RE : New number ranges for E.164

Adrian, 

Sorry, I don't agree with you at all, except on your first paragraph: 

>> The end goal as far as I can see it is the convergence of PSTN and 
>> INTERNET into Next Generation Networks. Regardless of how we will call 
>> the end-result of this integration, it means that all sides must adjust 
>> to the changes. Changes are reflected in addressing schemes, billing 
>> mechanisms, regulatory  and many other issues.

Today, E.164 numbers are the quasi property of telephony service providers
who allocated them to their own customer. As far as I can remember, ENUM has
been presented as the opportunity to offer a unique identifier (the E.164
number) for multiple services.    

In my opinion, once a customer have been allocated an E.164 number, he
should have the right (and the means) to register this number for any kind
of services he wants to (services requiring such a number of course, like
fix or mobile telephony, ENUM, Web based SMS/MMS, Web based fax, etc...).

The use of SIM Card is a very good example. However, SIM cards are (again,
like E.164 numbers) always tied on a single service provider. This prevent
the enduser to use them for accessing other providers' services...  

All this require some radical changes in traditional telephony service
providers' minds (and especially incumbents'...) and regulators' policy.

Best, 

Olivier  


-----Message d'origine-----
De : Adrian Georgescu [
	    
	    
] 
Envoy� : samedi, 28. f�vrier 2004 12:09
� : Stastny Richard; jseng@localhost enum-l@localhost
jim@localhost enum-trial@localhost Olivier.Girard@localhost
Objet : New number ranges for E.164


The end goal as far as I can see it is the convergence of PSTN and 
INTERNET into Next Generation Networks. Regardless of how we will call 
the end-result of this integration, it means that all sides must adjust 
to the changes. Changes are reflected in addressing schemes, billing 
mechanisms, regulatory  and many other issues.

Speaking about ENUM, it is obvious from the results presented at ETSI 
ENUM workshop that ENUM acts already today like glue between different 
technologies.  Examples about how carriers now use ENUM to route 
messages between different technologies like GSM/CDMA in the US are a 
clear proof of the usefulness of ENUM in the convergence.

Looking at the user side however, we hit more obstacles non-technically 
related, which are hard to overcome by technology itself. If in some 
countries ENUM is approached from a legal perspective and in others 
from a technical perspective we understand why the time to market in 
these two scenarios will never meet at the right time on a global 
scale.

One of the ideas presented at the Workshop was the use of a dedicated 
number range for Voice over IP. One might object to this by saying that 
the current numbering plans do not allow creation of so many new 
numbers. But again the main purpose of ENUM is to help the convergence. 
The telephone numbers as we know them today will disappear on the long 
term and will be replaced by friendly names (email addresses, buddy 
names, aliases easy to remember and such).

It could very well be that there is no need to plan a scheme where 
everyone will use an ENUM number. ENUM is a moving train and it should 
carry with it only what is necessary to the next station. If ENUM will 
stay because it brings more advantages than initially thought, it will 
survive and expand accordingly to the market forces.

Should regulators in each country consider assigning a dedicated number 
range (see Japan example), there will be no need to 
authenticate/validate new requests. ENUM numbers will be assigned on 
the basis of first asked/first served the same way like Internet Domain 
Names. Using established procedures existing already in each country 
for the Domain Names could do the transfers or canceling of numbers. We 
aim for maintaining the  E164 space consistent as Richard mentioned and 
other achievable goals that will appear in our sight.

This would not solve all issues but is clearly a non-blocking start for 
everyone to jump in the ENUM train.

regards
Adrian

On 28 Feb 2004, at 11:20, Stastny Richard wrote:

> I fully agree with Olivier:
>
> We have here two complete separate problems:
>
> 1. Identification required to get an E.164 number.
> This is a problem that has nothing to do with ENUM and should be kept 
> completely separate. That prepaid cards are given out in some (most) 
> countries without proper id is NOT an ENUM problem.
>
> If some legal entity wants to get the identification of a person or
> entity assigned
> an E.164 number, it should use the existing infrastructure. This is 
> also holds if they
> want to know the identity holding an e164.arpa domain related to this 
> number if
> no contact information is available.
>
> ENUM is not here to solve OPPs (Other People Problems)
>
> 2. The only thing that ENUM needs to provide is consistency in the 
> E.164 name space, that is: a e614.arpa domain shall only be delegated 
> if and only for the period of time the associated E.164 number is
> assigned to
> a person or entity and it shall be delegated to the SAME person or 
> entity.
>
> As Olivier shows this does not necessarily require to reveal the
> entity of the person,
> especially not on mobile phone if you use the access to the 
> identification token
> (e.g a SIM-card), but there ara also possibilities for fixed lines.
>
> For regulators, they should only state the requirement and not the
> procedure
> how to do this, because you can do this in many different ways. They 
> will of course
> have the right to check a given procedure if it complies to the 
> requirement given.
>
> 3. In case of ENUM-only numbers the validation problem is not
> existent, because
> the domain in e164.arpa IS the E.164 number, so there is consistency 
> in the
> name space per default. The identification problem remains,
> but has to be solved at least nationally equivalent to other number 
> ranges, especially mobiles.
> If it is allowed to have anonymous number usage there, it must also be 
> allowed to have
> it here. So this is a national problem. Because it cannot be quod 
> licet Jovi, not licet bovi ;-)
>
> Last note: this does not hinder anybody wanting to give his identity
> to either an
> ENUM contact info or a phone directory. In case of ENUM-only numbers 
> the
> normal procedure like with all other numebrs could apply (e.g entry in 
> phone book
> and possibility to opt-out)
>
> regards
> Richard
>
> 	-----Urspr�ngliche Nachricht-----
> 	Von: Olivier.Girard@localhost
> [
	    
