Who at Ofcom allocates these new dialling codes
0203 XXX XXXX for London Numbers.

After all it wasnt that long ago was it, that that 0203 code was allocated to Coventry!!

No.
Because the code is 020.
Eight digit local numbers in London, with initial digits 3, 7 amd 8.

Yes of course.But never the less slightly confusing perhaps.

Quite. A great shame that it was not introduced at the change, which would have cured the boundary problem and really set the pattern of the eight digit local numbers.
Some limited choices, because 0202 was Bournemouth and I can not now remember the others. At least the Coventry code is now 024 :)  hence using 020 and opening up 3

BT Update, the booklet sent out with BT bills contains the following statement about the new prefix. It is also on the website.

Quote:

Additional number range for London From June 2006, as well as London numbers beginning 020 7 and 020 8 you may also see 020 3 numbers. This new number range is being introduced because London is running out of numbers. 020 3 will be used for both inner and outer London. If you'd like more information visit the Office of Communications, Ofcom.

Doesn't really make it clear that it's not a new code, but a new range of London numbers beginning 3. Also, I don't understand why it says June 2006.

wrote on Oct 1^st, 2005 at 11:22pm:

Doesn't really make it clear that it's not a new code, but a new range of London numbers beginning 3. Also, I don't understand why it says June 2006.

Perhaps June 2006 is when BT will start allocating 020 3 to its customers.  And clearly BT wouldn't want to assist people to call those on 020 3 who are not with BT. ::)

On the other point many sections of BT's less than bright marketing staff have wrongly assumed that 0171 and 0181 were replaced by 0207 and 0208.   BT are one of the prime moving forces responsible for the public's widespread failure to understand that London was reunified under one 020 dialling code only 5 years after OFTEL illogically split it into two.  Such a travesty would never have been allowed in Paris in the first place

Without getting involved in the semantics of 020 vs 020n, when there is actually no gap in the number anyway, can I just point out that numbers beginning 0200 have been in use for some time. I had one myself earlier in the year - 0200001xxxx in fact.

Mind you, there is no proof that it actually is in London ... I'll applaud the first institution that sets up call centres with numbers from these ranges instead of the infamous alternatives.


ps - 020 1... numbers also exist (eg 0201200.... - COLT)

wrote on Oct 3^rd, 2005 at 1:32pm:

ps - 020 1... numbers also exist (eg 0201200.... - COLT)

Yup, full national dialling existed with 0171 1XX etc.
However the semantics of 020 is merely to enable people to remember some parts as a token. Eight digits in two blocks of four is just about OK to recall, France uses pairs, the Czech replublic three triplets. Mind you I also use a piece of paper.

wrote on Oct 3^rd, 2005 at 1:32pm:

Without getting involved in the semantics of 020 vs 020n, when there is actually no gap in the number anyway, can I just point out that numbers beginning 0200 have been in use for some time. ....

But from what people have said on here, they cannot be dialled from a BT line, or can they?

wrote on Oct 4^th, 2005 at 8:11pm:

But from what people have said on here, they cannot be dialled from a BT line, or can they?

What would be the point of such a number if it could not be accessed from the vast majority of uk landlines?

The numbers are intended for a variety of network testing and ancillary uses. There is no technical bar to their being diallable, but...

More on the new London numbers on the Ofcom site.

On this subject, would anyone like the domain name 020london.info ?

I registered the domain nearly a year ago with the intention of educating people that 020 is the code for London (see www.020london.info), but I never got round to using it.  If anyone wants the domain, they can have it for free.  All you need to do is register a Godaddy user account in your name and I'll transfer it to you.  You'll then have to pay the renewal fee on 22nd October.

wrote on Oct 7^th, 2005 at 6:49pm:

On this subject, would anyone like the domain name 020london.info ?

Wouldn't www.020.info have been a better choice?  But I see something called oxide.com have it pointed at their domain.

wrote on Oct 7^th, 2005 at 7:46pm:

Wouldn't www.020.info have been a better choice?  But I see something called oxide.com have it pointed at their domain.

Yes, it would have been, if it was available. 020london.info was the best I could find at the time.