Abroadtel numbering range!!!

pricefighter

https://www.abroadtel.co.uk use there numbering range quite cleverly.You will notice that the last 2 no,s in there dialling codes equals the cost of the call.eg
0844 721 00 01(1p a min).
0844 747 00 02(2p a min).
0844 399 00 04(4p a min). and so on, and so on.

What happens if the prices change?

aerostar

The access number will change !!!! - so if it goes from 1p (0844 721 00 01) to 2p
then the number would be 0844 747 00 02(2p a min).

You would be told if you dialled the 1p number that the code is incorrect, and you would have been charged minimum rate for that information.

pricefighter

aerostar wrote:

The access number will change !!!! - so if it goes from 1p (0844 721 00 01) to 2p
then the number would be 0844 747 00 02(2p a min).

You would be told if you dialled the 1p number that the code is incorrect, and you would have been charged minimum rate for that information.

I doubt that they would change it,to another no they are already using, because it would cause utter confusion.I guess they would just allocate another no to the service.

andy88_2

apart from that indication, which wasn't that difficult to spot, the call prices can be derived from the first digits as well.

If a certain destination changes rate, they will just tell you to use a different number they already have; eg switch from the 3p number to the 4p one.

pricefighter

andy88 wrote:

the call prices can be derived from the first digits as well.

How do you work that out, am i missing something? Take the number
08447 21 00 01 how does the first digit represent the call price of 1p a minute.

andy88_2

It does, but other people know more about this than me

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/ioi/numbers/numbers_administered/s8.xls

there is another place to look, but I can't remember

Toxteth_OGrady

0 + 8 + 4 - 4 - 7 = 1

:rotfl:

:cool:

TOG

pricefighter

andy88 wrote:

It does, but other people know more about this than me

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/ioi/numbers/numbers_administered/s8.xls

there is another place to look, but I can't remember

So you cant work it out from the first digit as suggested
The correct way of working out the cost of an 0844 number is .Take the first 5 digits eg 08448 then the next two digits eg 39 tell you its a 2p a minute no.If it was 40 however it would be 5p.But you have to look at a list to find out

Its very confusing to Joe Public,and only Ofcom would allow a numbering scheme where there are different prices using the same code.

Nice one Toxteth_Ogrady. I shall be looking out for cheap call carriers using 0+8+4-4-8=0 numbers

andy88_2

I'm sorry, pricefighter, but spotting an interesting coincidence in the last two digits of a phone number is not really the way to figure the tariff.

As I said, the price can be derived from the first digits (not a single one as you misquote), should you wish to check it elsewhere. I didn't say it was easy, or obvious, or intuitive or sensible.

However, this thread is a voyage into abstract nerdiness. The easiest way to find out the tariff for Abroadtel's access numbers is to look at their website, which people that are interested in using the service will do. They have been helpful in choosing their numbers to give users an indication of the price.

All I have done is to point out that your hypothesis that call tariff changes will cause different access numbers is incorrectly predicated. If the call rate for say Slovakia changed from 3p, the access number 0844 896 0003 would not change to ~004, it would be their existing numbers 0844 747 0002 (2p) or 0844 399 0004 (4p).

I'm sorry to argue, but whingeing that you don't understand the overall numbering system of 0844 (nor do I, or does anyone?) isn't really relevant to this. Abroadtel's rates are very clearly stated, and tariff changes will merely mean a different number, as they already have done. I've already pointed out that some foreign mobiles have changed price in a few days, and Belgian and German mobiles are now 10p via 0871 280 0010 (not 0911...0010 which your reasoning would have predicted).

They can be called cheaper of course, but posts where I pointed this out have been deleted.


ps the same thing applies to 0871 numbers, so the call rate of 6p to 10p can be derived, but as I already said, why bother?

pricefighter

Yes i misread your op, you did say digits i stand corrected.

My OP was to highlight what i thought was a clever use of the numbers,to help callers with an indication of the price.
I didnt say it was the correct way to find the cost of a call.Clearly the easiest way is to look at there site, or listen to the announcement in front of each call.

You are avery helpful guy Andy 88,but sometimes me thinks you take things a little to seriously.

knuckledragger

PF,
That's "TOO" seriously. Honestly, if people don't take pride in their spelling then why do any of us bother...