Characteristics of IP-based telephony categories in relation to the

to the decisions

6.3.1 Access to other networks and services

The Swedish numbering plan for telephony is open, which means that only the subscriber number has to be dialled, for example 678 55 00, for traditional

telephony within an area code district. The same applies to users of fixed IP-based telephony (Category A).

71 _{PTS's decisions with file references 04-6945/23 and 04-6943/23, a}

72 _{To make and receive calls via one or several numbers within a national or international}

numbering plan, including emergency calls (definition under EkomL)

73 _{Operator-specific services that can only be provided by the operator providing access to the}

public telephone network

74 _{Services that can be provided independently from the operator providing access to the public}

Users of nomadic IP-based telephony (Categories B and C) must, in the same way as users of mobile telephones, always dial the entire telephone number (area code plus subscriber number) when they wish to make a call to the traditional

telephone network. However, not all stakeholders within these categories offer the possibility of making calls to all types of numbers. For example, not all service providers will forward calls to premium rate call services.

Users of nomadic IP-based telephony in Category C can also use user names. The user’s contacts are shown on the screen: who is online, who does not have Skype, for example, and who the user can call instead using Skype Out. Corresponding software with similar functionality is available from several stakeholders, such as Woize, Yahoo Messenger and Google Talk, for example.

Users of IP-based telephony in Category D are unable to make calls to the traditional telephone network and consequently cannot dial ordinary telephone numbers. They contact (call) other users by stating the user name or, for example, clicking on a user name in a list.

6.3.2 Numbering and addressing issues

Users of IP-based telephony according to Categories A, B and C are currently addressed with ordinary telephone numbers and are reached from the traditional telephone network. The non-geographical series of numbers from the Swedish numbering plan for telephony (010 or 075) is used for nomadic IP-based telephony in Categories B and C.

IP-based telephony in Category D is not allocated a telephone number from the Swedish numbering plan. Users of this kind of IP telephony usually choose a user name themselves in conjunction with downloading and acquiring the service. The user name does not comply with any international standard, but must be unique to the system in which it is used.

6.3.3 Emergency calls

Problems may arise for calls to the emergency number 112 for some forms of IP- based telephony. Fixed IP-based telephony (Category A) has similar functions to fixed traditional telephony, i.e. users can reach the emergency number, be routed to the correct emergency (SOS) services centre and have their location

determined. However, for calls from nomadic IP-based telephony, there is a risk that the service provider does not enable callers to reach the emergency number 112 or that the call is routed to the wrong emergency (SOS) services centre with a consequent delay in providing the aid required. It is currently common that nomadic IP-based telephony users personally enter the details of where they are located and that routing to the emergency services centres is effected on the basis of this information. There is consequently a risk of an error in routing if the user forgets to update these details when he or she is located elsewhere.

6.3.4 Are users tied to one location?

The telephone and the telephone number for traditional fixed telephony are tied to the network interconnection point from where the call is being made. Each subscriber has a uniquely identified connection at a telecommunications exchange. Like traditional fixed telephony, the interconnection point for IP-based telephony in Category A is technically linked to a physical location and consequently cannot be moved by the user.

IP-based telephony in Categories B, C and D is nomadic, which means that the user can use the service from anywhere in the world, assuming that there is access to the Internet.

For IP-based Internet telephony according to Category D, where users have to download the same or compatible software, software is available that allows users to see whether other users are logged on. It is not possible to monitor presence using traditional telephony.

Consequently, traditional fixed telephony does not enable users to geographically move their telephone or telephone connection. However, by using various supplementary services, incoming calls can be redirected to another answering point. In this respect, fixed IP-based telephony (Category A) has the same properties as traditional telephony. All other forms of IP-based telephony

(Categories B, C and D) allow the user to be nomadic, i.e. to take their connection with them to other locations where Internet connection is possible.

6.3.5 Value-added and supplementary services

There are a large number of value-added and supplementary services. Stakeholders offering fixed IP-based telephony (Category A) try to emulate traditional telephony and offer basically the same services. Stakeholders who offer nomadic IP-based telephony (Categories B and C) also offer the most common services to a varying extent. Services offered by most stakeholders, for example, include switching between calls, call diversion, call waiting, caller ID blocking, three-way calls, redial and certain types of call blocking. All of these services are usually included within the basic range. Furthermore, the user can also order services, often at an extra charge, such as a telephone answering service and caller display. It is also possible to have a secret telephone number. Internet telephony (Category D) is combined with a number of additional communications services, such as the possibility of making video calls, chatting, address book access, sending or sharing files and email.

For users of Internet telephony (Category D), there is a service corresponding to caller display. This service is known as ȧuser identification’ and means that the users can choose only to receive calls from other users which they have authorised in their address book. The user can then choose not to answer or to completely block calls from unknown users.

For IP-based telephony, where the user is logged onto a computer (Categories C and D), it is possible to provide the user with many different kinds of information

about their subscription, for example, continuous updating of remaining balance, what services are activated and which friends in the address book are active at that time.

6.4 Characteristics of mobile telephony in relation to the