It’s been said that next year, Ofcom and the mobile phone companies will have sorted out the charges for calling 08 numbers from your mobile; so, for example, 0800 numbers will truly be Freephone numbers again whether you call from a landline or a mobile.
So where does that leave the 03 number range?
This is a press release we received from Ofcom today. As often happens when we get these, it’s the timing involved that always leaves us feeling, well, a little left behind by the rest of the world.
We were talking in the office how in Australia you can get 3G coverage in the middle of the outback. Australia and the US already have wider use of 4G and we’re just increasing the obligation for coverage of 3G. Plus this obligation doesn’t take effect until next year.
Not very inspiring.
“Ofcom has today published the methodology it will use to assess the 3G coverage levels of mobile network operators that sign up for new 3G licence conditions.
On 20 December 2010, the Government directed Ofcom to revise the coverage obligation specified in the current 3G licences should the Licensee request a variation to the term of their licence. The key requirements of the revised obligation are that by 20 June 2013, the licensee must provide an electronic communications network:
Ofcom has worked with mobile network operators to reach a consensus regarding a coverage obligation verification methodology. This work is now complete and the methodology is available here.”
The big city: London is a growing populous that demands everything and puts everything in demand. This is why Ofcom released a new number range for London – 0203.
With any new Geographic number that’s released, it’s all about growing familiarity.
Although the 0203 range doesn’t have the association the 0207 and 0208 numbers have to their respective areas of London; that doesn’t have to be seen as an over-riding negative. The 0203 number range can transcend the inner – outer London boundaries that the 0207 and 0208 ranges represent.
We were recently able to release several hundred new memorable 0207 and 0208 numbers which range from £95+VAT upwards. But, if you’re trying to keep your start up costs as low as possible, the 0203 range affords you an opportunity to get a number for as little as £25+VAT.
Over time, just like the 03 number range, we’ll start to see these 0203 numbers more and more. This means people will become more comfortable with them and they’ll take on their own association; which may not necessarily relate to a specific location with London but will mean the same level of confidence for callers.
It’s difficult to talk about London without a mention of the 2012 Olympics, but the prospect of such a focus on the city is exciting when considering the opportunities this will create.
Ofcom today published its sixth annual Consumer Experience Report which looks at how the communications market delivers benefits for consumers in terms of competition, choice and price.
It also evaluates how Ofcom’s work has benefitted consumers over the past 12 months.
The report found that fewer consumers are experiencing harm from silent or abandoned calls as a result of Ofcom’s action against companies who make them.
Just under a quarter of consumers (23 per cent) experienced an abandoned call during 2011, down from over a third (35 per cent) in 2009. The number of consumers experiencing silent calls has also fallen from 30 per cent in 2009 to 24 per cent in 2011. This follows Ofcom’s enforcement action to target companies who do not comply with Ofcom’s rules.