Non-Geographic UK Wide 03 Numbers

03 Numbers Charged at Local Rates

Ofcom, the UK Telecommunications regulator, have issued the 03 local rate number range to provide a UK wide non geographic number for businesses, public service organisations, medical practices and charities requiring a national presence where the caller incurs no additional charges. The 03 local rate number range is intended as a replacement for 08 national rate numbers.

The charges for calling 03 numbers will be the same as calling standard 01/02 numbers, including from a mobile phone (40% of calls are currently made from mobiles).

Organisations with branches throughout the UK can use 03 numbers instead of 08 numbers, maintaining a single national point of contact for customers without additional charges above the cost of calls to local rate geographic numbers.

Bundled Call Plan Minutes

03 regulations insist that providers offer the same discount bundled call minutes schemes currently applicable to 01 and 02 geographic numbers. Calls made from mobile and pay phones must be comparable in operation and cost to calls from normal landline numbers.

03 Number Ranges

03 number ranges (0300/0303, 0330/0333, 034 and 037) have been designated for different uses.

Revenue Sharing Prohibited on 03 Numbers

Responding to current dissatisfaction among consumers with some businesses and organisations using revenue sharing 0845, 0870 and 0871 numbers, Ofcom have prohibited revenue sharing on 03 numbers.

This seen as more ethical and customer friendly for some organizations such as Utilities and NHS Medical Practices.

Number Translation

Existing phone numbers can be retained, as 03 numbers are pointed or 'translated' to your existing landline phone numbers. Customers can call the 03 number, or your existing numbers, and services on the line, e.g. call queueing and call routing, will continue to function as normal.

Your 03 number remains with you even if you relocate, providing a national presence wherever your business is located.

03 Virtual PBX

03 local rate numbers are integrated with X-on's PhonePresence Virtual PBX and it's comprehensive call handling and call management features.

Call queuing, call transfer, call recording, voicemail, plus web administration and online reports ensure 03 Virtual PBX is a powerful phone solution for businesses with multiple national and international branches.

A Summary of 03 Benefits:

	A UK wide national phone presence
	Calls to 03 numbers charged at local rate
	Integration with comprehensive 03 Virtual PBX
	Number portability - independent of business location

For further information on 03 Local Rate Numbers please call 0370 345 5577 or contact X-on.