Windsor's World

Our New Vision

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:09:00 +0000

A powerful online package that enables organisations to obtain advanced call statistics on their memorable numbers has been launched by Windsor Telecom.

Vision works alongside all of Windsor’s memorable numbers and gives organisations near real-time information on the amount of calls received, the geographic location of callers and the quantity of unanswered or engaged calls. This information can then be used to evaluate the success of marketing and advertising campaigns and to establish whether additional phone lines are needed if calls are being missed, which could indicate a loss of business or a reduction in enquiries.

Vision enables companies to analyse this data in graphs, tables and even interactive maps which can be exported to spreadsheets at the touch of a button.

Windsor Telecom is currently offering a FREE 30 day trial of Vision.

See Vision in action. Take a look at our 3 minute Vision Demo.

03 for the BBC

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:11:00 +0000

I was listening to BBC Radio One over the weekend and it is now using an 03 number as its main studio line!

This is great, as I can imagine a large percentage of listeners will be contacting the station using their mobile phones. This means that they will not be charged more than a standard 01 or 02 number to do so and their call could even be free, as 03 numbers are included in the free minutes that are provided by mobile and landline networks.

Radio 2 has also started using them too!

Have you heard / seen anyone else using an 03 number?
Let us know - post a message below.

0300 for Oxfam!

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:38:00 +0000

Oxfam has started using 0300 numbers!

The charity is now using the numbers, which are specifically allocated for public bodies and the not-for-profit sector, as its main contact lines from its website.

To read more go to http://www.oxfam.org.uk/contact/0300.html

New 0300 Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:07:00 +0000

We have just published the first ever guide to 0300 numbers for the healthcare sector.

The FREE 7-page guide, explores:

What 0300 numbers are.

How they differ from other memorable telephone numbers.

Why they are being advocated by Lord Warner and Health Secretary Alan Johnson for use in the healthcare industry.

The true costs involved in setting up and running an 0300 number.

Download your FREE copy now.

Targetmaster Demo

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:44:00 +0000

When is a number not just a number?

When it’s a Windsor Telecom memorable number that comes FREE with our hugely popular Targetmaster service... That’s when!

With Targetmaster you can instantly divert your calls to another landline or mobile* at the touch of a button. 24/7, 365 days a year – perfect for disaster recovery if your landline goes down.

Targetmaster is incredibly powerful, yet exceptionally easy to use.

And now you can see for yourself – take a look at our brand new Targetmaster demo!

Let us know what you think – feel free to post a comment below.

*With Targetmaster Plus

Julia's Mayhem

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:03:00 +0000

JULIA GEARS UP FOR 24 HOUR MOUNTAIN MAYHEM

24 hours of cycling, sounds tough.

24 hours of cycling, up steep hills, sounds tougher.

24 hours of cycling up steep hills and off-road through the forests of Herefordshire sounds like an absolute nightmare!

But, that’s what our Julia is doing this summer.

She’s swapping her ‘Head of Systems and Projects’ cap for a set of cycling clips and is taking part in Giant’s Mountain Mayhem 2008, which is happening between 20th and 22nd June at Eastnor Castle in Ledbury.

Julia’s heading up ‘Team Windsor’, which also includes her partner, Marcus. The team of five will be taking it in turns to complete the eight mile, off-road relay on a rotational basis for the duration of the 24 hour event. The race demands strong teamwork and organisational skills alongside excellent fitness and stamina.

Julia said, “I am really excited about this challenge! I have never been involved in anything like this before so I have been following a vigorous 12 week training plan to bring my fitness levels up. Marcus and I also regularly complete 20 mile cycles along the Purbecks and we have been riding up some incredibly steep mountain trails in Wales too – so hopefully Team Windsor will reign triumphant!”

Julia is no stranger to competition after reaching the final 25 in last year’s Formula Woman Championship.

Good luck Julia and the team from all of us at Windsor Telecom!

May 0870 Update

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:36:00 +0000

Ofcom has set out new proposals to provide clarity about the price of calls to 0870 numbers and strengthen consumer protection on calls to 0871 numbers.

Ofcom have released a consultation document that proposes that all calls to 0870 numbers should normally cost no more than calls to geographic numbers (01 or 02 numbers) and that 0870 calls should be included in communications providers’ call packages price plans on the same basis as geographic calls.

This may significantly reduce the cost of calling these numbers.

Ofcom’s proposals would effectively end revenue sharing on 0870 numbers when combined with other proposed changes to non-geographic call regulation.

