MASS MAIL 26 OCTOBER 2006 - FDA - STANDARDISATION WHEN LISTING TELEPHONE NUMBERS

FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA
"Participation Builds Unity"

"MADE IN AFRICA - FOR AFRICA"

FDA NEWSLETTER

MASS MAIL
26 OCTOBER 2006
FDA - STANDARDISATION WHEN LISTING TELEPHONE NUMBERS
(All)

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The FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA proudly presents you with the following information that may add value to Africa's development. Please direct any correspondence to: info@isupportafrica.com

STANDARDISATION WHEN LISTING TELEPHONE NUMBERS
You may be aware that the international code when dialing from one country to another has now been standardised as '00' to meet international standards. You may recall the international code was prefixed as '+' - to reach South Africa, you would have to dial '09'

When researching the way telephone numbers are written on business cards, we are faced with a zillion combinations - making it very difficult to select the right option. Surprisingly, some business-cards, circulated into the international market, fail to provide the full international codes required to connect.

Most of us who regularly deal throughout the African continent will identify with this issue. All too often we endeavor to call a number in a foreign country, and receive no response or an engaged signal and then we all to often blame the situation on the lack infrastructure. I am not insinuating that there is NO problem with telecommunication infrastructure - I am just trying to highlight the possibility of how the inclusion or exclusion of one digit could cause great frustration.

Therefore, when listing a number we should follow certain basics. A telephone number in Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa should now be listed as follows:

00 27 (0)11 793 4409 (our old telephone number)

00 = The International Dialing Code
27 = This code designates the country - South Africa
(0) = This digit is only required when dialing the number locally e.g. in South Africa - therefore listed in brackets
11 = This is the code for a particular region or area - Johannesburg
793 = This is the code that further defines the region or area - Randburg
4409 = The dedicated number.

A number in London, Great Briton would list their number as follows:

00 44 (0)207 427 2377

00 = The International Code '00'
44 = This code designates the country - Britain
(0) = This digit is only required when dialing the number locally e.g. in Britain - therefore listed in brackets
207 = This is the code for particular region or area - London
427 = This is the code that further defines the region or area
2377 = This is their code or number.

A mobile number (South Africa) would be written as follows:
00 27 (0)84 333 7777

Please note that in South Africa the 0860 or 0861 numbers are increasing in popularity - these numbers are also referred to as the 'follow me' numbers - should you move office you can take your number with - and may be used as 'toll free' numbers.

These 0860 or 0861 numbers are subject to the same rules when dialing from a country outside of South Africa - thus dialed and listed as follows:
00 27 (0)861 23 23 23

In South Africa the '+' or '09' codes will prevail parallel with the new '00' code until 16 January 2007, thereafter '00' for international access will be mandatory while dialing the area code '011' as for Johannesburg from within Johannesburg will also be mandatory.

I have already changed all the numbers on my mobile to the '00' prefix.

Please forward this email to all your contacts - in particular we need to get the message to printers; DATA capturers; web designers and anyone constantly listing telephone detail.

Your comments on our new 'Africa Trade Centre' logo, designed by Heidi Amroini, from Junxion Communications in Tshwane (Pretoria) here in South Africa, would be most welcome - see:
http://www.foundation-development-africa.org/africa_trade_centre/index.htm

Take care
Peter

COMMENTS RECEIVED

26 October 2006
Hi Peter,
I trust you are well!
I thought I respond to your email, as my view regarding a standardised way of listing telephone numbers is slightly different. I agree with your suggestion, except for the '00' part. It should always be listed as '+' and the country code, as the '00' - even though it is quite common - is by no means the general system. The number combination you have to dial before a country code depends solely on the country you are calling from (not the country you try to reach!). Therefore the '+' is the best option as it replaces these digits, which vary greatly from country to country
See this link:
www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/3659/ACCESS.HTML
One other advantage is that you can actually dial the '+' from a cell phone instead using '00', '09', etc. This way, you don't have to worry about what digits to dial before the country code...
Best regards,
Denise
Denise KOEHLER SPAULL
Omega Investment Research (Pty) Ltd
South Africa

26 October 2006
Dear Peter,
Thank you very much for informing me of the above change.
I have forwarded to all colleagues at the RSC, JHB.
Regards
Jockely General Mbeye
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
South Africa

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