copy of the standard porting form that can be made available upon reasonable request – written or verbal. This is normally designated as a Geographic Number Porting form (GNP) or more likely a Non-Geographic Number form.

The normal process is to ensure that all of the information is correct i.e. the exact name of customer as seen on the top of the bill together with the relevant account number. The relevant telephone numbers that the consumer wishes to transfer together with the underlying number or the destination number is also required.

It is important to understand that the number is actually owned

The normal process should take no more than 10 working days but can be rejected for a number of reasons as we outline below:

1. The company who purchased the number has changed names and the carrier has not been updated. The original company must provide its details when porting is required;
2. The account number is not made available by the loosing service provider;
3. The originating service provider i.e. the carrier who the number was released to attempts to offer a better service when the number is ported back in before being ported back out again – this will cause inevitable delays

Numbers can be ported between service providers so long as they have an agreement between the parties to do so. Where this is not the case, then the number can only be ported to those providers which do have an agreement in place. Typically most, if not all, providers will have an agreement in place and most of the large carriers will have multiple agreements in place.

Some numbers which have already been ported may not be ported across to another provide unless the number is first ported back to the original service provider and then out again to a different provider.

Why not having an 03 number may handicap your business.

03 Numbers were introduced by Ofcom in March 2007 as part of strategy to ensure that organisations could replace their a href=”http://www.intelesis.co.uk/08-0870.php”>0870 Numbers when they were made chargeable to receive calls in August 2009. This was a result of a public backlash to the use of revenue sharing 08 numbers.

For the first time more people are making calls from mobile telephone handsets and the 0800 ranges are now becoming scarce, hence the rise of 0808 freephone numbers for organisations.

Mobile phone operators seem resistant to change over the charging of calls made to a href=”http://www.intelesis.co.uk/08-0800.php”>0800> number from mobiles and continue to charge upgrade of 40p/min for these so called ‘free’ calls. a href=”http://www.intelesis.co.uk/03-VirtualUK08.php”>03 Numbers on the other hand are free to call from most mobiles and hence the reason most companies are not moving towards a href=”http://www.intelesis.co.uk/03-VirtualUK08.php”>03 Numberranges.
When it is considered that nearly 40% of all consumer calls are made from mobile phones its no wonder that not to have

As are charged at the same rate as 01/02 numbers then typically most people have these as part of a free inclusive call package. Therefore they are rightly classified as the new freephone numbers

An article in the Economist dated 13th August discussed the fact that although mobile phone networks are not nearly as good as landlines more people are using these networks than making calls from their landlines. It is estimated that by 2025 the last landline will be cut off in America, a slightly disturbing statistic for vendors who manufacturer telephone handsets in the fixed landline market-place and well whilst we think it is a bit far fetched, it does serve to illustrate a good point.

a href=”http://www.intelesis.co.uk/03-VirtualUK08.php”>03 Numbers can come complete with online statistics and are lower to run than 0800 and 0808 numbers hence the increasing likelihood of their popularity. Many operations have now adopted these numbers but they are principally public sector operations like police forces, BBC, Pioneer and radio stations e.g. The Metropolitan Police (0300 123 1212), The British Heart Foundation (0300 330 3311) NHS Change4Life (0300 123 3434), Comic Relief (03457 910 910), Nikon UK (0330 123 0932).

03 number ranges explained

0300 & 0303 Numbers – Public Bodies and Not for profit organisations (eligibility required) – please call us to discuss this on 0844 844 4555
0330 & 0333 Numbers – No eligibility required so all companies and organisations can use these numbers

What is the implication for all of this?

Around 88% of mobile contract users do not currently exceed their mobile minutes packages and it is further estimated that business users tend to use more than 40% of their total telephone bill on mobile phones so not to have an a href=”http://www.intelesis.co.uk/03-VirtualUK08.php”>03 Numbermay actually handicap businesses when they could be lowering the cost barrier to entry to most users.

For most businesses to ignore the a href=”http://www.intelesis.co.uk/03-VirtualUK08.php”>03 Numbering rangewill actually handicap them as the best available numbers will disappear towards the businesses that understand the major importance of this move by the regulating body.