Business directory Yell has chosen Premium SMS Provider WIN to provide the software platform for its new 118 24 7 TextBack service. 

The 118 24 7 TextBack service allows consumers to text simple directory enquiry requests for classified business information then receive a text response containing an embedded link to call the business telephone number directly.

The service is operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by the same team that handles the 118 24 7 telephone directory service. In December 2008 Texperts was Bought By 118 118 to provide this service.

Mark Canon, president of new media for Yell UK, said: “For occasions when making a phone call isn’t appropriate, 118 247 TextBack makes it easy to locate and call a late-night taxi, nearby restaurant, or find out film timings. We expect it to be a very popular and useful way for consumers to contact our database of more than 2.3 million businesses.”

SMS Provider WIN already handles more than one million customer interactions a day for other customers will manage the behind-the-scenes text element of the service for Yell. WIN’s cross-network text-message platform will route enquiries and responses to and from 118 24 7 advisors in one of Yell’s UK call centres in Bristol or Newport.

The text message response containing the requested information will cost the caller £1. Any texts that 118 24 7 needs to send to clarify the consumer’s specific request will not incur a charge. WIN will also handle all the behind the scenes billing associated with the service on behalf of Yell.

The new TextBack service will be highlighted in a forthcoming TV, radio and online advertising campaign for 118 24 7.

Story Source: www.160characters.org / Author: Mike Greenville.

Following consultation with industry, PhonepayPlus reduced its proposed 2009/10 budget to 0.0% on 2008/9. This was subsequently presented to, and approved by, the Ofcom Board. 

As a result, PhonepayPlus has announced that its levy for 2009/10 will be 0.48%. The levy applies to all outpayments payable by network operators to service providers in respect of revenue generated by premium rate services, and is calculated as a proportion of every outpayment to ensure that PhonepayPlus continues to receive adequate funding to carry out its activities, as required by Section 121 Communications Act 2003. 

Although an increase, this levy reflects the levels that were in place from 2000 to 2006. The levy rate has only reduced to below 0.45% in the last two years.

We are keen to minimise changes in the levy year on year but to do this will require stakeholder support for us to build higher reserves in times of market growth to be utilised when the market declines. Support for this proposition when we have tested it with stakeholders has, however, been limited.The levy has been set following extensive consultation with the industry and other stakeholders with regard to the Business Plan & Budget to be allocated to PhonepayPlus for its operations. 

However, the size of the levy is determined by a range of factors beyond just the PhonepayPlus annual budget. A declining market is also an important contributing factor as is the income we receive from fines, administrative charges and bank interest. Arrangements as to the payment, adjustment and auditing of the levy are set out in Annex 1 to the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice.

MARKET TRENDS
As part of our business cycle, we asked network operators for data on their actual outpayments for the first three quarters of 2008/9. In previous years, the timing of the consultation on our budget has only enabled analysis of a half year’s data.The information received suggests the market has reduced in size by 6% for these first three quarters, compared with 10% for the year 2007/08 , and will continue to remain flat or in decline as a consequence of global, European and UK economic forces. We have therefore based the levy on a full year decline of 8% in 2008/09.

We recognise however that there is considerable macro-economic uncertainty in the UK market and we will therefore keep this levy under review during 2009/10.
PhonepayPlus will shortly publish its full statement following its consultation on the 2009/10 Business Plan & Budget.  

Ofcom released a statement last week in relation to the future of 070 numbers. Numbers which are commonly known as “follow-me” or “personal” numbers that are typically routed to businesses landlines or mobile phones.

Initially the prefix was set to close and migrate over to a new 06 number range however the statement last week pretty much said that the range will stay as the time and resources it would take to migrate the 070 range to a new one would greatly out weigth any benefits.

Although in recent months there have been a number of compliants and investigations into the miss-use of the prefix these have almost ALL been down to the 070 PN7 50p per call number range that bills people 50p upon connection.

I personally dont see the logic in having the per call range at all and would support heavy regulation on who is issued with these numbers. The per minute number ranges receive much less abuse and many beleive that “070 Scams” would decrease dramatically if businesses were just permitted to adopt the per minute number range.

The announcement also confirmed that the pre-call announcement that was introduced breifly in October 2007 is to be removed on ALL 070 lines due to saftey concerns.