ENUM service launches in Ireland
31-05-2007
by Charlie Taylor

An ENUM service, which makes it possible to link commonly-used internet addresses with traditional telephone numbers, has been launched in Ireland.

Electronic NUmber Mapping (ENUM), which is primarily used in combination with VoIP, allows users to type a telephone number into a web browser and retrieve the number-holder's e-mail address, website URL, mobile phone number or VoIP contact details.

ENUM essentially maps phone numbers to web addresses, so in theory, it allows someone to use one phone number to receive texts, e-mails, and voice calls to both landlines and mobiles.

A ENUM entry can show a person's preferred means of contact, which means callers can then use the cheapest or most efficient way to contact that person.

IENUM Limited, a subsidiary of the IE Domain Registry (IEDR), the organisation which doles out the dot-ie internet address, and of Internet Privatstifung Austria (IPA), the Austrian organisation which operates the dot.at domain name and provided the first commercial ENUM registry service in the world, announced the launch of the services on Thursday.

IENUM is to provide the local internet community with the necessary infrastructure for ENUM domains within the +353 country code. It will also maintain the database of all ENUM registered domains and provide the DNS or 'lookup' service for telephone numbers under Ireland's country code.

ENUM domains can be registered at www.my-enum.ie for landline, mobile, 076 VoIP numbers and 0700 personal number services numbers. The cost of a domain is EUR1 per month plus a validation fee, currently EUR25 payable on first registration, and EUR5 on re-validation.

Ireland is now the seventh country to announce the availability of ENUM services and IENUM said it intends to run an information programme showcasing the advantages of the service, for users during the coming months.

"We look forward to working closely with the telecommunications and internet service providers as they provide new and converged services, such as VoIP and next generation services. The new ENUM service has the potential to encourage Irish business and consumers to adopt new, converged services, to enhance their interconnection routing options by staying on-net, therefore reducing operational costs. The success of Skype, for example, gives an indication of the potential in this area." said David Curtin, chief executive of the IEDR.