Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!texbell!vector!telecom-gateway From: portal!cup.portal.com!fleming@apple.com Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: 8-Digit Phone Numbers vs. More Area Codes Message-ID: Date: 14 Nov 89 14:24:28 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Lines: 37 Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 510, message 2 of 10 smk@attunix.att.com (S M Krieger) writes: >Based on the number of area code splits that have recently occurred or >have been announced, I am wondering if the idea of just expanding our >phone numbers to 8 digits is being considered? Actually, I think this would cost several billion dollars more than it is worth... in addition to the vast amount of equipment out there, the 3+4 format is permanently wired into my brain. But if we're going to go through the incredible pain and agony of converting to more numbers, we shouldn't just stop at 8 digits. Take numbers to 9 digits, giving a 100-fold expansion, and everyone could have the same number as: Social Security number ZIP+4 code Phone number and so forth... Additional lines, FAX machines, cellular phones, beepers, etc. could be identified as two digit suffixes on the 9-digit "root" number. The same number could serve as driver's license ID, bank account number, etc. Phone numbers would follow individuals as they moved from city to city. And, in the famous scenario, if you get a "number has been disconnected" intercept, the fellow is dead. Make that several trillion dollars more than it is worth, and take all the above with a grain of salt and many smileys. But if someone (the Japanese, perhaps?) ever builds a city on the moon, I hope they start off with a rational personal ID system. +--------------------------+-------------------------------------------+ | Stephen Fleming | My employer doesn't pay for this account. | | fleming@cup.portal.com | In fact, my employer doesn't even know | | CI$: 76354,3176 | I'm here! Disclaimer enough for any | | Voice: (703) 847-7058 | network-aware lawyer-types, I hope... | +--------------------------+-------------------------------------------+