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Add FAQ about range overlaps (#1719)

* Add FAQ about range overlaps

Specific examples about AR and MX provide since they are countries with varied lengths, formats and prefixes depending on context.

* Range overlaps updates 

Integrated feedback from @lararennie

* FIXED_LINE_OR_MOBILE reference

* last cleanup
pull/1728/head
Mike 9 years ago
committed by GitHub
parent
commit
f7683a54b9
1 changed files with 28 additions and 2 deletions
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      FAQ.md

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FAQ.md View File

@ -72,11 +72,11 @@ data errors.
### What types of phone numbers can SMSs be sent to?
SMSs can be sent to `TYPE_MOBILE` or `TYPE_FIXED_LINE_OR_MOBILE` numbers. However,
SMSs can be sent to `MOBILE` or `FIXED_LINE_OR_MOBILE` numbers. However,
in some countries it is possible to configure other types, such as normal
land-lines, to receive SMSs.
### Why did I get `TYPE_FIXED_LINE_OR_MOBILE` as the type of my phone number?
### <a name="fixed_line_or_mobile"></a>Why did I get `FIXED_LINE_OR_MOBILE` as the type of my phone number?
Some number ranges are explicitly defined as being for fixed-line or mobile
phones. We even represent ranges defined as being "Mostly land-line" in this
@ -208,6 +208,32 @@ We'd love to consume machine-readable numbering plan data (assigned ranges,
carrier & geo mappings). If you can connect us with partners in the industry
to achieve this, please do so. Thanks!
### Why is this number from Argentina (AR) or Mexico (MX) not identified as the right number type?
Certain countries' mobile and/or fixed line ranges may overlap, which may make
accurate identification impossible without additional and explicit context
such as a mobile prefix. We rely on this prefix being present to correctly identify
the phone number type (rather than returning ['FIXED_LINE_OR_MOBILE'](#fixed_line_or_mobile)
in ambiguous cases) until our metadata can be fine-grained enough to detect when a user has omitted it.
For example, when calling a mobile line from a fixed line in Argentina,
you need to dial 15 before the subscriber number, or 9 if you're calling
from another country. Without these additional digits, your call may not
connect at all!
Similarly, Mexico has different mobile prefixes needed when calling from a fixed
line such as 044 when calling locally, 045 when calling from another state, and
1 when dialing from another country.
Moreover, these countries have different possible lengths for area codes and subscriber
numbers depending on the city, which further complicate matters (e.g. Buenos Aires is 11
followed by eight digits, but Río Gallegos is 2966 followed by six digits).
Despite all the aforementioned complexity, users may not provide their phone number
with all the additional context unless explicitly asked. For instance,
since SMS messages can be sent in Argentina from a mobile phone without a prefix,
the user may not supply the mobile prefix.
### Why are Bouvet Island (BV), Pitcairn Island (PN), Antarctica (AQ) etc. not supported?
We only support a country if:


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