Friday, 30 September 2011

Leading local numbers company reports increase in demand for 0203 numbers

We were interested to read that one of the leading suppliers of virtual telephone numbers, The Virtual Number Company, reported that it has had to increase its stock of London 0203 numbers a few weeks ago because of a large increase in demand.

Those of you who follow London phone numbers will remember that the 0203 number - or rather the 020 London area code with the first digit of the rest of the number being 3 - were only introduced in 2005. Previously there had only been 0207 and 0208, for inner and outer London. 0203 was introduced as an across all of Greater London code.

It took some time to catch on, but it seems from what The Virtual Number Company has said that it is now finally as popular as the more established 0207 and 0208 numbers. Maybe the demand is there because of the Olympics, and it is being used as one internationally recognised number?

Friday, 16 September 2011

Popular Local Phone Numbers: Cambridge

As our mini-series looking at some of the most popular places for virtual local phone numbers seems to be so popular, we thought we would continue it this week, and as we don't think that we are putting one university city above another university city and taking a preference for the boat race, we're heading east to Cambridge this week!

The local phone number for Cambridge is 01223. Cambridge is about 50 miles to the north east of London, and as has already been hinted at, is best known for Cambridge University. The University was founded in 1209 when students were fleeing persecution in Oxford. Peterhouse College, the oldest college, was founded in 1284.

Archaeological evidence shows that people have lived where Cambridge is now since before the Roman invasion of Britain, but it became a major military outpost under the Roman occupation. It grew as a trading post under the Vikings, and then like many settlements in England, the Normans built a castle there after the 1066 invasion.

The population of the city according to the 2001 census is around 108,000, of which around 22,000 are students. Cambridge did not actually become a city until 1951, and surprisingly does not have a cathedral.

Friday, 9 September 2011

Popular Local Phone Numbers: Oxford

A few weeks back we started doing an occasional profile of some of the more popular virtual local phone numbers. Previously we looked at the city of Manchester. This week we are heading south to look at the beautiful, historical city of Oxford - "the city of dreaming spires".

The area code for Oxford is 01865. It has a population of around 165,000. The name Oxford comes from what it was originally - literally a ford for Oxen to cross the river. It was first inhabited in Saxon times, but it began to grow following the Norman invasion, when the Normans built Oxford Castle.

It is of course most famous for Oxford University, the oldest university in the English speaking world. It is one of the UK's most popular tourist attractions, drawing in around 9million visitors every year. It is the university that makes it one of the cultural and educational centres of the UK.

Friday, 2 September 2011

Local areas to get free internet

This week we had the announcement that the mobile phone company Three is planning to give free broadband internet access to rural areas of the UK that have difficulty accessing the internet, so some areas out there that have real local phone numbers rather than virtual local phone numbers will finally be getting some telecoms and internet benefits!

Three is going to give 3G broadband to 11 communities in the UK that struggle to get online. They are going to provide free dongles and free access for a year. The first beneficiaries of the scheme will be Gringley-on-the-Hill in North Nottinghamshire, who will receive 30 free dongles, free access for a year, public Wi-Fi hotspots in the pub and the community centre.

10 more areas will get this over the next year.