Non-geographic and premium rate number services
by Colin Bryant, TelecomsAdvice
Non-geographic numbers were introduced so that special services could
be provided at different rates to those normally charged for calls to
STD geographic numbers. So, for example, businesses could advertise one
number nationally which could be connected to a local service centre
(depending on recognition of the calling number) or to a centralised
call centre either in the UK or off-shore - that number could be a
'free' 0800, local rate 0845 or national rate 0870 number. The
'translation' of a non-geographic number to a geographic number
is called Number Translation Service (NTS) - and it can also apply to
09 premium rate numbers, 070 personal numbers, 020-7 and possibly
other number ranges.
With the advent of competition in telecom services there are many
different local and national rates from different suppliers, and
suppliers have been able to share revenue with holders of
non-geograhic numbers if the call volume they generate is high enough.
So a big organisation advertisng an 0845 number can actually make money
by getting you to call them and keeping you on the phone. If they have
an 0870 niumber they can make more money and with an 0871 they make
more still.
But what does the consumer care as long as it doesn't cost them any
more than the local or national call they were expecting? Well first of
all the standard local/national rates do not apply to calls from
mobiles - your operator can charge you what they like and it will
probably be extra to your inclusive calls package. Even so-called
'free' 0800 calls will be probably be charged. Similarly your landline
calls may be part of an inclusive package - non-geographic calls are
likely to be extra. Check your operator's website for details of these
charges. Follow-me-anywhere 070 personal numbers are similar in
operation (but are proposed to be banned from revenue sharing by Ofcom)
and then we have the widely recognised 09 premium rate numbers.
Premium
rate service numbers are not such an issue because most consumers know,
or should know, they are paying more for the call and PhonepayPlus (formerly ICSTIS) is on the
case, but confusion around 08 call charges abounds.
Paid for services
charging small amounts or 'micro-payments' have grown around the
revenue sharing model which was not specifically designed for this
purpose and among the majority bone-fide businesses the system is open
to abuse by unscrupulous operators and scam artists comitting small
amount theft agaist hundreds of thousands or millions of consumers with
potentially huge illicit gains.
An Ofcom consultation process has been undertaken affecting Premium Rate Services PRS see http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/prsconditions/
An Ofcom consultation process has been undertaken affecting Number Translation Services see http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/nts_forward/
An Ofcom consultation process has been undertaken affecting Personal 070 numbers see http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/personal_numbering/
Reviewed January 2011
last updated : 21/01/2011
See also our UK ICT Directory for supplier lists and links
copyright 2000 - 2011 crucible multimedia ltd; all rights reserved - disclaimer
