SoftBank has announced that it will discontinue services for select domestic and international telephone service identification codes (prefixes), including 0061, 0041, 0083 and 0084, effective May 31, 2024. This adjustment primarily affects enterprises and users that prepend the specified prefixes to the called party’s number to select a telephone service provider when making calls via NTT East Japan, NTT West Japan landline networks or the INS network. This notice does not involve SMS messaging services themselves.
Service identification codes refer to digits that users place before the target number when dialing on a landline phone, used to specify which carrier’s domestic or international telephone service to use. With the gradual evolution of communication networks, VoIP (IP telephony) and package plans, usage scenarios for some traditional prefix-based services have declined, prompting SoftBank to terminate the services corresponding to the aforementioned codes. Codes 0061 and 0083 apply to domestic and/or international telephone services, while codes 0041 and 0084 are used for international telephone services.
Enterprises using the above prefixes should specifically inspect their PBX (Private Branch Exchange) systems, auto-dialing equipment, call center systems and employee dialing rules. If enterprises fail to complete configuration modifications before the discontinuation date, they may be unable to initiate relevant calls normally starting June 1, 2024. SoftBank advises users to adjust their dialing methods based on voice prompts after a failed call, and to promptly confirm alternative telephone services and tariff arrangements.
This matter reflects that enterprise communications management encompasses not only SMS, mobile data and customer service platforms, but also the basic configuration of traditional landline telephony and international long-distance calls. For enterprises still using legacy telephone switching systems, changes to carrier services may result in business interruptions, unreachable customer hotlines or failed international calls. Therefore, enterprises should regularly conduct an inventory of number prefixes, auto-outbound dialing rules, disaster recovery telephone lines and external service provider configurations.
Although this notice is not directly related to SMS messaging services, it has reference significance for customer contact systems that rely on the synergy between voice calls and SMS. For example, if an enterprise sends notifications, verification links or callback instructions via SMS after a failed voice call, it should ensure that the numbers, scripts and automated workflows of both the telephony and messaging systems are updated synchronously.
