iNum stands for international Number. It is a new kind of global phone number for a new kind of world — a world with a new geography that’s about local presence and global relationships, not about distance or national borders.

Currently, telephone numbers are assigned to countries. Countries then usually divide this further into city codes, area codes, etc. For example, New York City is area code 212 in country code 1 (USA), which is represented internationally as +1212, Buenos Aires is city code 11 in country code 54 (Argentina), which is represented internationally as +5411.

With iNum, users receive a number in the global country code of +883; newly created by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union). The global exchange, theoretically, allows the number to stick with you for life. No matter if you move to a new Continent, your number will remain the same. Of course, using a VoIP provider will almost certainly be required.

Many companies provide free routing to iNum including Jajah, Gizmo5, Truphone, and Voxeo. And should your provider not offer free routing, world wide local access numbers  should help.

For more information, check out these links:

• iNum
• E pluribus unum (for those who don’t understand the title)
• VoIP Watch: One Country Code The World Over (Andy Abramson)