Windsor Telecom give the following information on the 03 range of numbers.

Extract from:    http://www.windsor-telecom.co.uk/03-numbers-information.php

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Information on 03 UK Wide Numbers
OFCOM, the UK Telecommunications regulator, has created the new 03 number range to improve trust and confidence in UK phone numbers. 03 numbers will be used by public service organisations, charities and companies that want a national presence, but who do not wish to make an additional charge to consumers for contacting them.

The 03 phone numbers will formally be known as ’UK-wide’ numbers and are being introduced as an alternative to chargeable 08 phone numbers such as 0845, 0870 and 0871 Numbers. Consumers will have a clear understanding of the price that they are paying for a call to an 03 number, as the cost of calling will be the same as calls to geographic numbers (normal landlines starting 01 or 02).

Telecoms operators will be required to offer the same discount schemes that currently apply to geographic numbers. All Operators have the flexibility to adjust their bundled and all-inclusive prices for calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers in competition with each other. OFCOM has also requested that calls to 03 numbers from mobiles and payphones are treated in the same way as calls to normal landline numbers.

A main advantage of 03 numbers over geographic numbers is that enhanced services can be provided such as call statistics, advanced call plans and disaster recovery solutions. 03 numbers can also be given out as the number that identifies your call (CLI) to the number that you have dialled (this product is called ‘presentation number’ and can be supplied by your outbound call supplier).

No Revenue Sharing on 03 Numbers
Revenue sharing will not be permitted on 03 numbers. Currently many consumers are unhappy that some organisations who use 0845, 0870 and 0871 numbers receive a share of what the consumer pays to make a call. 03 numbers are therefore likely to be perceived as being more ethical and customer friendly.

The Different 03 Number Ranges
0300 Numbers and 0303 Numbers

The 030 range has been specially designated by Ofcom for use by public bodies and non for profit organisations. The range includes 0300 numbers and 0303 numbers. Ofcom has provided detailed information on who is eligible for 030 numbers and you’re able to visit our 030 Numbers Eligibility page for further information.


0330 Numbers and 0333 Numbers

The 033 range does not carry eligibly criteria and therefore are open to any business or organisation who wishes to use them. The range includes 0330 numbers and 0333 numbers and offers a wide range of unique and exiting benefits to UK business. Windsor Telecom has some of the most memorable 03 numbers available, such as 0330 900 0000 and 0333 666 6000.


03 Migration Numbers

This range is available to any business who already posses 08 non geographic numbers and wish to obtain their equivalent 03 migration number. These may include 0845 numbers, 0844 numbers and 0871 or 0870 national rate numbers. For example, someone with 0845 130 8080 can apply for 0345 130 8080 and so on. Learn more on our 03 migration numbers page.


What Will Happen To Existing 08 Number Ranges?
All of the existing 08 number ranges will remain. However, the cost of calling certain ranges, such as 0870, is likely to reduce. Companies and organisations that use 084x and 087x numbers will be given the opportunity to acquire the equivalent 03 migration number if this is more beneficial to them. Many services requiring revenue outpayments are likely to stay on the 08 ranges, with new numbers allocated as required by demand.      

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kk wrote on Aug 31^st, 2007 at 12:04am:


Did you ever think you might hear this from the lips of Windsor Telecom.

It virtually amounts to a total admission that everything they have been doing over the last few years has involved scamming the great british public.

I've not seen an 055 number but I have an 056 number - it's a BT Broadband Talk VoIP number

Does anyone know.
Are all the 03 numbers fully accessable from all overseas countries at normal  geo rates from that country. What about from local mobiles from overseas?

Will the 03 range have the same capabilities as  with 0870/1 and 0845 numbers where they can be switched around the country to diff call centres ?

Alan

alan99 wrote on Aug 31^st, 2007 at 7:16pm:
This is entirely upto the overseas operator (whether landline or mobile) but I assume that because no revenue sharing will take place on this number range then an overseas operator is most likely going to treat it as an ordinary 01 or 02 number.  Ofcom have no remit over any operator outside the UK so cannot force them to only charge their normal price for calling a UK 01/02 number.

However, with any new number range it can take a while (not sure of usual time but I've heard it can take more than 6months sometimes depending on operator) for 03x to be dialled from overseas.

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Yes, all features available on 0844, 0845, 0870 and 0871 will be available on 03x as it uses similar methods to handle calls.

The main difference between 03x and 084x/087x is that in most cases, the features (well basic features) used by companies/gov depts were free because it was paid for by anyone ringing an 084x/087x whereas any company/gov dept using an 03x will have to pay for such features and it's likely that they'll also have to pay for incoming calls as well.

http://ipcommunications.tmcnet.com/news/2007/07/20/305045.htm

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Well I signed up for an 03 number (voip, from A&A) to try it it out.
I Won't be giving it out for some time I think..:

Whilst it dials from BT line fine, and rings here...

1615 (Tiscali) gives NU
18866 (call18866.co.uk) tells me, correctly, 0p/min but then rings engaged
voipcheap.com tells me to check the number I have dialed.
O2 mobile says it's an invalid number.
020 0222 0700 and 020 0222 0900 both say "that number cannot be dialed from this account."

jgxenite wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2007 at 10:44pm:


Ah, whoops.  I was just going though my list of ways to dial numbers   Hadn't twigged that they were freephone only, as I don't actually have to use them very often..