O2 has apologised for a technical complaint that caused users' phone figures to be disclosed when using its mobile data.
The firm mentioned it routinely usually transfered figures to "trusted partners".
A complaint during slight continuance meant that from 10 January figures could have been seen by other websites.
"We investigated, identified and prearranged it this afternoon. We would similar to to apologize is to regard you have caused," the firm said.
The Information Commissioner's Office had mentioned that it would verbalise to O2 "to improved comprehend what has happened".
In a blog post the firm said: "We are in meeting with the Information Commissioner's office, and you will be co-operating fully."
The firm moreover mentioned it had contacted the telecoms regulator Ofcom.
Lewis Peckover, a network director for a mobile gaming company, flagged up the situation on Tuesday.
To denote the flaw, he set up an online book that allows users to see if their number is revealed.
He mentioned he was "absolutely shocked" by the discovery.
O2 mentioned the complaint was a proxy situation that arose during slight maintenance
"Technical changes you implemented as segment of slight continuance had the unintended outcome of creation it probable in specific environment for website owners to see the mobile figures of those browsing their site," the firm wrote.
However, the firm updated that it had formerly disclosed this information, but usually when "absolutely compulsory by devoted partners".
"When you crop from an O2 mobile, you increase the user's mobile number to this technical information, but usually with specific devoted partners. This is typical attention practice."
The firm mentioned this was indispensable to succeed "age verification, reward calm billing, such as for downloads, and O2's own services".
However the technical glitch meant the pity went serve it said: "In add-on to the usual devoted partners, there has been the promising for avowal of customers' mobile phone figures to serve website owners."
It mentioned that the complaint potentially "affected customers accessing the internet around their mobile phone on 3G or WAP services, but not wi-fi".
Mr Peckover had told the BBC he would be creation a grave complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office about the issue.
"I do not wish sites to tie in up all my requests and potentially call me and talk to me about them," he said.
The Information Commissioner's Office said: "When people revisit a website around their mobile phone they would not design their number to be done existing to that website.
"We will right away verbalise to O2 to remind them of their information crack presentation obligations, and to improved comprehend what has happened, before you confirm how to proceed."
One business owners who checked his servers' logs told the BBC that he had detected that they contained hundreds of mobile phone numbers.
Nick Halstead, of Tweetmeme, mentioned that he was upset that advertisers could make use of the information.
"This would be really profitable to them. I think it's a matter of large concern," he said.
"They could right away know not just your phone number, but all the websites that you visit, and so aim you."
News of the breakthrough expansion hurriedly on Twitter.
One Twitter user wrote: "I'm angry this even happened. @O2 must be both put together this quick, AND notify because they motionless to proffer our figures in the initial place."
Another tweeted: "Woah - @O2 users' mobile figures are being beamed to every website - and ad server - they access? That's... not good."
O2 mentioned it "would similar to to apologize is to regard you have caused".
There is no indication that other networks had gifted similar problems.
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