TTNC has today released and activated 2 more 0800 Freephone number ranges; 0800 8 247 and 0800 9 247. There are now 24 different Freephone number ranges live of the TTNC network making a total of 62,000 live Freephone numbers.

There has been a continued growth in the sales of Freephone numbers for the third year running, thousands of SME’s and Corporate businesses currently use TTNC Freephone numbers to increase their inbound calls and maximise their advertising opportunities.

Now established as one of the leading suppliers of Freephone Numbers in the UK, TTNC is nearly 2 pence per minute cheaper than BT and other Operators and also offer real time number provisioning, online number management and detailed call statistics.

More Information

If you would like more information about TTNC’s Freephone numbers or would like to purchase a Freephone number then please visit; www.ttnc.co.uk/numbers/0800.do.

TTNC is to stop offering 0870 phone numbers with immediate effect. Mark Burcher, CEO of TTNC said "Following the confusion surrounding 0870 numbers and the lack of interest in them, we have decided to stop offering 0870 phone numbers. We will continue to support the 0870 numbers that are already being used, but the long term plan is to migrate the users over to other number ranges such as 03 numbers, Freephone numbers or Geographic numbers."

Background Information about the 0870 changes

In February 2007, Ofcom performed a Strategic Review of the use of Number Translation Service (NTS), OFCOM has now confirmed some major changes, some of which will affect the use of 0870 Numbers;

• There will no longer be any Revenue on 0870 numbers by end of January 2008.
• Mobile and Fixed-Line providers have to charge the same or less for 0870 calls as they do for National Rate Calls to UK Geographic Numbers (01 or 02).

These changes to the regulation of calls to 0870 numbers were intended to take effect on 1st of February 2008, but this date was put back because operators and Ofcom identified certain 0870 services which protected human life and property and where the option to use pre-call announcements could potentially cause a call to fail.

Ofcom is expected to make a further announcement about 0870 phone numbers later this month, TTNC will keep customers and the public informed via new letters and our Web site.

Due to a continued demand for Freephone numbers, TTNC has released and activated 9 new 0800 Freephone number ranges today, this makes TTNC one of the largest providers of Freephone numbers in the UK with 59,000 Freephone numbers currently live on our network.

Now established as one of the leading suppliers of Freephone Numbers in the UK, TTNC’s inbound call charges are nearly 2 pence per minute cheaper than BT and some other Operators, as well as lower charges, TTNC also offers real-time number provisioning, online number management and detailed call statistics.

About Freephone numbers

0800 and 0808 Freephone Numbers are considered to be the most ‘Customer Friendly’ Telephone Numbers available. By using a Freephone Number you are enabling people to call you Free of Charge, from any landline in the UK.

Freephone Numbers are widely recognised as one of the most powerful marketing tools to use in business. Research has shown that;

• People are more likely to call Freephone numbers than standard Numbers
• Freephone Numbers generate 3 times more calls than standard numbers
• People believe companies using Freephone numbers are reliable
• Customers will call you more frequently, creating greater loyalty
• An estimated 50% of advertisers use a Freephone Number
• Advertising response can increase by 50% to 300%

More information

If you would like more information about TTNC’s Freephone numbers or would like to purchase a Freephone number, please visit – www.ttnc.co.uk/numbers/0800.do

About TTNC Limited

TTNC Limited is one of the UK’s leading Communications Network Operators that provides Businesses and Individuals with Telephone Numbering Services, Inbound Call Management Services, and Voice over IP Services. TTNC is regulated by Ofcom and is also a member of Otelo.

Ofcom has published a consultation reviewing the 070 personal numbering range, the review includes proposals to support current enforcement action being carried out by PhonepayPlus in relation to scams on the 070 range and requiring communications providers to publish their tariffs for calls to 070 numbers more prominently.

Review Summary (from Ofcom)
1. Numbers within the 070 range have been designated as Personal Numbers, available for the use of Personal Numbering Services (PNS). The formal definition of such services, as set out in the National Telephone Numbering Plan (the “Numbering Plan”) is: “a service based on number translation that enables End-Users to be called or otherwise contacted, using a single personal telephone number, and to receive those calls or other communications at almost any telephone number, including Mobile Numbers.”

1.2 Amongst the recommendations in Ofcom’s review of telephone numbering (Safeguarding the future of numbers) in 2006, Ofcom stated its intention to close the 070 range and migrate users to the 06 range. This was based on a very high level of complaints in late 2005 that arose as a result of significant scamming activity on the range. We now need to make a final decision about whether it is appropriate to close the range, taking into account all relevant evidence, and if not, what other options are available. Therefore, we are carrying out this review to conduct a full assessment of any consumer detriment and in light of that, a cost-benefit analysis of options to address any detriment.

1.3 Ofcom and PhonepayPlus continue to receive complaints about the 070 range. Most of these complaints are concerned with scams, although some relate to the high pricing of calls to 070 numbers. Currently, the most prevalent scams are missed call scams where mobile phone users are left unsolicited “missed calls” encouraging them to call back an 070 number.

1.4 Since our review of telephone numbering in 2006, the number of complaints has significantly reduced and we have found that the use of 070 appears to be declining.

1.5 Given the continuing number of complaints regarding scams on 070 numbers, and the apparent characteristics of the range that enable these scams to exist, it remains important to carry out a review of the number range to decide the most appropriate and proportionate measures to address concerns about this range.

1.6 Our analysis of the consumer detriment and the costs and benefits of different options to address any consumer detriment leads us to conclude that closing the 070 number range as previously intended is not a proportionate response. Given our legal duty to provide end users with a migration path to another number allocation where a number range is closed, our analysis shows that the costs associated with migration significantly outweigh any benefits gained from closing the range.

