714/657 Area Codes

[Morrigoon]

I don't understand why we don't just go to an 8-digit phone number like France does. What's with all the stupid extra area codes when we could just add a zero on the end of all existing numbers and multiply the number of available numbers in every existing area code.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

I don't understand why we don't just go to an 8-digit phone number like France does.

Because anything France does (with the possible exception of wine and bike races) is stupid.

But I think a wiser way to go at this point would be to make every phone number a 10 digit number (making the area code a permanent, non-optional part of every number) and work from there.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

But I think a wiser way to go at this point would be to make every phone number a 10 digit number (making the area code a permanent, non-optional part of every number) and work from there.

Which is essentially what they're doing with these overlays. They're just doing it gradually.

I don't understand why we don't just go to an 8-digit phone number like France does. What's with all the stupid extra area codes when we could just add a zero on the end of all existing numbers and multiply the number of available numbers in every existing area code.

Because 1-800-FLOWERS0 looks stupid.

Plus, there are still around 600 area codes that are unused. That's ~500,000,000 phone numbers, enough for every single individual in this country to get yet another phone and still have a couple hundred unused numbers. Why change the whole system?

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Which is essentially what they're doing with these overlays. They're just doing it gradually.

I agree. I know a change such as this has to take place gradually.

A habit I got into a long time ago when programming a speed dial number was to always include the area code. That way, when things lime this come up, it ain't no big thing.

[katiesue]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

A habit I got into a long time ago when programming a speed dial number was to always include the area code. That way, when things lime this come up, it ain't no big thing.

Also, at least on our cells, if you just program in the 7 digit number and you are outside your local area code the speed dial won't work.

I like the overlays much better than halving the area code and having to change your number. They did this a bunch of times when we lived in LA and you had to get business cards etc all changed. Pain in the patooey.