Murdochs to face pressure at first post-phone hacking News International AGM

You may have read our posts earlier in the year about the phone hacking scandal and therefore know that, as a telecoms related blog, we have been following the story with some interest. We aim to cover all phone related stories, not just those relating to virtual London numbers. Within the last few weeks, the Serjeant-at-Arms in the House of Commons has announced her retirement. This was soon followed by an announcement by the Speaker, John Bercow, that security for the DCMS Select Committee hearing that the Murdochs were at was not good enough, and that they would look into creating a new Director of Security post for Parliament. We suspect that the timing cannot have been coincidental, and that Jill Pay was the latest individual to lose her job over the hacking furore. Saying that, she hasn't been too popular since allowing the police in to arrest Damian Green 2 or 3 years ago.

Anyway, Murdoch is back in the spotlight again today, as it is the first annual general meeting of News International since the phone hacking scandal erupted earlier this year and he was forced to close News of the World. Apparently he is going to face a tough time, and Tom Watson MP has been invited along to make it that little bit harder for him. We will report on what happens next week.

Knowing which virtual number is calling you

One problem often mentioned to us is the problem of having multiple virtual phone numbers for different areas pointed to the same phone, and then not knowing which number people are calling and therefore not knowing which area they are talking about. Such a scenario can leave you feeling rather red faced.

The solution to this is offered by many suppliers of virtual phone numbers now, and it is a application often called a whisper. The way it works is that a short recorded message is linked to each phone number. So, if you had an 020 London phone number, then the whisper might be "London number call". When you answer your phone, the whisper is played to you whilst the caller still hears the ringtone and doesn't hear the message, so you know what to expect when you answer. They are also handy for distinguishing between personal calls made to your existing number and business calls made to your virtual number.

If a virtual telephone number company isn't offering this to you as an option, then look for one that does.

What are virtual numbers?

Someone asked me the other day what exactly is a virtual phone number. Well, it is a phone number that isn't itself directly associated with a phone line. It is therefore effectively a call forwarding number. Someone phones the number and it forwards the call to either an existing landline or mobile phone number. So, a freephone 0800 number, 0845 number, 0844 number, or a local number or London phone number for a different location are all virtual numbers, as they are all forwarded to existing phone lines, aren't physically connected to that phone line, and can be moved around to point to different phone lines at will.

Use a virtual number to take advantage of the sun!

To anyone who has their own business, this wonderful last gasp of summer sunshine and glorious weekend has made me think of an added bonus to having a virtual phone number! You can have you virtual 020 numbers pointed at your mobile phone, so people can still get in touch with you and think you're in your London office as normal, whereas actually you're out in your garden in the hammock with a nice glass of wine and a book! Enjoy the wonderful weekend folks! It's probably the last we'll get until next March! :)

The phone hacking saga continues

Westminster has been back briefly for two weeks before MPs head off for the Party Conference season. One of the highlights in that short time was the news that the Culture, Media & Sport select committee is to recall News International Chairman, James Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch. A huge number of phone numbers have been hacked, including 0203 numbers and mobile phone numbers of the rich and famous, politicians, royals, and most notably crime victims.

More details about the ongoing saga can be read here.

OFCOM announces plans to make sure local phone numbers don't run out

OFCOM announced this week that they will start rolling out a new system next year for local phone numbers whereby you will have to dial the full area code for the number you are phoning even if you are only phoning the person next door. The idea behind it is that numbers are running out for some area codes, with many providers of virtual numbers keeping a large stock in reserve, thus limiting the amount available. However, if everyone dialling a number in that area has to use the area code then they will be able to introduce 0 and 1 as the first digit of the 6 digits that follow the area code, greatly increasing the amount available and making sure that there is still a large amount of competition. Bournemouth will be first, with a full map of areas on the OFCOM website.

Phone hacking scandal continues

With the summer break ending, we're wondering what the next development will be in the phone hacking scandal? Will any more celebrities or important individuals come forward to claim that their phone numbers have been hacked? And will anymore heads role?

After all, who could forget those memorable scenes before parliament rose for the summer recess when James Murdoch and Rupert Murdoch appeared before John Whittingdale, Louise Mensch, Tom Watson and the rest of the MPs on the Culture, Media & Sport select committee? To see the mighty media mogul attacked with a plate of shaving foam was a very surreal experience!

Will the Prime Minister manage to disconnect himself from his former communications director Andy Coulson, or will Mr Cameron's Premiership be brought down by this scandal? Coulson's gone, Rebekah Brooks has gone, the News of the World has gone, and there is still a lot more of this drama left to go. Get comfy for the next act!