Do you have a 0870 telephone number?
Regulatory Changes to 0870 Numbers
From 1st February 2008 calls to 0870 numbers will cost no more than calls to telephone numbers beginning 01 or 02 (normal geographic numbers). This will bring an end to call revenue sharing – whereby organisations may have received income from calls to their 0870 numbers.
However, it is not simply call revenue sharing which will cease in February 2008. The underpinning model for service providers offering free call management services – such as voice to email, call hunt groups and time of day routing plans – will also be removed. We are moving from a “caller pays” to “called party pays” regime, similar to that which exists for 0800 freephone numbers.
What does this mean for your business?
1. An end to any call revenue share that you may have earned from your service provider.
2. A distinct possibility that you will be charged to receive calls on your 0870 number – BT has recently announced a minimum charge of 3.5p per minute to receive 0870 calls rising to 4.5p if calls are routed to multiple destinations.
What options are available?
The Federation of Communication Services have engaged with Ofcom over the last two years in an attempt to persuade the regulator that the 0870 changes are not only unnecessary, but in direct conflict with other key elements of its Strategic Numbering Review. Unfortunately, Ofcom is pressing ahead and the FCS must now seek to minimise the financial and service impact of its decision for it’s customers and other companies using 0870 numbers.
If you have 0870 numbers from a supplier then check with your current service provider about their arrangements for 0870 numbers after 1st February 2008.
Originally posted 2007-09-10 11:05:02.
