Is it 07xxx or 7xxx on mobile numbers ??

[Dave_07]

Random question I guess, but i've kinda always wondered this. As as far as I know all/most UK mobile numbers start with 07xxxx xxxxx and should be 11 figures long. But I often see people missing off the zero and just giving their number as 7xxxx xxxxx (which is only 10 digits long then). But if you dial the number like that, then it won't work, and you'll just get a "not recognized" message. So why do so many people not put the zero at the start ? Like i've even seen people give the number like this: +44 7xxxx xxxxx lol. Do people think that the zero is not necessary or something ?

[g8ina]

Yes, actually if you are outside of UK and use the +44, you do not need the 0 in front of the 7.

BUT if dialling a UK number in the UK, you DO need the 07xxxx etc.

[Guy]

The first number is redundant for dialling if you've got the international code (in our case +44). Works for both calls and texts. Dealing with plenty of European offices and colleagues globally, it's generally easier to store all numbers that way. Good when on holiday as well!

[Dave_07]

Oh hu, guess that explains it, cheers! So thats why people will put the +44 even for UK to UK calls, because your covering all the bases that way I guess.

[peterb]

+ is the short code for international dialling access code, which is 00 in UK. So putting +44 will select the international access code for the country you are in, followed by the full international number. 0 is the UK access code for non-local numbers.

So 7123 456 789 is a UK unique mobile number, and to access the non local prexpfix, you add a 0 at the start. But that number could exist in other countries.

44 7123 456 789 is a globally unique telephone number adding a + tells the local telco to add the international access code for that country to enable it to be dialled.

(The few digits after the 7 used to identify the carrier, 7973 was Orange contract in the early days, but number portability put an end to that)