Today PSA are publishing their final statement on their DQ review which sets out two new special conditions on pricing transparency at onward call connection and IVR promotions on inactive geographic numbers. The statement and responses to the consultation can be found at this link. Their notice can be found here.
People who call directory enquiry services will be protected from high prices under a new price cap on 118 phone numbers, announced by Ofcom today.
Ofcom have been concerned about directory enquiry prices rising steeply. Some providers charge almost £20 for an average 90-second call. The price charged by the most popular service – 118 118 – for a 90-second call is now £11.23.
Although there are cheaper services available, Ofcom’s research shows that consumers tend to call the numbers they most easily remember.
And while the number of calls being made to 118 services has been falling by around 40% every year, more than a million people in the UK – many of them elderly – still use these services.
The cost of calling many of these services is now well above what people expect to pay. Ofcom’s research estimates that around 450,000 consumers a year are paying £2.4m in total more than they expect for these calls, with some struggling to pay their bills.
So Ofcom is stepping in, by capping the maximum amount a 118 service can charge at £3.65 per 90 seconds. This will bring prices back to 2012 levels, and closer to what people expect to pay.
To allow providers time to adjust their prices and billing systems, the price cap will come into force on 1 April 2019.
A news release is available.
“There is a vast disparity in the regulation of content and the application of age restrictions in the UK, and it poses number of problems. It would be welcomed were there to be a review of current legislation and consider revising the Digital Economy Act.”
The article by Neil Penny Director of Enarpee raises interesting points and the can be read in full: Confusion and Disparity on UK Content Guidelines Enarpee 201118
Congratulations to Global’s Make Some Noise, the official charity partner of Global, The Media & Entertainment Company, for winning a 2018 Effective Mobile Marketing Award (EMMA) for use of their ‘Text to Win & Donate’ mechanic.
The judges awarded Global’s entry ‘Most Effective Charity Campaign/Solution’ due to the creative way of running charity-based competitions on radio, together with high conversion rates and a +20% increase on the amount donated with each engagement.
To find out more, visit: https://mobilemarketingmagazine.com/2018-awards-preview-most-effective-charity-campaign-or-solution
Liz Ayto, Head of Finance of Fonix, has today been announced as one of the top 100 most influential Black, Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) leaders in the UK tech sector. The list, produced by board appointments firm Inclusive Boards, will be released today at the House of Commons as part of the official launch of the Inclusive Tech Alliance.
The Alliance has been set up in response to new research by Inclusive Boards that will show the sector is significantly lagging behind others on diversity within senior leadership. The founder of the Inclusive Tech Alliance (ITA), Samuel Kasumu, who is also a member of the Prime Minister’s Race Disparity Advisory Board said:
“Technology is increasingly playing an important role in driving our economy and there is a great need to ensure that everyone can fully participate in the jobs and opportunities technology brings. Liz Ayto and others featured in this list today are role models that will inspire the next generation, and hopefully help to improve diversity within the sector.”
Liz’s listing is testament to the fantastic work that she does for Fonix, Grabyo Limited and Grabyo Inc. In particular, her nomination focused upon her role within senior management teams and her invaluable experience and insight when it comes to shaping strategy. Liz also manages other employees in the Fonix and Grabyo finance teams, and has shown impressive leadership and dedication to their personal development.
Liz commented:
“It’s a privilege to be recognised for the work that I do for Fonix and Grabyo, and it’s also brilliant to be able to represent BAME leaders in tech. Inclusive Boards does such important work to promote diversity in the workplace, and this is can only benefit the technology sector when it comes to attracting the best leaders and creating the fairest working environments.”
Those featured in the top 100 include senior leaders from Facebook, LinkedIn, IBM, Twitter and financial services firm EY. Judges include Tim Sawyer CBE (COO, Innovate UK), Sandra Kerr OBE (Race Equality Director, Business in the Community), and Catherine Muirden (Director of HR, Co-Op Foods).
