Following the launch of its innovative flagship promotion, 0809uchoose, prospective Nigerian subscribers have begun to visit the Etisalat Nigeria website en masse to reserve their special numbers on the Etisalat network. According to information available to us, a large number of calls have also been received on the 0809uchoose (08098246673) number dedicated for potential subscribers to reserve their numbers.
The 0809uchoose campaign is one of Etisalat’s many innovative ways of reaching out to its teeming subscribers. The package provides subscribers with an opportunity to personalize their own special numbers according to their personal preference. With this move, Etisalat has just made mobile phone numbers more personal to phone users. For this particular promotion, the range of choice is set between 0809 9 900 000 and 0809 9 899 999. Subscribers who successfully reserve and redeem their numbers are also then guaranteed free air time every month for a lifetime.
According to Wael Ammar, "Etisalat is a service provider that recognizes the power of individuality and style hence we present them with the opportunity to live their lifestyle with their phone numbers. Selection of numbers is entirely a personal choice. Phone numbers can now be made up of special numbers that mean something to the subscriber such as birthdates, wedding or other important anniversary dates, favourite sports, etc". It can also be a number that corresponds to the individual’s name, he said further.
He further explained that there is however a minimal percentage of the numbers (5%) which are categorized as Gold, Silver or Bronze that are redeemable at a minor cost. The other 95% of numbers are free. The cost of gold numbers is ten thousand naira (N10, 000), silver numbers cost five thousand naira (N5, 000) while numbers that are categorized as bronze are valued at one thousand five hundred naira (N1, 500). The costs of these numbers are due to be paid at the point of redemption.
Explaining the process of reserving a number via its website (www.etisalat.com.ng/uchoose), Ammar said that Etisalat has come into the market with sophisticated software that makes the customer’s interaction in the process of reserving numbers easy. All a customer needs to do is key in their current number, their location, their email address and the Etisalat number they wish to reserve into the system and the system immediately processes their request.
To reserve from a phone number, a potential subscriber needs to call 08098246673 (0809uchoose) and then follow the voice prompts for easy directions on how to reserve their number. The process usually takes less than 2 minutes to complete.
There is also an option for face to face contact as Etisalat road shows will be visiting various major cities in the country soon. The road shows will offer potential subscribers a golden opportunity for one-on-one contact with Etisalat personnel while reserving special 0809uchoose numbers.
In reserving their special numbers, subscribers need to be aware that there is a standard 0809 8 prefix for the numbers in the reservation range. They are however at liberty to select their own six-digit special numbers and add to the predetermined number – 08098.
Yinka Akande, Brand and Communications director, Etisalat Nigeria, also explained that customers who reserve special numbers in the 0809uchoose campaign will be able to pick up their numbers from special redemption centres addresses of which will be fully communicated via SMS and press adverts.
This is one of the many mouthwatering products and services that await Etisalat’s subscribers as many herald the entrance of Nigeria’s fifth GSM provider as a welcome breath of fresh
