Abstract: Various example embodiments are described. According to one example, a method may include maintaining a database of a plurality of direct inward dial telephone numbers, including a subset of the direct inward dial telephone numbers which are available for assignment; receiving, through a website, an application from a customer for an alias telephone number to be associated with a customer telephone number; processing the application, the processing including assigning to the customer an alias telephone number selected from the subset of available telephone numbers which are available for assignment and associating the alias number with the customer telephone number; and receiving a telephone call from a third party to the alias telephone number and routing the telephone call from the alias telephone number to the customer telephone number.

Abstract: Various example embodiments are described. According to one example, a method may include maintaining a database of a plurality of direct inward dial telephone numbers, including a subset of the direct inward dial telephone numbers which are available for assignment; receiving, through a website, an application from a customer for an alias telephone number to be associated with a customer telephone number; processing the application, the processing including assigning to the customer an alias telephone number selected from the subset of available telephone numbers which are available for assignment and associating the alias number with the customer telephone number; and receiving a telephone call from a third party to the alias telephone number and routing the telephone call from the alias telephone number to the customer telephone number.

Abstract: A removal device for removing a hypodermic needle assembly from a syringe, wherein the removal device comprises a sleeve provided internally with a series of ribs which engage with a series of ribs on the needle assembly, or on an attachment adaptor on the needle assembly, when the sleeve is rotated to unscrew the needle assembly from the syringe, the sleeve having a clear passage therethrough and having an internal diameter such that the needle assembly and adaptor thereon (if present) can pass freely through it in an axial direction. The sleeve is removably engageable in a hollow shaft through which the needle assembly and adaptor (if present) can drop to a "sharps" container below. The shaft is integrally formed and is power-driven through a gear formation on its external surface. A manually-operated device is also described, having a fixed sleeve as described above in which the needle assembly is held while the syringe is unscrewed from it.