Communications providers that want to charge 0870 calls at rates above those for geographic numbers would be bound by strict rules about how prices are publicised and would be responsible for ensuring their customers know what 0870 calls cost.

If communications providers do not comply with these rules, they could be subject to penalties including possible fines.

Separately, Ofcom also published a consultation setting out proposals to improve consumer protection for calls to the most expensive 08 numbers (0871 numbers) by bringing these within the remit of the premium rate services regulator PhonepayPlus (formerly called ICSTIS).

Under PhonepayPlus rules, businesses would be required to publish the price of calls in their advertising and promotional materials and PhonepayPlus would also investigate complaints about excessively long call queuing times only after the complaint has first been referred to the service provider.

Ofcom aims to have the proposed changes in place by the autumn.

101 Non-Emergency Number Loses Funding

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:25:00 +0000

You may be aware that the government has abandoned direct funding for the Nationwide 101 Non-Emergency Number.

The 101 phone number was being piloted in certain areas around the UK to complement and take the pressure off 999 emergency services.

Around 10 million 999 calls to the police were made in 2004, yet an incredible 70% of these were not for genuine emergencies.

According to www.101.gov.uk not all problems need an emergency response, but many people call 999 because they don’t know what else to do.

Clearly the loss of the 101 phone number will impact heavily on our local communities and most emergency services are now adopting alternative non-emergency numbers to maintain public confidence and continue to take the pressure off 999 emergency services.

Many are turning to the new 0300 numbers, which have recently been released by Ofcom exclusively for government services. 03 numbers have already been widely acclaimed by many, including the national media and other key stakeholders, as the preferred phone number for the public sector.

This is reflected in Sir David Varney’s 2006 pre-budget report on transforming public service delivery, when he stated that;

“The launch by Ofcom of the new 0300 number range in 2007 presents government with a unique opportunity to implement a single number range to simplify access to government services. Reducing the number of published numbers and implementing a clear numbering and tariffing strategy across government would make access to public sector services less confusing to citizens and businesses and would be more effective for the taxpayer”.

The popularity of 03 numbers among the public sector is largely thanks to:

The fact that they are so easy to remember. For example, Windsor Telecom hold the ‘0300 999’ range, so currently offer phone numbers, such as 0300 999 9999 or 0300 999 0000 etc.
They cost the same to dial as standard 01 and 02 numbers and are easy and inexpensive to dial from mobile phones. Did you know that in 2007 35% of all calls made in the UK were on mobile phones? (Ofcom 2007).
You can differentiate yourself from commercial companies, so the public are confident in who they are calling.
They enable you to provide an efficient and cost effective service with internet based call management.
03 numbers also allow for call statistics to be produced so you can measure their success in terms of marketing and usage.

Watch this space for more information on non-emergency numbers in your area and learn more about 0300 numbers here.

Charity Auction on Wave 105 FM for Whizz-Kidz

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:38:00 +0000

We're supporting Wave 105 this Christmas as they host their first ever on-air auction on Thursday 13th December, in a bid to raise much needed funds for the national children’s mobility charity, Whizz-Kidz.

Bidders will be able to reach Wave 105 by dialing their dedicated charity auction line, selected for its special reference to the souths leading radio station. Windsor has provided 0844 850 1050 free of charge to support this worthy cause. The number will be particularly important for the event as non-geographic numbers are renowned for increasing call volumes and being easy to remember.

‘Whizz-Kidz’ service is about giving disabled children and young people the independence to enjoy an active childhood in all areas of their lives. The charity focuses on providing them and their families with, mobility equipment, wheelchair training and advice to ensure their child gets the right support. They also teach the children life skills to help build on their self confidence and support their transition into adulthood.

Martin Ball, Wave 105’s Managing Director, says; “We have got some fantastic prizes from some of the biggest names in the music industry including, Bon Jovi, James Blunt, Robbie Williams, Take That, Enrique Iglesias and Newton Faulkner. Plus a number of fantastic "money can't buy" experiences involving a day on Sunseeker Predator, VIP Day at Silverstone, a gardening experience, courtesy of Fairweathers garden centre in Beaulieu and many more. We are all very excited about the auction and are sure we will raise a lot of money for this extremely worthwhile charity.”

To bid for any of these prizes listeners can call the dedication charity auction line on 0844 850 1050. will be live on the auction day from 8am – 5.30pm.

