richms: Dont vodafone already allow you to take your home number any location on their network for an extra charge per month? How is that different to what 2? want to offer?


As with most things that are tightly regulated, it depends on the implementation details:

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/local-zone/

The follow-me service is actually a diversion on the local phone number to the mobile number.

Let's put it this way, from what I understand (I don't work in any of the network operations, I'm a software guy)...

Additionally, since I don't know anything about how 2Degrees' offering will actually work, I'm going on how I would implement it. :)  I haven't worked on the 2Degrees project team, so I don't know how their existing network is constructed.

Fixed Line Service (04/09/etc):

1) For fixed line local phone service, the receiving network must have an interconnection point in each of Telecom's local PoPs (Point of Presence).  This is because it is the _receiving_ network's responsibility to trunk the call to wherever it really is.

2) There is a requirement on the NZ Numbering Plan that local phone numbers (04/09/etc) all have a fixed address, and that that address is a reliable location for the number.  This is for 111 functionality - the address database must be correct for the number.

Mobile Phone Service (021/027/etc)

1) I believe that the receiving network is able to specify a PoI (Point of Interconnect).  It is the sending network's responsibility to get the traffic to that interconnection point.

Vodafone's Offering:

1) Home Zone - While within a reasonable distance from your home, you are able to receive calls to your local phone number on your mobile phone.  Calls out from your mobile phone also present themselves as being from the home phone number (I think?).
2) Roaming - When roaming, you are able to setup a diversion from your home phone number to your mobile number.  Basically, your home phone will automatically call forward to your mobile.

The key point is that from the network's (and numbering plan's) point of view, you have TWO devices.  A "virtual" home phone and an actual mobile phone.  The local phone number is delivered to their local interconnection points with TNZ, and the mobile number is possibly delivered to an entirely differing interconnection point.

2 Degrees Offering:

1) No Home Zone, just one number - your local number.  Calls from your mobile phone will present themselves as your local phone number.  Calls to your local phone number will always arrive at your mobile phone, regardless of your location - even internationally.

The key point is that here, there is only ONE device, virtual or otherwise.

Problems:

1) The requirement that a fixed number in the 04/09/etc ranges have a fixed, non moving address.  ref: 111.  WorldXChange has definitely had an opinion on this in the past - search geekzone.
2) 2 Degrees might want to have a local phone number and force other carriers to route that number to 2Degrees' existing PoPs, forcing TNZ/VF/etc to use up backbone for what should be a local call.
3) How does that work with Number Portability?  If you've got a local number on your mobile phone, are you allowed to take that to VF?  Just VF local-zone?
4) Lots of 800 services rely on the local number prefix to determine location.  This would break all those services (Pizza Hut/Dominos/etc).

2Degrees wants a bill-and-keep agreement (no termination charges).  TNZ seems to offer bill-and-keep when traffic is symmetrical (google bill and keep new zealand).  In fact, they've already offered those same terms that VF gets to 2Degrees (from the Dom Post story).

I'm wondering if 2Degrees is looking for a blanket interconnection agreement, and if they get it other, more profitable, business will appear.  For example, with a blanket bill and keep agreement, call centers and SMS based ASP business becomes much more mobile.

From a strictly software developer in a recession point of view, it would be pretty cool to have all those change requests come in to support the detection of a mobile phone presenting itself as a fixed line. :)