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Phone Numbers Go Locationless

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the and-where-are-you-calling-from dept.

flipper65 writes "Well, it looks like one of the last bastions of the regional Bells is under attack. Now your VoIP provider can give you their own area code and exchange. With the proliferation of broadband and voice services, your land line is now as mobile as your cell phone, and cheaper. Look for this to turn in to a battle royal. The regional bells will not go quietly into that good night."

5 of 233 comments (clear)

  1. How can I say ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't care, I'm deaf !

  2. I Wonder... by Supernoma · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...what the phone companies are going to try and do about this? I can see them charging long distance to people with the VoIP area codes.

    --
    I'll Find You Peer, If It's The Last Thing I Do!!!!
    1. Re:I Wonder... by dmayle · · Score: 5, Informative

      <<I will exchange a London number for a New York number... any takers...>>

      I've heard rumors that Vontage is none too hip to this idea. While the advertise the fact that you can make a call from *anywhere* with an internet connection I've been told they crack down if you use the service too much i.e. if you were to buy a box with a New York number and use it only in London.

      I've got to say that this is not true at all. I use Vonage from France with a U.S. phone number (about 3 hours of phone calls every weekend). When Vonage found out about this, not only weren't they bothered, but they asked to me to do an interview with the Wall Street Journal. Also, they now happily offer up the virtual phone numbers in all of their countries to any customer for around $5/month. If I want, I can add a UK, US, Canada, or Mexico phone number.

  3. Ma Bell is back by alexwcovington · · Score: 5, Funny

    With a vengeance, too. I doubt AT&T in its heyday was less scrupulous than these guys. Next thing you know they'll be charging us for long distance Internet.

    --
    (It's never too late to join the Renaissance)
  4. Will US cell charges become more "European" now? by rpjs · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Here in Yurp, in most countries mobiles have their own area codes (07xxx here in the UK). This means telcos can and do charge for calls to them at a different (higher) rate than traditional landline calls. However, this means the mobile user doesn't pay to receive the call as they do in the USA, where the other operators can't tell from the number alone that the call is going to a cellphone.

    Presumably if the US cell operators are savvy they'll be able to offer "no incoming call charge" service plans for people using these new numbering schemes.

    I always thought it was a bit bizarre of the US telcos to give geographical numbers to mobile phones.