does anyone have any more information on this story?

Sky News

Given the original quoted source and the fact that there's no mention of it in OFCOM's 2006/7 Annual Plan - I'd be inclined to think it was Europhobic vitriol on the part of the Daily Mail.

It looks like they have read one thing and written something entirely different.

See: http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/...d.php?t=347163

Haven't they got anything else better to do and worry about?

The European goverment are also after withdrawing 999 and promoting the use of 112.

The SKY news site tells us that the European goverment wants the UK to fit in with the rest of Europe because our current system is bending the rules. Well, I must say, that the rest of Europe has a terrible system. In greece, it took me ages to figure out how to dial a number, the freephone numbers now start with 800 instead of 0800 as they have removed the first 0's from dialling codes. Ao I then ring a local number as advertised (0825) and I was informed that it had changed to 825, then I still couldn't get through and was informed by FREE directory enquiries on a 3 digit number that it I should be dialling 2825. What a funny old system.

Then in Germany, mobile numbers start with all different ranges 01,02 and 03 mixed up with local area codes which is confusing.

I really don't understand why Oftel listened to the European goverment regarding directory enquiries as the new six digit numbers are only being used in a few countries, in fact 118 is the number for emergency services and 112 is Directory enquiries in Switzerland. So how can the goverment expect people not to get confused when Germany a few miles over the border the numbers are completely different and various different conditions apply.

The European goverment should copy the UK and use the following prefixes across Europe.

Emergency services: 112/999
Directory Enquiries: 192 or from another provider 118XXX
International directory: 193
Disabled Directory: 195
Geographical numbers: 01/02
Mobiles and pagers: 07
Personal numbers: 06
Premium rate: 09
International: 00
Operator assistance: 100
International operator: 155
Disabled operator assistance 198
Non-Emergency-General enquires: 101
Customer service: 150
Faults: 151
Miscellaneus enquiries: 152
Business faults: 154
Local Time: 123
International Time: 124(New Facility)

The 5 major mobile networks should also be included and should have the same numbers for accessing services.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/ar...131760,00.html

What a complete load of s**t that is.

Ofcom is a complete failure, Oftel was a better regulatory body than Ofcom and should have been kept seperate.

Ofcom has been a complete waste of time and have had more complaints and problems since the organisation restructured.

These for example are the failures:

Interphone Public Networks: Oftel was assisting the company in getting all of its 1,400 street payphones back into service and in a reasonable state. The ofcom was introduced and failed to assist any further and the business was unable to maintain the phone boxes. Therefore, nearly 500 of these kiosks now have to be removed by councils at tax payers cost.

Easynet/UK online: Constantly introducing services with unfair contracts to the customer. Ofcom seems unable to do anything about it despite 1,200 complaints within 3 months.

Wight Cable North: Asked for entitlement to operate electronic communication apparatus (In other words, asked for licences to expand). The company has been messed about with by Ofcom despite the company having approvals from local councils and DTI.

Oprah telecom: Theiving from mobile users. Again, ofcom just keeps telling consumers to contact the company who are a complete waste of time and money.

0800-REVERSE: Unexplained charges and hidden charges to customers and mis-leading advertisements in which case is dealt with both Ofcom-Telecoms and Ofcom-ITC. Ofcom has failed to investigate this as the information was provided to customers with small print on screen so small that you need a magnifying glass to read it. Ad's also do not mention that it is not possible to reverse charge call to non-BT lines with this service.

Vodafone,Orange,T-Mobile,3: Expensive termination rates. This has been ongoing for long time. Oftel took Vodafone,Orange and T-Mobile to court about it, the companies lowered the costs in 2003. O2 previously lowered costs a year before by working with Oftel.

Premier Managed payphones and Patientline: These two companies are charging people who call their ill relatives in hospital up to 50p per minute. A 10 minute call to a bed-side phone cost £5 which was operated by Patientline. Ofcom have failed to deal with it. However Premier payphones lowered this amount to 20p per minute without encouragement from Ofcom.

And I bet there's many more.