Virtual Number FAQ's
A collection of all the available options with advantages and disadvantages
| |
0870 |
0370 |
0800 |
0845 |
0844 |
0871 |
01/02 |
| Advantages |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Access to Network Level Services
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
| Possible Revenue Stream* |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
| Possible to Fund Advanced Services* |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
| Migration Numbers Avaiable |
NA |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
NA |
| Can be called from outside UK |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
| Consumer Confidence in Range |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
| Disadvantages |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cost of Promouting NewNumber |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Charges for Call Delivery* |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
| ICSTIS (Premium Rate) Regulation |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
| Increase in 'Timewaster Calls' |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
| Future Regulatory Changes |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
| Cost of Additional Hardware** |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
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Staying with existing 0870 numbers
Payment Structure:
Cost same as 01/02 geographic calls – called party pays to receive calls at 2p per minute
Advantages:
Access to network level services
Can be called from outside UK
No cost of promoting new number
No ICSTIS (premium rate) regulation
No future regulatory change
Disadvantages:
No possible revenue stream
Not possible to fund advanced services
Consumer confidence in range low
Charges for call delivery
Summary:
For some businesses the pain and workload or having to replace current 0870 numbers and promote new numbers is too high or in some cases simply not possible (printed material, signage etc).
Staying with existing 0870 numbers may be the best option available even with the loss of revenue stream and the subsequent charges for call delivery.
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Moving to the new 0370 number range
Payment Structure:
Cost same as 01/02 geographic calls – called party pays to receive calls
Advantages:
Access to network level services
Migration numbers available
Consumer confidence in range
No ICSTIS (premium rate) regulation
No future regulatory changes
Disadvantages:
No possible revenue stream
Not possible to fund advanced services
Can not be called from outside UK
Cost of promoting new number
Charges for call delivery
Summary:
0370 is the range Ofcom is opening up specifically for 0870 migration. As such, equivalent numbers should be available and any network level services in place can be maintained. Additionally, callers pay simply the cost of a national call and these calls would fall in to any inclusive free minute plan.
However, this is an expensive option – including the cost of promoting new numbers, paying for call delivery and having to fund any advanced services.
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Moving to 0800 Free phone number range
Payment Structure:
Free to caller – called party pays to receive calls
Advantages:
Access to network level services
Can be called from outside UK
Consumer confidence in range
No ICSTIS (premium rate) regulation
No future regulatory changes
Disadvantages:
No possible revenue stream
Not possible to fund advanced services
Shortage of migration numbers available
Cost of promoting new number
Charges for call delivery
Increase in ‘Timewaster Calls’
Summary:
If you are going to have to pay for call delivery anyway then perhaps some businesses will look to migrate to freephone. The 0800 range is well established and well trusted, with research showing a healthy increase in calls received when offering freephone numbers. However, these facts also mean that it is difficult to source new numbers and often the increase in call volume is due to unnecessary inbound calls.
Our view is that 0800 should only be used to replace 0870 for sales and marketing calls.
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Moving to 0845 Local Rate number range
Payment Structure:
Caller pays local rate (approx 3.95ppm) – called party pays to receive calls
Advantages:
Access to network level services
Can be called from outside UK
Consumer confidence in range
No ICSTIS (premium rate) regulation
Disadvantages:
No possible revenue stream
Not possible to fund advanced services
Shortage of migration numbers available
Cost of promoting new number
Charges for call delivery
Future regulatory changes
Summary:
0845 is another well established range, promoted as ‘local rate’ to callers. With significant call volume it is possible to negate charges for call delivery. However, it is more likely that there will be a small charge for call delivery with charges for advanced services on top.
The main issue with 0845 is that it is subject to future regulatory change and the significant cost and effort in promoting a new number may turn out to be doubled in two years time.
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Moving to 0844 Up to 5ppm number range
Payment Structure:
Caller pays a range of retail rates up to 5ppm – depending on call volume and retail rate you may receive revenue share or pay for calls received.
Advantages:
Access to network level services
Possible revenue stream
Migration numbers available
No charges for call delivery
No ICSTIS (premium rate) regulation
Disadvantages:
Can not be called from outside UK
Consumer confidence in range low
Cost of promoting new number
Summary:
0844 may turn out to be a popular choice for 0870 migration. The 0844 range is split into a number of retail bands ranging from 0.5ppm to 5ppm and by selecting numbers within the higher 4ppm and 5ppm number blocks it should be possible to negate call charges and even generate a small revenue share. Additionally, because calls will be charged at a 'fixed price' it is much less likely that Ofcom will impose future regulatory changes to this range.
The main issues with 0844 are low consumer awareness of the range and that the 0844 range is not yet available for international callers. However, 0870 Advice have now developed an innovative strategy to allow you to go ahead and promote an 0844 number for UK callers and still manage calls from outside the UK effectively - call 0844 844 2600 to speak to a member of the 0870 Advice Team and discuss in more detail.
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Moving to 0871 Up to 10ppm number range
Payment Structure:
Caller pays a range of retail rates from 5ppm to 10ppm – depending on call volume and retail rate you will receive revenue share.
Advantages:
Access to network level services
Possible revenue stream
Possible to fund advanced services
No charges for call delivery
Disadvantages:
Shortage of migration numbers available
Can not be called from outside UK
Cost of promoting new number
ICSTIS (premium rate) regulation
Future regulatory changes
Summary:
0871 may turn out to be a popular choice for 0870 migration in certain scenarios. At 10ppm retail band a revenue share will be available and it will be possible to fund advanced services.
However, the use of 0871 will soon be regulated by ICSTIS (the premium rate services regulator) and is subject to future regulatory change. This could mean restrictions on the use of 0871 numbers and potentially an end to queuing calls and issues with ‘call barring’.
0871 may be appropriate for certain business functions (to fund free services), but we would not advise wholesale change from 0870 to the 0871 range. It may be more appropriate to look at off-setting the loss of revenue share from 0870 by introducing some 0871 numbers, but to also look at introducing other 0800, 0845 and 0844 numbers for more general inbound calls and enquiries.
Additionally 0871 numbers are not available to callers from outside the UK. However, 0870 Advice have now developed an innovative strategy to allow you to go ahead and promote an 0871 number for UK callers and still manage calls from outside the UK effectively - call 0844 844 2600 to speak to a member of the 0870 Advice Team and discuss in more detail
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Going back to geographic numbers
Payment Structure:
No charge for calls received.
Advantages:
Available for international calls
Consumer confidence in range
No charges for call delivery
No ICSTIS (premium rate) regulation
No future regulatory changes
Disadvantages:
No access to network level services
No access to network level services
No revenue stream
Not possible to fund advanced services
Cost of additional hardware
Cost of in house equipment
Summary:
Not a great option and businesses could immediately lose the ability to monitor their operational performance, manage their inbound calls effectively and measure marketing activity. Businesses would gain from consumer confidence in range and safety from future regulatory changes.
However, loss of access to network level services and the potential cost of replacing these with in house equipment will be the main issues in migrating back to 01/02 numbers.
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