Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has announced the establishment of a dedicated 700 number segment for number protection services, aimed at enhancing user privacy and reducing the risk of personal phone number exposure [3][4][9]. Group 1: Number Protection Service Overview - The 700 number segment will be used for temporary numbers, also known as "intermediate numbers" or "privacy numbers," which allow users to communicate without revealing their actual phone numbers [2][3]. - This service is particularly relevant in sectors such as express delivery, food delivery, and ride-hailing, where user privacy is a significant concern [3][5]. Group 2: Regulatory Framework and Implementation - The MIIT has outlined a three-month preparation period, a three-month transition period, and a two-year formal pilot period for the implementation of the number protection service [4][10]. - The transition phase will require existing services to migrate to the 700 number segment, ensuring all future communications under this service are clearly identifiable [4][10]. Group 3: Market Demand and Growth - The demand for intermediate numbers has surged due to the rapid growth of e-commerce and online services since around 2010, leading to increased exposure of personal phone numbers [5][6]. - In 2015, the daily usage of intermediate numbers in e-commerce and food delivery alone exceeded 10 million calls, indicating a significant market need [6]. Group 4: Challenges and Industry Concerns - The rapid expansion of the intermediate number market has led to various issues, including difficulties in identifying legitimate services and the proliferation of spam and fraudulent calls [6][7]. - The lack of standardized regulations has resulted in misuse of intermediate numbers, prompting calls for stricter oversight and standardization within the industry [7][8]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The introduction of the 700 number segment is seen as a step towards better regulation and transparency in the telecommunications industry, potentially reducing telecom fraud [9]. - The MIIT aims to ensure that the new system meets the growing demand for number protection services, which currently sees a daily order volume of at least 350 million [9].

Core Viewpoint - The introduction of the 700 special number aims to enhance consumer identification, improve delivery efficiency for couriers and food delivery personnel, and facilitate smoother communication in the ride-hailing industry [4][5][9]. Group 1: Background and Purpose - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has issued a notice to implement a number protection service using the 700 number segment, which will help protect personal information and regulate the use of temporary numbers in logistics and ride-hailing services [4][6]. - The 700 special number will provide a clear distinction for users, making it easier to identify calls related to delivery and ride-hailing services, thus reducing confusion with marketing or scam calls [5][7]. Group 2: Current Issues and Challenges - Current number protection services face challenges such as users being unable to distinguish between temporary and actual phone numbers, lack of unified technical standards, and misuse of temporary numbers for marketing or fraudulent activities [6][7]. - The daily order volume for number protection services in China is at least 350 million, indicating a significant demand for a dedicated number resource like the 700 segment [7][8]. Group 3: Implementation and Transition - The implementation of the 700 special number will occur in phases: a three-month preparation phase, a three-month transition phase, and a two-year formal trial phase [8][9]. - During the transition phase, existing services must migrate to the new number format, and only qualified enterprises will be allowed to use the 700 number for number protection services [8][9]. Group 4: Expected Benefits - The use of the 700 special number is expected to enhance communication efficiency for delivery personnel, as users will recognize the number as related to service calls, potentially increasing order volumes [9][10]. - The new system is anticipated to reduce unnecessary delays in ride-hailing services by allowing passengers to easily identify driver calls, thus minimizing parking and rerouting issues [10][11]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The introduction of the 700 special number is seen as a step towards purifying the communication environment, making daily interactions more convenient and secure for consumers [11][14]. - Stakeholders are encouraged to ensure the integrity of the 700 number segment to prevent misuse by malicious entities, thereby enhancing user trust in communication services [13][14].

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has announced a pilot program for a number protection service, utilizing a dedicated 700 number range to enhance user privacy during communications [3][4]. Group 1: Number Protection Service Overview - The 700 number range will be used specifically for number protection services, with a total length of 15 digits for usage [3]. - This service aims to replace real phone numbers with temporary numbers (referred to as "intermediate numbers" or "privacy numbers") to reduce the risk of personal phone number leakage [3][4]. - Current daily order volume for number protection services in China is at least 350 million, indicating a significant demand for such services [4]. Group 2: Implementation Phases - The pilot program consists of three phases: a three-month preparation phase, a three-month transition phase, and a two-year formal pilot phase [4]. - After the transition phase, all number protection services will exclusively use the 700 dedicated numbers [4]. Group 3: Responsibilities and Regulations - The notification outlines responsibilities for various stakeholders, including application platform providers, basic platform providers, and service users [4][5][6]. - Application platform providers must manage number resources responsibly and are prohibited from using them for commercial marketing calls or messages [4][6]. - Basic platform providers are tasked with ensuring smooth communication and centralized management of the dedicated number range [5]. - Service users are not allowed to illegally buy, sell, or rent number resources and must obtain user consent before providing number protection services [6].