[LINK] Check out this article on The Age

[Max Devlin]

On 25 October 2010 14:13, Antony Barry <tony at tony-barry.emu.id.au> wrote:
> Phone numbers set for shake-up
>
>
> -----
> Sent from my iPad




[[That sounds like personal numbers. Was mooted years ago. Could be
abused to become iidentifiers. Glad they gave long enough for
comments]

[I also spotted the word policy objectives. The other article had
moving forward]


http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/phone-numbers-set-for-shakeup-20101025-1706y.html


 Phone numbers set for shake-up
Lucy Battersby
October 25, 2010 - 10:47AM

The communications regulator is set to overhaul Australia's telephone
numbering system after noticing an increase in the use of
internet-based phone calls, as well as general consumer apathy about
the cost of calls.

Use of area codes, free-call numbers and special numbers set aside for
satellite services and early-adaptors of internet telephony will be
examined in an historical shake-up of the telephone numbering plan
outlined in a discussion paper released by the Australian
Communications and Media Authority this morning.

"The ACMA cannot predict exactly where [technology] developments are
leading, but it is clear that they are leading away from consistency
with the current numbering arrangements," the ACMA's paper said.
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"Numbers have, in the past, served as a convenient and sensible means
of achieving the communications policy objectives...However the
pressures on numbering .... are causing difficulties in continuing to
achieve these objectives."

Geographic information inherent in fixed-line numbers was becoming
less relevant as more calls were made over the internet, known as
voice over internet protocol (VOIP), and as consumers paid less
attention to call costs because of falling prices and the prevalence
of mobile cap plans. The ACMA has asked whether geographic information
such as area codes and pre-fixes would still be relevant in the
future.

When the national broadband network is rolled out all connected
households will be making phone calls over the broadband fibre
connection, and based on current pricing would be charged the same for
local as national calls.

"There is no technical obstacle to a number used in connection with a
VOIP service being used in any place in Australia, challenging the
traditional tying of geographic numbers to specific geographical
areas," the ACMA pointed out.

"Many of the provisions in the Numbering Plan, such as those relating
to costs of calls to particular numbers, are built around an
assumption that landline phones would be the dominant form of
communication."

Lower call costs from mobile phones have prompted the ACMA to ask
whether there would need to be a distinction between mobile and fixed
numbers in the future.

Free calls to 1800 and 13 numbers would also be reviewed because these
calls were only free if made from a landline, and use of fixed line
services was declining in favour of mobile services.

The ACMA has asked whether it should abandon number pre-fixes for VOIP
calls, 0550, and satellite numbers, 014, 881 and 882, given they were
rarely used and had been replaced by numbers more familiar to
consumers.

The ACMA ruled out lengthening telephone numbers to increase
availability, as they were in the early 1990s.

Submissions to the review will be accepted until December 3.