1.7 We have therefore proposed a number of other measures which we consider proportionate in the light of the detriment that currently exists, these include:

• supporting and monitoring current enforcement action being carried out by PhonepayPlus in relation to scams on the 070 range;
• requiring originating communications providers to publish their tariffs for calls to 070 numbers more prominently and to make them easier to understand for consumers; and
• amending guidance on the acceptable use of numbers in relation to compliance with General Condition 17 by ensuring Personal Numbering Service providers who provide 070 numbers to end users to carry out due diligence of sub-allocatees of personal numbers.

1.8 We are also formally consulting on the removal of the requirement for pre-call announcements on this range, which we requested operators to carry out in December 2007, due to their impact on alarm systems and associated risks to life and property.

More information

The consultation can be found at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/070options/

In 2 May 2008, Ofcom published two consultations as part of its ongoing review of 087 numbers. Ofcom has now issued a notification which gives an update on the proposed timing of any changes to the rules on 087 numbers.

0870 numbers

In May, Ofcom consulted on proposals on charges for calls to 0870 numbers. These included the proposal that all calls to 0870 numbers should cost no more than calls to geographic numbers (01 or 02 numbers) unless communications providers comply with rules on publicising higher prices. At the time, Ofcom aimed to announce its conclusions on this by autumn 2008.

However, Ofcom’s work on this consultation needs to take place alongside an ongoing dispute on wholesale termination rates, the rates that operators charge each other to end 0870 calls on each others’ networks. Work on this had been suspended pending the recent judgement of the Competition Appeals Tribunal on mobile termination rate disputes which was published recently, and as a result this work has now restarted.

Ofcom continues to assess the proposals in its May 2008 consultation and the responses to that document in light of these developments. Ofcom aims to publish a further statement on implementing any changes to 0870 policy by the end of the year.

087 numbers

Ofcom aims to publish a statement on its proposal to bring the most expensive 087 numbers (including 0871, 0872 and 0873 numbers) within the remit of PhonepayPlus, in the autumn.

TTNC Comments

Unfortunately there is a great deal of confusion surrounding the future of 087 numbers, for both consumers and operators! Our view is that although Ofcom is trying to improve consumer confidence by providing greater price transparency about the call charges to 0870 numbers, they are actually confusing consumers even more.

We do not think that there will be any changes to 0870 numbers until sometime next year, we will of course be publishing any news about 0870 numbers on our web site and keeping our customers informed.

About Ofcom

Ofcom is responsible for managing the UK’s telephone numbers and for ensuring that best use is made of this resource. Ofcom allocates telephone numbers to a broad range of providers who may then sub-allocate them to organisations, businesses and individuals to use themselves.

Web site: www.ofcom.org.uk.

Ofcom introduces its consumer protection test for future allocation of telephone numbers

Ofcom has today set out new restrictions in the way it will issue telephone numbers to communications providers.

The Consumer Protection Test for telephone number allocation will prohibit the allocation of 070 personal numbers, 0871/2/3 special service higher rate numbers and 09 premium rate numbers by Ofcom to anyone who appears on either of two lists.

The lists, which will be published on the Ofcom website, will name companies and individuals that have in the past used telephone numbers to cause serious or repeated harm to consumers or are involved in cases that we are currently investigating.

In compiling the lists, Ofcom will assess individuals and companies (including company directors) that have come to its attention by being subject to a decision from a relevant authority (such as PhonepayPlus, the Office of Fair Trading or the police) and where telephone numbers were central to the behaviour that led to the decision concerned.

Scams, frauds and other abuses carried out by individuals and companies using telephone numbers cause serious consumer harm and threaten confidence in certain numbers.

From 1 January 2009, the test will apply to numbers newly allocated by Ofcom to communications providers. Ofcom will allow communications providers to take a self-regulatory approach to introducing a similar consumer protection test in their own number allocation processes and strongly encourages providers to do so. Ofcom will monitor progress to see if this approach is sufficient and will consider additional regulation where necessary.

The full statement can be found at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/numberingcpt/statement/

About Ofcom

Ofcom is responsible for managing the UK’s telephone numbers and for ensuring that best use is made of this resource. Ofcom allocates telephone numbers to a broad range of providers who may then sub-allocate them to organisations, businesses and individuals to use themselves.

Web site: www.ofcom.org.uk.

New Set Up and Yearly charges for TTNC’s Call Services

TTNC has lowered both retail and wholesale prices for Intelligent Network (IN) Call Services. The new pricing comes into effect from the 1st August, 2008 and means that TTNC will carry on offering some of the best deals for Call Services in the UK.

Intelligent Network Call Services enable businesses to handle their inbound calls efficiently and effectively without the need to purchase a PBX system.

IN Call Service Benefits

• No extra Hardware Needed – IN Call Services are all “Network based”
• Automate Call Handling to multiple people / departments / offices
• Portray a professional image and Make every call count
• No Changes needed to Phone Systems or Telephone Handsets
• Works on any Standard PSTN, Mobile, International or VoIP telephone

There are many different types of IN Call Services, the most popular types of services are; Virtual Receptionist, Call Recording, Call Queuing, Call Whisper, Voicemail to Email, Time Based Routing, Location Based Routing, etc.

To find out more about TTNC’s IN Call Services please go to http://www.ttnc.co.uk/services/overview.do

About TTNC Limited

TTNC Limited is one of the UK’s leading Communications Network Operators that provides Businesses and Individuals with Telephone Numbering Services, Inbound Call Management Services, and Voice over IP Services. TTNC is regulated by Otelo.