Quote from Number6 20 SEP 2006
Quote:Is the war on 0870 over? As of January 2008 OFCOM say that landline and mobile operators have to repair the national geographic link. Therefore calls to 0870 will be the same price as calls to standard national numbers. OFCOM also say that they will tackle the 0845 NTS in the next two years.
Or have I misinterpreted all this?
Don't be deluded, Number6! The revenue from NTS calls - which currently
includes 0870 and 0845 - is pure heroin flowing in the veins of the telcos,
especially BT. What an absolute master stroke this was - offering a pittance
back to its customers in return for maintaining revenue from voice calls, in
the face of competition. And since there is a small fee paid back to the call
receiver, other companies cannot undercut BT's monopoly. Add to this the sheer
genius of making the numbers appear to be "similar" to the well known Freecall
number, and a weak, ineffectual and totally compromised regulator - and the
coup is complete! Do you REALLY think they are going to give this up? Just like
that junkie, they are totally, absolutely hooked! Just look at the efforts they
will make to hide the underlying geographic number. Why? It's not the company
who has the 0870 number that is generally doing this - you will probably find
that the Telco has threatened them with all sorts of dire and legal
consequences if that number is exposed. They'd lose their revenue! That's what
is key. Junkies really need that fix!
See, even that great white charger, voice over the Internet (VoIP) is set up to
be a failure in Rip-Off UK because so many calls use the NTS numbers. Result?
They can never be "free" - it's that charge again, and BT keep laughing all the
way to the bank. Keep that drug flowing, guys......
No, they will make a big issue of how benevolent they are; how wonderful and
customer focused their call plans are.....and all the time, they will be
frantically selling their NTS customers on the "new, increased benefits" of 0871
or 0844 numbers. Why, we can even afford to give you a little more revenue per
call. (thinks) After all, we are going to make a heap more!" Can't lose that
fix!!
War over? 'Fraid not Just a minor tactical withdrawal whilst regrouping and
mounting a new offensive at the weakest point - the couldn't care, doesn't
understand mug UK-telephone-user punter! ("What do you mean, 0871 is a premium
number. It's free, ain't it?")
The battle cry is 'Onward with 0871'. They REALLY need that fix!!