714/657 Area Codes

[Bootstrap Bill]

We should scrap the whole phone system and start from scratch.

Most people have free domestic long distance. Why do we need localized area codes?

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Bootstrap Bill

We should scrap the whole phone system and start from scratch.

Most people have free domestic long distance. Why do we need localized area codes?

Because we need more than 8 million phone numbers. As mentioned earlier, seven digit phone numbers only allow for a little less than 8 million individual numbers (eliminating all numbers starting with a 0 or a 1 as well as certain prefixes such as 911). The area codes increases the possible numbers to just under 800 million. To throw out the existing system at this point would be costly, unwieldy, and unnecessary. By integrating area codes as part of everyone's normal phone number, the system is just evolving to accommodate capacity needs.

The first three digits of a 7-digit phone number were, and for the most part still are, geographic in nature: adding an area code is just an extension of the same process.

I've had to delete the rest of my post to instead point you to this site on the history of phone numbers.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

The area codes increases the possible numbers to just under 800 million.

That's a little under 8 billion, actually. If each area code has just under 8 million, and there are ~1000 possible area codes (000-999, give or take due to reserved digits), then ~8 million * ~1000 = ~8 billion.

Now, theoretically we could dispense with the entire concept of the area code being a separate part of the number assigned geographically and just view it as a 10 digit phone number, but there are a host of reasons why it makes sense to continue the practice.

First and foremost is technical efficiency. The area code allows the telephone switching system to very quickly and efficiently route phone calls where they need to go. While today's digital infrastructure would make it possible to de-localize the numbers, it just makes sense to take advantage of the efficiency that localizing them offers. Similarly, the task of managing and assigning numbers is greatly eased by grouping them geographically. It's also a nice advantage to be able to glance at a phone number and get at least a general idea of where the owner of that number might be located. If not for long distance charge reasosn, simply because you want to know if, say, the business you're calling is nearby or in the next town over, or across the country.

Basically, there are several efficiencies gaiend by keeping phone numbers grouped geographically by an area code, and no real advantage to ending that practice.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

That's a little under 8 billion, actually. If each area code has just under 8 million, and there are ~1000 possible area codes (000-999, give or take due to reserved digits), then ~8 million * ~1000 = ~8 billion.

Man, I am just sucking out loud at math lately.

Oy

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Basically, there are several efficiencies gained by keeping phone numbers grouped geographically by an area code, and no real advantage to ending that practice.

Kinda what I was trying to get at, but you 'splained it better.