Ofcom go for 03 Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:45:00 +0000

Ofcom recently announced that it has adopted new 03 UK Wide numbers for a whole series of contact lines including it's main switchboard, Media Office & Advisory Team.

As a public body themselves, they have taken full advantage of the new 0300 rang e, which have been specifically allocated for these types of organisations. There numbers include 0300 123 1000 and 0300 123 3000.

Windsor Telecom are proud to offer organisations some of the most memorable 03 number ranges available, such as 0300 111 0000 and 0300 999 0000

03 numbers were introduced by Ofcom as an alternative number for organisations, including public sector bodies, who wish to offer their consumers a single, trusted point of contact.

Download and read more from Ofcom's press release or see our main 03 numbers page for more information.

Your Blog is here

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:51:00 +0000

Welcome to Windsor’s World, your new, interactive and evolving gateway to heaps of news, views and chat from us, our web browsers and valued customers.

From how to grab the best offer online, introducing and debating new products and opportunities, tips on how to effectively use your number, to telling us what you think of our website (good or bad!).

Our much anticipated Blog has been a priority for us recently following feedback from you and others who wanted a place to interact with similar people, share ideas and simply keep up to date.

Remember this is your space and we fully intend to make it flourish and turn into somewhere you eagerly come back to. You can also get immediate updates delivered to you using our RSS function.

Its early days of course, but

What do you think?
Any ideas?
What would you like to see?

It would be great to hear from you, so please feel free to comment!

Relocating? Free Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:43:00 +0000

When we published our Free Business Relocation Guide we really had no idea how popular it was going to be.

We’ve literally has 100’s of requests and downloads by various people, often followed by positive feedback after they move, which is always good to hear.

It occurred to us a few years ago just how many of our new customers approached us when they were thinking about moving and wanted to avoid their telephone being one of the problems they have to overcome.

We know first hand just how demanding it can be to A) decide whether to move in the first place and B) go through the actual move, whilst keeping disruption to a minimum. We moved into our new office in January and it’s proved to be one of the best things we’ve ever done.

The guide is completely free and contains time and money saving tips on every page. If you’d like a copy for yourself you can download it now right here.

Let us know what you think...

Website Wishlist

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:58:00 +0000

Here at Windsor Telecom every waking hour is spent making sure our website is up to date, fully functioning and bringing you what you want.

We’re always adding new features and pages, which hopefully makes your life easier and the site more relevant and satisfying to use.

We’ve recently changed our main menu and enhanced the way you are able to look and buy memorable phone numbers.

We’re lucky in that we always get constructive feedback from our vast customer base, which makes these goals easier to achieve.

However, we’ve always believed you can’t get enough feedback and suggestions. This is how we’ve attracted so many new customers over the years and built the solid reputation, which sets us apart from all other providers.

On that note, your comments really matter to us, so what do you think of the website?
Is there anything you’d like to see more of?
Have you experienced problems or is there something we could do to make your life easier?

We really do welcome any comments & will respond ASAP...

Thanks!

Ofcom & 0870 Numbers - Urgent Update

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:42:00 +0000

Ofcom confirmed on 29th October 2007 they will be delaying the implementation of changes to 0870 numbers.

They also confirmed that there would be formal notification put into the public domain stating this within the next few days. As a result of this Telecoms Suppliers are now able to provide this information to their customers.

This means the proposed changes to 0870 numbers e.g. stopping out-payments and changing call charges will not be implemented on 1st February 2008.

At the moment it is unclear how long this delay may be as Ofcom may need to consult on new or amended policy proposals for 0870.

Why has this happened?

The main reasons for this delay is the growing opposition to these changes from major companies/sectors who use 0870 numbers, and that Ofcom have learned a valuable lesson with the recent changes they made to 070 numbers, where pre-call announcements are having to be utilised.

They discovered that the pre-call announcements applied to 070 numbers have caused 'safety of life issues' with critical emergency type services that use 070 numbers and have put the public at risk by making them waste valuable time listening to the pre-recordings rather than getting help.

The Ofcom proposals regarding 0870 numbers from 1st February 2008 includes a similar ability to apply pre-call announcements should an Originating Communication Providers wish to still charge more than the standard national rate (OCPs e.g. who the caller uses to dial the number, such as BT, Vodafone, 02, Kingston Communications etc). It is feared that again these pre-recordings could waste time in time-critical situations and as such, Ofcom has decided to delay the current 0870 policy implementation and undertake an assessment.

