What’s in a number?

In November 2010 we reported on the Ofcom consultation in respect of the allocation of telephone numbers. The consultation period finished in February and Ofcom has now announced its decision on the way forward.

Briefly, the reason behind the need for a review of telephone numbers was that in certain areas 01 and 02 numbers were becoming scarce. Despite the increasing use of mobile and VoIP internet calls, telephone numbers were running out in areas such as Bournemouth, Cambridge and Milton Keynes. Ofcom wanted to come up with a solution which preserved the integrity of the local dialling code system whilst avoiding the need for customers to change their numbers.

As part of the review process Ofcom asked for communications providers to return any blocks of numbers which were unlikely to be used. This has resulted in the release of some 69 million numbers back into the pool. Whilst this has helped to extend the lifespan of some UK Regional numbers for up to four years, there are a still some 25 areas where telephone numbers are scarce. These include Bournemouth which is expected to run out of numbers during 2012. Ofcom’s first solution will be to impose full telephone number dialling for these areas. So, for example, those dialling within Bournemouth will no longer be able to simply dial the basic telephone number but will have to dial the full number including the 01202 code.

Secondly, to encourage telephone providers to only apply for telephone number blocks which they are likely to use, Ofcom has decided to start to charge telephone providers for number blocks allocated within 30 areas. These number blocks are important to companies such as Callagenix as they enable us to offer clients access to a range of telephone numbers within different geographical areas. Using internet technology, calls to these numbers can then be diverted to a business’ main switchboard or designated number, allowing businesses to have a local presence across the country whilst operating from a single site.

This ability to have a local presence is extended to international calls with a range of international freephone, international local and universal freephone numbers available from over 100 countries across the world including China and Spain. Adding virtual switchboards to this local telephone number presence allows a business to automatically transfer its calls on a “follow the sun” or other basis.

With an increasing use of VoIP and other methods of internet communication the use of telephone numbers in the UK may start to fall in years to come. In the meantime, some areas of the country will have to start to get used to dialling the full telephone number for a local call; which is a small price to pay to avoid the alternative of dealing with a complete new telephone numbering system.

Calling time on expensive phone bills

A mere six months ago we wrote about the April price rise from BT and how it had shocked consumers, coming as soon as it had after a rise the previous October. Now BT are doing it again; increasing their call charges by 5% to 7.95p per minute in December alongside a further rise in line rentals.

This latest increase from BT on top of rises earlier this year and in 2010 means that call charges have increased by 47% since April 2010 when the price was a mere 5.4p per minute. Talk Talk have already followed suit with an announcement of an increase in line rental charges from October.

In fairness to BT, they do say that many of their customers have actually reduced telephone costs within the past year but only by signing up to packages, some of which include bundled telephone and broadband options. With this latest rise, analysts expect more customers will look around for bundled or alternative deals or even join the exodus away from landline telephones in favour of mobiles.

Although most businesses wouldn’t be able to work solely with mobile phones, there are still options available as alternatives to the traditional landline. One of these alternatives is VoIP, otherwise known as internet telephony. VoIP is a way of making telephone calls over the internet, either directly to another VoIP phone or to a landline. VoIP to VoIP calls can often be free whilst VoIP to landline costs are inexpensive when compared with standard BT and other rates. For example, the Callagenix charge for VoIP to UK landline works out at just 2p. per minute and calling the USA is only 3.8p per minute.

Of course, internet telephony is not just about cheaper calls. Once the decision to switch has been made there are a host of additional phone services available which will improve the service which a business is able to offer its clients whilst at the same time keeping costs down. Call recording and storage can help with regulatory requirements and training with digital storage being easy to access. Virtual switchboards can recognise callers, provide push button options, record messages or divert calls to anywhere in the world; all for a fraction of the cost of a PBX exchange.

With ever increasing and clever technology there will come a point when the traditional telephone line passes into history. Whether this current rise in telephone costs will accelerate the end by driving people into other forms of communication is something which future analysts will review with interest.

