Forgive my lack of knowledge but what are geographical numbers

Hi Jimbo 1943,

I will attempt to explain this in non-technical language, and before anyone jumps on me for inaccuracy of detail I am attempting to express the ideas in a simple fashion here to make it easier for anyone non-technical to understand.

"Geographic" number is a ridiculous designation now used for normal telephone numbers of normal subscribers, that was coined I believe originally by Oftel or by BT with the agreement of Oftel. Originally ALL telephone numbers were "geographic". What is so ridiculous about this name is that of course all telephone calls must end up with a geographic termination somewhere on this planet! They chose this nomenclature quite carefully though as part of the intended structure of deception, because as we discovered later their intent right from the start was to use a new designation of number as disguised Premium numbers so that although queuing had been prohibited on Premium numbers within the New National Numbering Plan BT could then commence the scam of having disguised Premium numbers with queuing! They thus designated this new type of number as "non-geographic" number (NGN), and this was to have the smoke screen of Number Translation Service (NTS) to conceal the real reason behind its adoption.  The stated purpose of this new type of number was to allow the final call termination to be flexible in geographic location, rather as had been accomplished prior to that with devices (external to the exchanges) such as Diverters.

[Number Translation just means that the number actually called is translated (diverted) into any one of a list of numbers for a particular subscriber. NTS allowed "computers" within telephone exchanges to cycle the final call termination according to certain defined constraints and current traffic loading.] A call which was thencefrom defined as NGN could end up being terminated at any one of a number of possible geographic locations for a particular subscriber (hence the choice of the ridiculous term NGN).

So now you have the two types of call possibility within the UK - GN or NGN. A GN call goes to a normal telephone number (such as 01703...) as you dial it and it is carried at the lowest rate of charge (there generally now being no difference in cost for any call terminating at any normal subscriber's line in the UK regardless of distance, i.e. whether Local or National in the old terminology). An NGN call is much more expensive for the caller, terminates at any one of a number of locations through NTS, and is usually being used as a disguised Premium number with queuing allowed. There are of course a series of different NGNs with different charge rates, like 0870, 0844, 0845, 0871, 070 PNS and 09.

Hope that explains the essence of it?

Non geographical numbers are not included in any free minutes (from landlines) therefore only geographical calls (those beginning with 01, 02) are the only ones included within your free minutes.

That is why this site is here, most people search this site for the geographical number alternative to the non geographical numbers that gov departments and companies may use.

While I totally understand where Dorf is coming from with his explanation basically geographical numbers starting 01 or 02 are for real telephone lines that lead to a presence somewhere on a real telephone exchange in the uk.  Whereas non geographical numbers that start 03 to 09 all in fact divert to a real number starting 01 or 02 somewhere but cost you a lot more money in the process.

You can call numbers starting 01 or 02 for only 2p a call (no matter how long) with call18866.co.uk but their great rates do not cover non geographic numbers starting 03 to 09.

Likewise all inclusive calling plans that let you call all geographic numbers starting 01 or 02 do not let you make calls to numbers starting 03 to 09 for free, except for numbers starting 0800 or 0808.

Also remember that on BT Option 1 a normal national call costs you 5.5p for up to 60 minutes in the evening and at the weekend, whereas 0870 calls cost 3.75p per minute in the evening and 1.5p per minute at the weekend.  Also 0845 numbers cost 1p per minute in the evening and at the weekend.  0844 numbers cost between 1p and 5p per minute at all times depedning on the number called.  0871 numbers cost between 6p and 10p per minute at all times, although most 0871 numbers tend to cost 10p per minute.

It is very confusing but it is deliberately meant to be so that the 50% of the population who are numerically illiterate will get ripped off by BT, NTL, Cable & Wireless etc.

I hope this is some help, although Dave's two standing articles at the top of the page also go through this.

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Dorf I forgot about the 05 numbers that do terminate on a computer. Oops.  Life is never as simple as one would hope.  Especially not with NGNs

As for the rest of the NGN numbers they all have geographic alternatives but its just that as some of their users change where they point the number at different times of day or year they use this as an excuse to refuse to release any alternative geographic number.  But I suspect that one will only win this battle if one is prepared to keep hammering very hard on the door of the Information Commissioner.