Phone numbers set for shake-up

The Australian telecoms regulator is set to overhaul the country's telephone numbering system after noticing an increase in the use of Internet-based phone calls, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

Use of area codes, free call numbers and special numbers set aside for satellite services and early adaptors of Internet telephony will be examined in an historical shake-up of the telephone numbering plan outlined by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

Geographic information inherent in fixed-line numbers was becoming less relevant as more calls were made over voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP), and as consumers pay less attention to call costs because of falling prices and the prevalence of mobile cap plans.

Mobile communication service provider, Nimbuzz has been asked by Skype to remove support for all Skype services from 31 October, states Tech Crunch.

Nimbuzz sees the decision to ask for the removal of support for Skype services in line with the communication software giant's “mandate to disconnect with all third-party VOIP services ahead of its impending initial public offering“.

From the end of this month, Skype users will find themselves unable to chat, send messages or call their contacts on Nimbuzz, and vice-versa.

MyNetFone will be introducing a mobile VOIP service for iPhone, Android and Symbian users, says IT Wire.

MyNetFone claims that unlike some other apps on the market, once the free app is downloaded, there are no registration fees and no ongoing fees for the use of the app.

The application has a recording feature that allows a user to record a conversation for later playback and automatically notifies the calling party that they are being recorded.