Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!bu.edu!telecom-request From: david@cs.uow.edu.au (David E A Wilson) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: The Correct Way to Write Your Phone Number Message-ID: Date: 28 Feb 91 01:03:05 GMT Sender: news@bu.edu.bu.edu Organization: Dept of Computer Science, Wollongong University Lines: 40 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 166, Message 1 of 12 goudreau@dg-rtp.dg.com (Bob Goudreau) writes: > Perhaps a better way to think about area codes is to mentally leave > off the national access prefix. I.e., it's much simpler to say "the > area code for Canberra is 2" than to say "the area code for Canberra Sydney Sydney > is 02 in Australia and 2 outside of it. The zero becomes the > "interarea access prefix", in the same way that international calls > require an international access prefix. I agree -- but this is not the way the system is described to the general public. The Telecom Australia PSTN (and ISDN) Numbering Plan divides telephone numbers into the following parts: Trunk Prefix Code | National Destination Code | Local Code 0 | 1 to 3 digits | up to 7 digits STD Area Code | | National Significant Number National Number Nowhere in common usage is the Trunk Prefix Code considered to be a separate entity. All telephone directories, advertising etc refer to the STD area code (which includes the 0). For example, the overseas calling page of my telephone directory states: Calling Australia from overseas: When direct dialling Australia from overseas, call a. Appropriate International Access Code b. The Australian Country Code; 61 c. The Area Code without the first zero d. The Telephone number David Wilson Dept Comp Sci, Uni of Wollongong david@cs.uow.edu.au