	    
]
> 	Gesendet: Sa 28.02.2004 10:24
> 	An: jim@localhost Olivier.Girard@localhost
> 	Cc: ag@localhost jseng@localhost enum-l@localhost 
> enum-trials@localhost enum-trial@localhost
> 	Betreff: RE : RE : data point - anonymous E.164 number usage
> 	
> 	
>
> 	>> As you say, it's proving that this entity has the right to use a
> given
> 	E.164 number
> 	>> is what matters. Unfortunately that usually means identifying
this
> 	entity... :-)
> 	
> 	Not sure Jim...
> 	
> 	If the allocation of an E.164 number to XYZ is accompanied with a
> validation
> 	piece (password, certificate, digsig key or whatever it is...) which

> becomes
> 	invalid as soon as XYZ is not anymore owner of the number and that 
> this
> 	piece is checked every time XYZ want to use her/his number in 
> relation to a
> 	service (not only ENUM but every service which require the use of an

> E.164
> 	number), then you do not need to identify the person. In that case 
> you have
> 	only to check if the validation piece is valid.
> 	
> 	This, of course, needs a review of the E.164 number allocation
policy
> which
> 	is national matter...
> 	
> 	In my opinion, we should focus on a generic solution (not only
> related to
> 	ENUM).
> 	
> 	Today, I can use my mobile number to register for a web based SMS
> service
> 	which offers me to send SMS from the web keeping my mobile number
(it 
> works
> 	also with anonymous prepaid!). The registration check is made via
SMS 
> (you
> 	get a "validation" password via SMS). The problem is: when I cease
the
> 	contract with my mobile operator I can continue to send SMS using my

> old
> 	mobile number. Of course I can not get any reply to the SMS I have 
> sent
> 	because the number is not allocated anymore (unless the associated 
> ENUM
> 	Domain & NAPTR remain active after the E.164 number has been 
> deactivated...
> 	;o) )
> 	
> 	In my opinion, there are two critical things:
> 	1 - the point where an E.164 number is registered for a service (it
> can be
> 	ENUM, SMS, etc... but also telephony)
> 	2 - the point where an E.164 number is not used anymore by the user 
> and
> 	given back to the "allocator" (at this time, all registrations made 
> with
> 	this number must be cancelled. For this, it is necessary that all 
> service
> 	providers who have a relationship with the number be informed 
> accordingly or
> 	that all those service providers make a periodic check of the 
> validation
> 	piece.
> 	
> 	Is it a way to work on ?
> 	
> 	
> 	-----Message d'origine-----
> 	De : Jim Reid [
	    
	    
]
> 	Envoy� : vendredi, 27. f�vrier 2004 23:43
> 	� : Olivier.Girard@localhost
> 	Cc : ag@localhost jseng@localhost enum-l@localhost
> 	enum-trials@localhost enum-trial@localhost
> 	Objet : Re: RE : data point - anonymous E.164 number usage
> 	
> 	
> 	>>>>> "Olivier" == Olivier Girard <Olivier.Girard@localhost
> 	>>>>> writes:
> 	
> 	    Olivier> Dear All, I think we should make a difference here. In
my
> 	    Olivier> opinion, the interest of validation in ENUM is not to
> 	    Olivier> know WHO is owner of an E.164 number or WHO has the
right
> 	    Olivier> to use an ENUM domain name. The role of ENUM validation
> 	    Olivier> is primarily the ensure that only the one who has the
> 	    Olivier> right to use an E.164 number can use the associated
ENUM
> 	    Olivier> domain name. Nothing more.
> 	
> 	Absolutely! There is a very subtle but important difference here and
> you're
> 	right to underline it.
> 	
> 	I think we're all guilty of being too loose with our terminology and
> 	confusing identity with authentication and/or validation. The
> identity of
> 	whatever it is that registers an E.164 number shouldn't matter. As 
> you say,
> 	it's proving that this entity has the right to use a given E.164 
> number is
> 	what matters. Unfortunately that usually means identifying this 
> entity...
> 	:-)
> 	
> 	
>
>