General 0870 History

Although there is a delay if Ofcom’s proposals still go ahead then the UK’s 0870 numbers will be very different indeed. It means that 0870 numbers will almost certainly attract inbound call changes payable by the number owner. At the moment some owners of 0870 numbers are able to earn small amounts of revenue from their 0870 numbers, which is generated when callers use their numbers.

This has meant that they are able to provide additional services to their customers, such as technical support lines, emergency numbers or help lines. Furthermore many charities actually completely rely on this extra revenue stream to keep afloat and provide valuable services to the public.

Windsor Telecom has kept its customers completely up-to-date with developments through our 0870 Advice Pages and our team of dedicated Account Managers.

Have you got an 0870 number?
What’s your view?
What do you think of the delay?

Please comment & see our 0870 Advice Pages to learn more

03 has landed

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:13:00 +0000

The most talked about phone number in years is finally with us.

Here at Windsor we’ve been calling for 03 numbers for sometime, not least because they offer a fresh injection of memorable numbers for you to choose from, but mainly because they give a whole new dimension to non-geographic numbers.

Technically they’re like any other non-geographic number, meaning you can still continue to use advanced call management (call statistics, call queuing, redirecting calls etc), but it’s the cost of calling that makes them special.

Cost of Calling
For the very first time callers will pay the same as calls to geographic numbers (normal landline numbers starting 01 or 02). This is significant because the charging structure on other non-geographic numbers is different depending on their pre-fix. For example, 0800 numbers are free to call and 0845 numbers are around the UK local rate (depending on operator).

The 030 number range, which includes 0300 numbers and 0303 numbers, has been specifically allocated by Ofcom for use by not-for-profit organisations, such as charities, and public sector organisations, for example Government departments, local councils, NHS organisations, GP practices, schools, colleges and universities.

Famous Followers
The Tameside and Glossop branch of the RSPCA, the well-known animal welfare charity, are already using their new 0300 numbers. The Ministry of Defence is the first of the Whitehall Departments to sign up to using 03 numbers. Many local councils have already positively assessed the benefits of using 03 numbers and have made a commitment to use them when they are released, which include South Beds, Wirral and Trafford councils.

Other companies and organisations will be eligible to sign up for the 033 number range. With 033 numbers, businesses can present a positive image, where they are pro-active in responding to caller concerns with other phone numbers, such as 0870. Callers can be more confident about who they are calling.

03 Pricing & Availability
Windsor Telecom has already secured some of the most memorable 03 numbers available, so you’ll have only the best to choose from.

All our 0300, 0303, 0333 & 0330 numbers include 10,000 FREE minutes per month. That’s equal to 167 hours of inbound calls per month. Thereafter calls are charged at 0.5 pence per minute.

With most operators you’ll be expected to pay as much as 3p per minute for every call. However, with Windsor Telecom’s unique approach to pricing you simply pay a manageable £24.99 per month and have a massive 10,000 minutes to enjoy.

You won’t find a more generous offer on 03 numbers in the market.

What’s Your 03 Number?
We’ve been trying to come up with inventive ideas to illustrate just how personal and memorable 03 numbers can be to any organisation.

The best so far have been;

0333 33 54321 for a company that manufactures fireworks or rockets

An Owl Sanctuary might choose 03330 28 28 20

An audio firm could have 03330 12 12 12

In fact, we seem to have started a frenzy. We’ve had everyone in the office dreaming up weird and wonderful combinations…

What business are you in? Can you think of your perfect match?
What are your thoughts on 03 numbers?
Are they the next best thing?
Have you got one?

Simply submit your comments to instantly get involved

Succeed with Google AdWords

noreply@blogger.com (Mark (Windsor Telecom)) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:35:00 +0000

Back in April we got together with paid search leaders Latitude White to bring you the first in our line of 5 Ways Guide’s and what better subject to tackle than 5 Ways to Succeed with Google AdWords.

Windsor's '5 Ways Guide' is a unique approach to spreading valuable knowledge about everyday activities that we all face. Often these types of guides are too detailed, written badly and fail to address the important points.

Our 5 Ways Guide’s are very different and cut through the wordy detail offering you solutions and direction in an easy to read manner, which you can actually put into practice.

Why not download your copy of ‘5 Ways to Succeed with Google AdWords’ right here

If you haven’t got Adobe Reader you can quickly get your own personal a copy here

We’ve already had tons of feedback and ideas for future ones
What would be your ideal ‘5 Ways Guide’??
Are you impressed with 5 Ways to Succeed with Google AdWords??