Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has announced a pilot program for a number protection service, utilizing the 700 number range to enhance user privacy during communications [2][3][5]. Group 1: Number Protection Service Overview - The number protection service allows personal users to receive temporary numbers (referred to as "intermediate numbers" or "privacy numbers") to replace their actual mobile numbers, reducing the risk of personal number leakage [3][5]. - The service will be implemented in three phases: a three-month preparation phase, a three-month transition phase, and a two-year formal pilot phase [4]. - The daily order volume for the number protection service in China is currently at least 350 million, indicating a significant demand for this service [5]. Group 2: Responsibilities and Regulations - The notification outlines the responsibilities of various stakeholders involved in the number protection service, including application platform providers, basic platform providers, and service users [6]. - Application platform providers must manage number resources responsibly and are prohibited from using them for commercial marketing calls or messages [6]. - Basic platform providers are responsible for routing data and ensuring communication continuity, while service users must not illegally trade or misuse number resources [6]. Group 3: Application Scenarios - The number protection service can be applied in various online and offline scenarios, such as ride-hailing, online shopping, and food delivery, where it is essential to protect personal phone numbers [7][10]. - Users can choose to authorize the use of the number protection service when engaging with internet platform services [8]. Group 4: Identification and User Experience - Users can identify whether a call is using the number protection service by recognizing the 15-digit format starting with "700," which distinguishes it from regular phone numbers [9]. - The service does not interfere with normal communication, allowing service providers to contact users without revealing their actual phone numbers [10][11].

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced a pilot program for number protection services, aimed at reducing the risk of personal phone number leakage by providing temporary numbers for users of various internet platforms [1]. Group 1: Number Protection Service Overview - Number protection service involves assigning temporary numbers (referred to as "intermediate numbers" or "privacy numbers") to users, which can be used instead of their real phone numbers [1]. - The daily order volume for number protection services in China currently stands at at least 350 million, with plans to allocate 700 dedicated numbers to meet the future demand for billions of code resources in delivery, takeaway, and ride-hailing scenarios [1]. Group 2: Implementation and Management - The notification outlines the responsibilities and requirements for three parties involved: application platform providers, basic telecom service operators, and business users, emphasizing compliance, prevention of telecom fraud, and control of commercial marketing calls [1]. - The pilot program will consist of a three-month preparation phase, a three-month transition phase, and a two-year formal pilot phase, after which all number protection services will utilize the 700 dedicated numbers [1]. Group 3: Communication and Security - Experts have indicated that the number protection service will not affect normal communication, as both parties will see and dial the "intermediate number," which will be translated to the actual number for communication purposes [3]. - There are concerns regarding the potential misuse of the 700 dedicated numbers, and experts are discussing measures to prevent such abuse and the penalties for serious violations by participating parties [2][3].