Tony writes:

>Say my local customer service number happens to be 651.555.2984, then by
>using (say) 811.651.555.2984 I've indicated my willingness to pay for calls,
>and not used any more of the 10 digit numberspace.
>
>Hm.. post-omphaloskeptical insight, it does, mean of course, that I can't
>change the location of my office.

I wish I could find the article from about three months ago in one of the
Usenet newsgroups on telecommunications that described the progress toward
universal portable phone numbers.  Since the source is Usenet, the accuracy
may be questionable.

As I remember it, the article talks about two developments in the last few
years.  First was the toll-free number portability.  When you get a
toll-free number, 800, 888, 877, etc. you can take that number with you to
another carrier.  Second was the move to 10-digit dialing.  Several areas
in the US now require 10-digit dialing for all local calls.  This just
recently happened in the Denver metro area when area code 303 was overlaid
with area code 720.

The end result of this is supposedly 10-digit phone numbers where the first
three digits (that we now call an area code) will just be three digits and
not related to a geographic area.  I don't recall the article indicating
when universal number portability might be a reality.  Maybe a 3000-L
reader knows more about this subject.



------------------------------------------------------------------
John Pearce  <[log in to unmask]>       | Bethesda Management Company
Speaking for only myself             | Colorado Springs, CO  USA