Celebrating the Red telephone box

The Design Museum in London has recently announced the acquisition of two new exhibits to coincide with the launch of their latest exhibition entitled “This is Design” which runs until January next year. A set of traffic lights and the red telephone box join other iconic design classics such as the angle poise lamp and the candlestick telephone.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, the red telephone box is a fast disappearing facet of British Life. Whilst inventive communities have been preserving their telephone boxes by turning them into libraries or even mini pubs, other telephone boxes have been sold off and converted into shower cubicles or as play homes.

The sad fact is that the red telephone box may be an icon but is so little used that it will in time go the way of the mangle or the butter churn; learnt about as a historical curiosity and thought of with a twinge of nostalgia. Roaring in to replace the phone box, the smart phone is now used by 27% of adults and 47% of teenagers according to a recent Ofcom report. At work we may be converting to internet telephony, or VoIP, but at home the smart phone rules.

This virtual addiction to smart phones is also changing the way we conduct our lives according t the Ofcom report. 81% of users have the phone switched on even when in bed with around 40% admitting to answering the phone if it rings in the night. Slightly more strangely 22% of adults and 47% of teenagers also admitted to using their smart phones whilst in the bathroom or toilet.

Our work/life balance is also changing. Although 30% of users admitted to making or receiving personal calls whilst in the office, 24% admitted regularly using their smart phones to take work calls when on holiday. The mix of smart phone and VoIP technology means that calls are moving to the internet at an ever faster rate. Within the office, combining VoIP with virtual switchboards has enabled even the small business to provide a premium telephone service for comparatively little cost. Add in features such as local telephone numbers and call transfer and even a one man band can save costs whilst staying in touch.

Seventy five years ago the telephone box was a revolution in itself, enabling people to communicate without having the cost of a telephone in their own home, or when away from home. With the pace of change ever increasing we do wonder what is waiting to replace the smart phone and how long it will be before it too takes its place in the Design Museum.

Use the phone work from home

Back in the 1970s British Rail came up with the slogan “let the train take the strain”. So successful was the advert that the slogan itself moved into popular history and is still quoted regularly. Through the period of privatisation of the railways and on to the present day, successive Governments have done their best to encourage us to take the train and other forms of public transport to ease congestion on our roads.

Now in a twist of fortune, the government is worried about the effect of the Olympics on transport. The new mantra is therefore to encourage us to work more from home or vary our commuting times.

In pursuit of this new policy the Transport Minister, Norman Baker, made a key speech on a visit to BT on 3rd August. In the speech Mr Baker urged Londoners and those who travel to London for work to radically change their working patterns for the period of the games. Suggestions include:

• Cycling or walking to work
• Trying alternative routes which avoid the Olympic Park area
• Staggering journey times
• Working remotely
• Using video conferencing

The reason behind this move to an alternative way of working is the 3 million extra journeys expected to be made over the period of the games, something that will put a considerable strain on the transport infrastructure. Mr Baker said The Games will be a once-in-a-generation test for both our transport system and our adaptability. As we edge ever closer to the Olympics, hand-in-hand with new investment must go new solutions.

Luckily for all those who are faced with the challenge of working from home, the telephone industry has moved on considerably from those far off days of the 1970s. VoIP, telephone calls via the internet, have considerably reduced the cost of calling within this country and calling abroad. Virtual switchboards which recognise callers and transfer calls to any point within the world mean that it is easily to work from home with all calls being seamlessly switched to a home or mobile number.

Aside from the virtual switchboard, one of the most important benefits to the home business worker is the conference call facility. Once requiring complex within-office equipment, now a conference call can be set up using a virtual conference facility. With the added benefit of the call being recorded for later transcription or as a record of the call it is now often more time efficient for meetings to take place via a conference call than physically within an office.

There is no doubt that despite extensive planning the Olympics will have an impact on transport. Being able to work from local offices or from home means that we can all play our part in keeping that disruption to a minimum; whilst enjoying the increased productivity that home working often brings.