Universal Personal Telecommunications

A Personal Number denotes a telephone number that is not assigned to a specific port or place, but which can be flexibly routed to any connections. Order that the holder may, for example, daytime and evening be available at the same phone number even though he answers the phone at different locations. Also, the phone number stays the longer term, for example, after moving, the same. Therefore, it is advertised as a " personal number for life."

Situation in Germany

In Germany Telephone numbers are used with the prefix 0700. A 0700 number can be assigned by the Federal Network Agency, upon request to individuals and legal entities against a one-time fee. The applicant may choose the eight-digit number freely among the non -assigned numbers and therefore also get a phone number for the letter sequence ( " vanity number "). It is a personal, valid for life and are owned by the owner phone number. Initially, it is not associated with a terminal. The assignment to a connection must be made at the request of the holder number from a telephone company that it usually charges a monthly fee. Calls to the 0700 number are then forwarded to the or the associated connection / connections. The assigned ports, the number holder change at any time, to any destination completely at home and abroad, in the fixed and mobile network ( " routing "). The owner can use the " routing " also control so that any connections are addressed sequentially, so that its accessibility in comparison to a simple landline number is for example very high. The caller does not notice this while, he hears the normal ringing tone.

The information portal teltarif.de criticized that the numbers especially from abroad are partly not yet reached.

The right to dispose of a 0700 number remains in any case the owner and does not go to the phone company about. If a 0700 number for a certain time is not used - so no connection is assigned - that Network Agency shall recover it and re-assigned.

Call charges to 0700 numbers will be determined individually by the telephone companies. The German Telekom AG is currently charged for calls from their landline to 0700 numbers 12.6 cents per minute ( Mon-Fri 9-18 clock ), or 6.3 cents per minute ( rest of the time, Sat and Sun all day, Booth: 07 / 2012). Germany Cable customers will be provided throughout the day 14 cents per minute charged. Depending on your wireless service plan 0700 numbers may be more expensive or cheaper than calls to mobile numbers, but they are excluded as special numbers from popular flat rates. The reason for this is in addition to the business model of the telephone company is also an increased termination rate for this number range from which at least the forwarding must be refinanced to fixed lines in Germany.

Currently Personal telephone numbers are ( similar with 0180 numbers ) are excluded from price regulation. However, the Federal Network Agency will assess a regulatory regime which will then provide for more transparency (Stand: 07/ 2012).

The numbering length is 11 digits in Germany, without the 0 So: 700 (3 digits ) xxxxxxxx (8 digits) = 11 digits

Alternative services

Since the personal phone number is associated with considerable costs ( allocation and setup as one-time costs, often to monthly charges ), the 0700 number range has so far met with limited success. While there is no alternative services with similar characteristics, for many purposes, where forwarding is set to different locations in the foreground, but with Internet telephony is a sufficient replacement available. Fees vary, basic services are often free.

Many Internet telephony providers also allow redirects to any destination, sometimes abroad. The redirects can, however, set up less differentiated. Forwarding to landline connections is usually free of charge, however, most Internet phone connections can be anywhere in conjunction with any Internet access ( " nomadic use "), a regular forwarding is then not necessary. The cost of transmission to mobile terminals are similar to those of the 0700 ports. Some providers allow the registration of multiple devices under one user account ( Parallel ). The caller will be charged usually charges for fixed line tariff ( local call number ). Some providers are also 032 with location-independent Internet numbers are available, but they are disadvantageous in terms of routing and pricing.

Various mobile operators allow relaying to external landline or mobile numbers. With Sipgate One is a mobile product was still available, which in each case forwarded a fixed line, mobile and Skype connection free of charge and in parallel. The service has been set during the beta phase.

Personal phone numbers in other countries

• Worldwide personal numbers: 878
• In Switzerland, Swisscom operation from 1998 to 2001 the service OneNumber ( code 0878 ). This service has been adopted by the FirstCom Group GmbH.
• Posted: Europe personal numbers in the European Telephone Numbering Space ( 3883-7- XXX -XXX -XXX)