18866 number display

inforapenny_3

when my mobile receives calls from 18866 users it no longer shows the number they are calling from on the phone screen. It just says "call". When they try without dialing 18866 it is fine. Anyone else found this problem?

GlennTheBaker

I presume because of the way 18866 route a call, this can affect the Calling Line Identification. Sometimes when I receive a call from a 18866 user I get the full international number (00441332xxxxxx), sometimes all is normal and sometimes nothing at all!

bunking_off

There are a number of ways which low cost providers can use to secure cheap rates to mobiles. Amongst these are;

- "overseas refile". In this situation a provider in the UK may offer rates to overseas carriers to terminate calls in the UK, which rather than having a separate rate for fixed versus mobile, use a "blended rate". So, instead of offering to terminate calls at 1ppm to fixed lines and 12ppm to mobiles, a provider might choose to offer a blended rate at 7ppm regardless of destination. Low cost providers exploit this weakness by sending UK-UK mobile calls overseas, then getting them routed back to the UK provider offering the blended rate. This can result in either the CLI being in international format, alternatively to cover their tracks the low cost provider might remove the CLI information.

- "GSM gateways". Calls from one mobile to another are typically cheaper than the wholesale rate that mobile operators apply for calls from fixed lines. Therefore, there are companies which literally have large racks of mobile phones called GSM gateways. When you call e.g. your friend's mobile, they terminate the call on a landline into the GSM gateway, then re-originate it from the GSM gateway and get the mobile-mobile rate. Once again, the CLI is suppressed otherwise you'd get the CLI of the SIM card in the GSM gateway. NB this technique is of dubious legality as it breaks the Wireless Telegraphy Act.

I wouldn't for one moment suggest that the provider you mentioned uses these techniques....there may be other reasons for the lost CLI...just take it as an insight into the games that providers play to secure the lowest cost base.

pinkonion

I've just tried my mobile using 18866 from my home phone and it works ok - seems to only be some calls affected.