Internet telephone numbering system (ENUM). (Internet Focus News & Products).

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) have announced approval of interim procedures for ENUM, the technology that builds a bridge between the public switched telephone network and the Internet.

Under the proposed ENUM protocol, and subject to national authorities and end-user approval, it will be possible for consumers to use a single number to access many types of terminals and services, such as: phone, fax, e-mail, pager, mobile telephones, websites or any other services available through an Internet addressing scheme.

Two key applications that ENUM will make possible for the first time is the ability to call a PC from the public-switched telecommunicatton network (PSTN) and to determine what type of terminal is associated with the number. Some analysts predict that this will permit the introduction of new innovative applications where a call to a telephone number can invoke Internet type services. For example, calling an ENUM-enabled telephone number from a 3rd generation multimedia handset could allow access to a location-based mobile web service, avoiding entering Internet-type addresses on numeric keypads.

Comment:

In keeping with the need to allow for voluntary implementation of the scheme and recognizing that ENUM services are primarily national issues, rapid progress at the international level is necessary to create a stable environment in which investment can be made in the worldwide deployment of ENUM. This interim approval is made possible due to cooperation between ITU, IAB and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

Information on how the ENUM requests will be processed can be found at www.itu.int/ITU-T/inr/eman/index.html