From the 1st October 2020, London will gain 10 million more landline phone numbers as Ofcom introduces the new 0204 area code to keep the capital talking. These new 0204 numbers will be introduced alongside the familiar London codes of 0203, 0207 and 0208.

Interested in being one of the first businesses to get this new number?

RocketPhone is here to help. We are a UK-based cloud phone system, offering telephony solutions for businesses of all sizes.

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Why The Change?

As London maintains rapid growth in the building of new homes and offices, there is an ever increasing need for new phone numbers. With the 020 dialling code, London currently has over 30 millions numbers allocated but fewer than 1 million remain. The distribution of new numbers, regulated by Ofcom, currently stands at 30,000 each week and all remaining numbers will be used up by the end of 2019.

The creation of the 0204 code will inject an additional 10 million numbers for businesses and homes across the capital.

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We’re seeing growing need for 020 numbers, as London expands and new homes and offices are built. These 10 million new numbers will allow us to meet demand and help keep the capital connected.

Liz Greenberg, Head of Numbering at Ofcom

This is not the first time London has had to undergo a dramatic area code change. In 1958 the city was allocated the single code 01, which remained until 1990 when it was replaced by two codes – 071 for inner London numbers, and 081 for outer London. Five years later, all UK area codes gained a ‘1’ after the ‘0’ to make it clear it was a landline number, and the capital’s codes changed to 0171 and 0181.

In 2000, the UK’s phone numbers were reorganised through the ‘Big Number Change’. London was given a single area code once again – 020 – and the inner and outer London divide was removed.

Does My Business Need A 0204 Number?

The short answer is no. Your existing London numbers will continue to work. However, if your business is based in the Greater London area or you’d like to establish a presence there, a 0204 number could greatly benefit your business. Choosing a 0204 number now allows you to get a step ahead of your competition and gives your business that unique edge.

What Are The Benefits Of A Geographic Number?

When it comes to business, a number with geographic association can have subtle yet profound benefits. Such benefits include:

• Local presence, even for international businesses
• Increased trust from customers in your area
• Free calls for your customers

Local presence, wherever your business is

Owning a local number is not restricted to geographic proximity. Your business can own a local number even if you aren’t based there. You can even own a number and be based in another country! For example, your business could be based in Manchester but all your phone numbers are London landline numbers. This can dramatically help with call connection rates when targeting customers in your target local area.

With RocketPhone, you can set up your desired local numbers and automatically select which outbound number to display depending on your customer’s location. Book a demo to find out more

Trusted like a local

It may seem odd in today’s digital age, but local numbers still have a profound impact on customer trust. No matter what product or service your business offers, plenty of customers want to buy from locally based businesses. A geographic number allows you to demonstrate that you’re based in the local area and garner trust.

Free calls for your customer

We all hate looking at our phone bill and finding shocking extra charges. This is usually because some businesses charge us for calling. With a geographic number, for the most part, calls are free or fall under our calling allowances. Get your geographic number today and start delighting your customers!

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