The service, offered by most major mobile-phone operators at outlets nationwide, will automatically change the numbers stored on your SIM card to the soon-to-be-required 10-digit number.

The simple, quick conversion will save subscribers having to change up to one hundred numbers saved on their cards.

The move follows the decision of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to introduce a new numbering plan on September 1. From this point onwards, all mobile-phone numbers in Thailand must have 10 digits with the prefix 08. For example, the existing number 01 xxx xxxx will become 081, followed by the original seven digits.

Mobile users will still be able to dial the original numbers until November 30, but after that the calls will not go through. Fixed-line telephone numbers will remain unchanged.

The numbering plan will increase the number of phone numbers in Thailand from 90 million to 300 million, which is estimated

to be sufficient for the next 30

years.

Mobile-phone operators will also provide this number-conversion service at the offices of their major corporate customers and some major community areas across the country, such as university campuses.

Sunti Medhavikul, chief customer officer for Total Access Communication (DTAC), said DTAC's phone number conversion system could convert the phone numbers in digital phone books at a rate 100 numbers every 20 seconds.

Besides updating phone address books, mobile-phone operators will also edit the so-called message-centre numbers stored in mobile phones.

If these are not changed, customers will not be able to send or receive text messages, even if the numbers stored contain the new 08 prefix.

Sirivish Toomgum

The Nation