So tell me a little more about calling 0844 numbers

So 0870 numbers are changing in February?  What does this mean for you?  It's simple.  Next year it will cost you less to call 0870 numbers as these numbers will be charged by your carrier at a national rate (not an inflated national rate) - meaning it should be around the 2p per minute to call 0870's.  The problem with this is that companies who have used 0870's to generate revenue or pay for call features which include (fax to email, Call queuing, IVR's (i.e press 1 for sales, 2 for accounts) will start to pass some of the costs back to their customers.  They will either move to an 0871 number which can cost 10p per minute to call (making it more expensive for the consumer) or an 0844 number which costs up to 5p per minute to call. 

The changes with 0870 also make it very confusing for the general public.  For instance do you know that their are many price bands for 0844 numbers starting from 1/2p per minute to call to 5p per minute to call?  How is the man in the street going to know the cost to call an 0844.  Most 0844 numbers will be at the 5p per minute but im sure this will be difficult to control.  Also, not all 0871 numbers are 10p per minute to call.  You can have some at 7p, 8p, 9p and so on!  Ofcom have also released 03xx number ranges which are either not for profit or replacements for 0870 (0370) numbers creating even more confusion.

Where will 0844 numbers work?

One of the major drawbacks of an 0844 number is that they may not work from international destinations.  We can't get a concrete answer from any UK carrier that will state where these numbers can be dialled from internationally so if you have international customers/suppliers perhaps an 0845 number (0845 numbers aren't guarenteed to worl from abroad either) or an international country number is a better option.  0844 numbers will work in the UK when dialling from landlines and mobiles.

How much will it cost to call 0844 numbers?

Calling an 0844 number will cost up to 5p per minute from a BT landline (there are different levels of 0844 numbers but we believe that most 0844 numbers will be charged at 5p).  Calls to 0844 numbers from mobiles and other networks may vary.

We believe that the changes next year will cause signifant disruption to thousands of UK companies and you must act now to select your new numbers (either 0844 numbers or 0871 numbers)