Comments on: In the beginning there was 405

By: Ted

Ted — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:56:46 +0000

We’ve had 10-digit dialing in the DC Metro area for years now, and it really isn’t that big a hassle once you get used to it.

By: CGHill

CGHill — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:43:19 +0000

All the phonebook entries on my cell phone are in 10-digit format; I figured I might as well get used to it.

By: Michael Stockwell

Michael Stockwell — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:04:06 +0000

This is all due to the plethora of cells. Whereas before one may have two phone numbers in a household (and in some rare cases more) now every family member has a cell with it’s own unique number.

Oh and in 2004 when U.S. Cellular re-entered this market we were told that 10 digit dialing was going to be required so they had already instituted it. So far I think they are the only one to do so!

By: CGHill

CGHill — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:28:17 +0000

Assuming the SSA lasts that long. And longer numbers are already being contemplated.

By: McGehee

McGehee — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:53:31 +0000

I suppose if I didn’t live in an overlay area I’d be able to dial locally using only seven-digit dialing on my cell and VoIP accounts, but I think ten-digit dialing is going to be universal within 20 to 25 years. And with more and more telephone options offering unlimited long distance eventually the geographic meaning of the area code and prefix on each person’s phone number(s) will eventually fade away.

Frankly, at the rate we’re going, I’d expect eleven-digit phone numbers within my lifetime, issued by the Social Security Administration.