Digital Voice help is coming to a town near you

Last year, BT announced the switch to its new digital home phone service, Digital Voice.

Between now and 2025 most telephone providers will be moving their customers from older analogue landlines over to new upgraded landline services using digital technology - this is collectively known as 'the digital switchover' and Digital Voice is BT's initiative as part of the switchover.

AbilityNet, as a charity that supports older and disabled people, has been helping to support with the region-by-region Digital Voice rollout.

Digital Voice advice sessions

BT will be coming to 32 locations in the West Midlands throughout February 2024.

BT customers are encouraged to drop-in and have a 1-2-1 personal conversation about Digital Voice with a BT advisor, who can answer your questions or address concerns about making the switch when the time comes. 

You don't have to pre-book for any of the sessions, just turn up.

Information sessions coming up:

• Birmingham: 7th February, 10:00 - 15:00, Ibis Birmingham Centre New Street Station, 21 Ladywell Walk, Birmingham, B5 4ST.
• Coventry: 8th February, 10:00 - 14:00, Central Library, Smithford Way, Coventry, CV1 1FY
• Leamington Spa: 8th February, 10:00 - 14:00, Leamington Spa Library & Information Centre, Royal Pump Rooms Parade, Leamington Spa, CV32 4AA
• Stoke on Trent: 8th February, 9.30 until 12.30 & 13.30 until 14.00, Stoke Local Service Centre, S Wolfe St, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4SZ
• Solihull: 15th February, 10:00 - 14:00, The Core Library, Homer Road, Solihull, B91 3RG
• Kidderminster: 22nd February, 10:00 - 14:00, Kidderminster Library, Market Street, Kidderminster, DY10 1A
• Worcester: 22nd February, 10:00 - 14:00, The Hive, Sawmill Walk, The Butts, Worcester, WR1 3PD
• Wolverhampton: 28nd February, 10:00 - 15:00, Bilston People’s Centre, Excel Church, Wolverhampton Street, Bilston, Wolverhampton, WV14 0LT
• Newcastle-Under-Lyme: 31st January-1st February, 10:00 - 16:00, Morrisons, Goose St, Newcastle-under-lyme, ST5 3HY
• Shrewsbury: 31st January-1st February, 10:00 - 16:00, The Square, Shrewsbury, SY1 1LA
• Eccleshall: 2nd & 5th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Eccleshall Community Centre car park, 1938 Shaws' Ln, Eccleshall, Stafford, ST21 6AU
• Telford: 2nd & 5th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Morrisons, Spring Hill, Wellington, Telford, TF1 1RP
• Stafford: 6th-7th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Market Square, Stafford, ST16 2BD        
• Bridgnorth: 6th-7th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Castle Hall meeting room, W Castle St, Bridgnorth, WV16 4AB
• Uttoxeter: 8th-9th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Uttoxeter Heath Community Centre car park, Holly Rd, Uttoxeter, ST14 7DP
• Bromsgrove: 8th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Bromsgrove Garden Centre, Little Heath Ln, Lickey End, Bromsgrove, B60 1HY
• Redditch: 9th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Studley Garden Centre, Henley Rd, Studley, B80 7DR
• Burton Upon Trent: 12th-13th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Planters Bretby, Bretby Ln, Burton-on-Trent, DE15 0QS
• Droitwich Spa: 12th-13th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Droitwich Spa Library, Victoria Square, Droitwich, WR9 8DQ
• Lichfield: 14th-15th February, 09:00 - 15:00, Market Square, Lichfield City Centre, Lichfield, WS13 6LX
• Hereford: 14th-15th February, 10:00 - 16:00, The High Town, Hereford, HR1 2AA
• Cannock: 16th & 19th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Morrisons Cannock, Mill St, Cannock, WS11 0DR
• Great Malvern: 16th & 19th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Morrisons, Malvern Shopping Park, Roman Way, Malvern, WR14 1PZ
• Walsall: 20th-21st February, 10:00 - 16:00, Morrisons, Wallows Lane, Walsall, WS2 9BZ
• Evesham: 20th-21st February, 10:00 -16:00, Morrisons, Davies Rd, Evesham, WR11 1DX
• West Bromwich: 22nd February, 10:00 -16:00, Central Library, 316 High St, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ
• Royal Sutton Coldfield: 23rd February, 09:00 - 15:00, The Parade, Lower Parade (near Natwest), Sutton Coldfield, B72 1XX
• Stratford–upon-Avon: 22nd-23rd February, 10:00 - 16:00, Waterside (opposite Carluccio's), Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6BA
• Tamworth: 26th-27th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Planters, Tamworth Woodlands Farm, Trinity Rd, Tamworth, B78 2EY
• Warwick: 26th-27th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Warwick Library, Shire Hall, Warwick CV34 4RL
• Nuneaton: 28th-29th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Dobbies Garden Centre, Cross Lane Farm, Nuneaton Rd, Atherstone, CV9 1RF
• Rugby: 28th-29th February, 10:00 - 16:00, Dobbies Garden Centre Rugby, Straight Mile, Frankton, Rugby, CV23 9QQ
   

Free webinar: Digital discovery for elderly people: your guide to the online world

From buttons to bytes, get familiar with how to enjoy a digitally connected life in your guide to becoming tech savvy in your senior years or at any age:

Join a FREE webinar on Wednesday 28 February 2024 between 1pm - 2pm GMT.


Register for the webinar
 

I don't live in those areas, how can I get help with the BT Digital Voice switchover?

In addition to the dates above during February 2024, advisors will be visiting regions in the South East in March 2024.

Sessions also took place in Greater London and the East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland and the North West during 2023, but BT Group advises it will be returning to those regions in the future to provide advice and assistance.  

Find out more about the sessions and get further advice on the BT website.

On 18 December 2023, BT Group, along with the wider telecoms industry, announced it will pause migration for customers who are unsure or who have informed the Group that they have a telecare device which isn’t compatible with a digital landline - their systems will not be switched until those customers are ready.

Boost your digital skills with free sessions

Digital Voice changes may be encouraging you to develop your digital awareness. If you're over 65 years of age and looking to build your skills, we're offering free digital skills sessions in areas in and around London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff. 

Trainers can build something bespoke for your group or for an individual and run sessions including:

• Getting to know your Smartphone or Tablet
• Staying Safer Online
• Getting started with Email
• Using Social Media, e.g. Facebook
• Online entertainment, e.g. watching TV online
• How to access Public Services e.g. Gov.UK
• How to make a video call
• How to manage your health online
• How to bank online

Attend a free session

How AbilityNet can help

• Call AbilityNet's helpline on 0300 180 0028
• Request help from an AbilityNet volunteer
• See our database of FREE factsheets
• Access FREE webinars about technology and disability