On Saturday, July 24, 1999 16:19, Bill Perry wrote,

> The mechanisim is already in place. If you wish to do so, you can
obtain a
> 1-800- xxx-xxxx number and take it with you any where in the US.
(In fact I
> know person who has done so.)

Toll-free numbers in the US (area codes 800, 888 and 877) as well as
the notorious "900" toll numbers, are tied to a local number, which
makes them portable.  The local and long distance companies are
allocated blocks of these numbers, and when they are assigned to a
customer, they are tied to a specific local number.  This means
you're back to the same problem of routing.

For example - my direct toll-free number, 877-945-8100, is tied to my
direct local number, 215-945-8100.  The fact that they are identical
except for area code was a matter of preference and sheer luck - most
of the time, your toll-free number does not resemble your local
number.

I won't even get into wanting the telemarketers calling me during
dinner, on a toll-free line... you know where I'm going with that one
:-)

Joe