UKNM: New telephone codes

[Ray Taylor]

This might seem like a "can you do my work for me" type question, and perhaps it is, but I guess Sam will squash it if he doesn't think it appropriate.


Does BT or anyone else have a simple, user-friendly, web page explaining the new UK telephone numbers that I can quote in my sig file? Lots of people think that the 020 versions of our London telephone numbers are mobile numbers (any blushes out there yet?) and so the simplest way to explain would be to put a footnote on our emails.


But not being telecomms experts I don't think we are qualified to do one ourselves. Would be happy to quote anyone else's or a BT/C&W/etc URL.


And just to add my tuppence worth, lots of people make the mistake of thinking that the new London numbers are 0207 and 0208 (a mistake I have made) whereas there is in fact a new London code of 020 which includes both the old 0171 and the 0181 codes. Our telephone number is therefore 020 8249 6313 and not 0208 249 6313. Anyone dialing from outside London will have to use the full code, while anyone dialing from inside what is now the 0181 zone will need to dial at least the 8249 6313. Anyone trying 249 6313 after the switchover will not get though. Don't know about the other new numbers.


Is this new media marketing? I think so. We use email a lot for marketing purposes (one-to-one only of course, except for lists like this) and although lots of people think that when telephone numbers change it is a pain in the neck (or lower) I believe it is like everything else a heaven-sent opportunity to contact someone you haven't contacted for a while on the pretext of telling them about the number change. We won't actually be doing this because we have lots of other things to tell clients about anyway, but until the message gets through it is still important to give a reason for the different number, particularly if any of your clients and suppliers are outside of the UK, as many of ours are.


Ray Taylor

eyeconomy

020 8249 6313 London's numbers are changing. Details xxxxxxxxxx.bt.com (URL to follow)


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