03 Numbers - Clarity or Confusion
However, the uptake on these numbers has been slower than anticipated as a result of a number of events that have occurred in the telecoms market. Here we examine the changes and highlight why we believe that the regulating boy, Ofcom, should highlight more effectively the benefits of these numbers.The basic objective of <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview("/outgoing/article_exit_link");" href=ņ€¯http://www.intelesis.co.uk/03-VirtualUK08.phpņ€¯><03 Numbers</a> is to smooth the path towards allowing companies and organisations to migrate away from revenue sharing 08 numbers which the public have taken exception to.
03 numbers are tagged to the price that a consume pays for 01 & 02 numbers. Therefore, if they get these numbers free as part of an inclusive call package then the price of the call will effectively also be free. This applies to all communication modes, i.e. mobiles and payphones.
The problem, of course, is that no sooner has the regulating body introduced them that the dominant force in the UK telecoms market i.e. British Telecom promptly included all 0870 and 0845 numbers with in their inclusive call time package known as Anytime plan (January 2009). Clearly, they were not free as there were package fees and maximum limits on the number of free calls.
The implication of this is that as a result of some 08 calls being free then clearly the idea that 03 numbers are also free creates some confusion in the market. 03 numbers can deliver all of the same benefits as with Intelligent Network based Non Geographic numbers (NGN).
The problem also comes with the fact that organisations who use the numbers are also expected to pay for the numbers as with 0800 numbers and because the market for these number is not mature enough to create effective competition, then organisations are slowly to adopt these numbers but are definitely looking at them and there are some early adopters of the numbers as well such as olic forces.
What does confuse is whether these numbers would be chargeable in the even that 01 & 02 numbers are charged for as with ņ€˜out-of-bundleņ€™ minutes ņ€“ i.e. are then the 03 numbers chargeable ņ€“ only time will tell.
These numbers are really designed for assisting marginalised sectors of society such as the elderly or the poor and also towards helping those companies who want to retain the Non Geographic Number presence but want Ņ to be seen as customer friendly and focussed.
03 numbers Ņ have been adopted by organisations, but most operations have moved Ņ to revenue sharing 08 numbers such as 0844 and 0871 which means that the objective of giving choice to the consumer has not really been met.
Itņ€™s a bit of a half way house in which consumers are now also confused along with the organisationņ€™s that are supposed to adopt these numbers. Itņ€™s developed into a market place in which the consumer is almost dictating to the organisations as to which numbers they should choose.