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From: jimmy@icjapan.uucp (Jim Gottlieb)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: 8-Digit Phone Numbers vs. More Area Codes
Message-ID: <telecom-v09i0523m02@vector.dallas.tx.us>
Date: 20 Nov 89 00:45:03 GMT
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Reply-To: Jim Gottlieb <denwa!jimmy@anes.ucla.edu>
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X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 523, message 2 of 10

In article <telecom-v09i0508m04@vector.dallas.tx.us> nvuxr!deej@bellcore.
bellcore.com (David Lewis) writes:

>there are questions surrounding an eight-digit "phone number".
>Like, where do you put the eighth number?  Is it part of the CO code
>(NXX) or part of the station code (XXXX)?

Here in Tokyo they have decided to go with 4-digit CO codes.
Presently, both 7-digit and 8-digit numbers (the 8-digit ones all
begin with '5') are being assigned.  The other day I spotted a
billboard as I was riding a streetcar.  It announced that as of 02:00
on Jan. 1, 1991, all telephone numbers in the area code of 03
(Tokyo-to inside the 23 ku) will change to 8 digits.  All 7-digit
numbers will have 3 prepended to them.  The sign showed "3XXX-XXXX".

However, Japan uses the European style of flexible area code and
number lengths so changing to 8-digit numbers in one area code will
not be a technical problem.  03-XXXX-XXXX will still be within the
maximum length of numbers allowed (Kawasaki-city is 044-NXX-XXXX).

On an unrelated subject, NTT has been running lots of ads lately
informing people that they no longer need to dial an area code to
reach Directory Assistance for numbers in other area codes.  Now, a
simple call to '104' can get you a number for any place in the
country.  I guess their DA is now computerized :-).

As far as whether the U.S.  should "bite the bullet" now and convert
to 8 digits, I would think it will be even easier in the future when
more and more of the country will be served out of SPC switches.

Jim Gottlieb 					Info Connections, Tokyo, Japan
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