No extra charge- even for mobile phones users

Calls to 03 UK Wide numbers are charged at no more than calls to 01 and 02 numbers. 03 numbers are included in all mobile call plans and landline call packages and therefore a call made from home or a mobile phone is usually free of charge.

The headline rates advertised for calls to non geographic numbers can sometimes be misleading, particularly for mobile phone users. This has become an increasing concern as figures show that around 35% of all UK calls made in 2007 were from mobile phones (Source: OFCOM 2007).

Calling an 0845 number for example, may be inexpensive from a landline - BT charges a 6p call fee plus 2p per minute during the day, - but it is a different story if you use your mobile phone. T-Mobile and Vodafone charge their pay-as-you-go customers up to 40p and 30p per minute respectively for calls to 0845.

Similarly, calls to 'freephone' 0800 numbers can be expensive. They are generally excluded from mobile call inclusive packages and callers are often charged up to 35p per minute.

03 UK Wide numbers have been introduced by Ofcom as an alternative number range that consumers can have confidence in. Initial take up has been from numerous Government departments, official bodies and charities. Amongst them: OFCOM themselves, the Ministry of Defence and the RSPCA. The take up of these numbers is expected to increase significantly during 2008, expanding into the business sector.

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03 UK Wide numbers

• Introduction - the future is 03
• Background - restoring confidence
• UK Wide numbers - The 03 range explained
• 03 -a non geographic number with a difference
• Future proofing
• 03 UK Wide -Pricing
• Early adopters of the new UK Wide Services
• Ofcom leads the way in adopting 03 phone numbers
• Raising confidence in telephone numbers - Ofcom

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If you would like one of our telecommunications consultants to contact you for further advice, please email contact@it-cts.com with your details.