Other than freephone 0800 numbers, which cost you for every call you receive, 0870 numbers remain one of the best recognised and most popular of all UK Non Geographic Number (NGN) ranges.

Since being originally introduced as 0990 (now a Premium Rate code) 0870 has quickly become associated with many UK businesses, from the large corporate firms right down to the family run, home based business.

There are several reasons why 0870 numbers are a great choice for any UK business:

They allow small businesses to compete in the business marketplace. Businesses with local area codes which reveal that they are not based in large cities frequently use NGNs, which are automatically and instantly redirected to the destination number chosen by the company. The cost of a UK call to an 0870 number is the same regardless of the relative location of the caller or the callee, which is the standard national rate.

Helps give a new separate business identity for the smaller business that is just starting out or starting to grow. For those that may be running a business out of their home, there is no longer a need to give out your personal home phone number. This helps you keep your personal / family affairs separate and private. You can have two or more 0870 numbers redirected to the same landline.

Businesses are free to relocate, and home base businesses are free to move without the hassle of having to obtain and promote new telephone numbers. Since the destination number for calls made to an 0870 number can be re-routed via an online web control panel (to which the business generally has access), relocating does not give you the communication nightmares associated with acquiring and publishing new telephone numbers.

They give you "on the go" flexibility. Using the online interface described above, a business owner or staff member can re-route their own 0870 numbers according to weekends, holidays or business trips. Calls can be diverted to UK and international fixed and mobile numbers accordingly.

Memorable numbers are often sought by the larger businesses. Numbers such as 0870 333 5000 are very useful for outdoor advertising as they can be easily remembered and add to a company's identity. Often, such distinguished numbers are bought at a premium price, but other easy to remember numbers, of a lower profile, like 08707 40 50 60 can be found at little or no cost with a bit of imagination for number arrangement. This helps again, give some more weight to those smaller businesses.

They can also give useful feedback for evaluating promotions. For example two separate 0870 numbers can be used to promote your product or service. The Call Detail Records (CDRs) can then be used to gauge the effectiveness of different marketing campaigns, whether is be billboard advertising, banner advertising on a bus, leaflet drop, direct mail campaign or a simple advert in a magazine or local newspaper.

0870 numbers give great value with access to many of the features explained above and can often be found available at no cost and with no obligations.

To find out more about 0870 numbers, you can visit www.ophone.co.uk an 0870 phone number company