Dialling DMC

[Mabel Figworthy]

Recently I had to look up a phone number, which was 472739. And I immediately thought - lime green and very light brown
Please tell me I'm not the only one!

[Squirrel]

Noooooo you are not the only one Mabel, it happens to most of us at some time or other.

[wendywombat]

That number doesn't exist in Anchor colours!!
The operator would have told you you'd miss dialled!

[lavenderbee]

Quick thinking Mabel.

[rcperryls]

Doesn't that happen to everyone?

Carole

[Serinde]

Yeah, like, really.

[richardandtracy]

Not yet...

But then I still think colours as ink colours not numbers yet. A lovely sunset may be 'Diamine Ancient Copper' http://www.gouletpens.com/diamine-ancie ... nk/p/D3086 with 'Noodler's Dragon Napalm' http://www.gouletpens.com/noodlers-drag ... k/p/N19047 highlights all shading to Visconti Sepia http://www.gouletpens.com/visconti-sepi ... p/VI-A3023 at the horizon.

Regards,

Richard.

[Serinde]

Wow!

[19Roland19]

I always think in DMC.

But a six digit phone number? Here they are 10 digits.

[fccs]

Guilty.

[cairee]

I always think in DMC.

But a six digit phone number? Here they are 10 digits.

I just wiki'd UK phone numbers, now I am even more confused. Im very happy to have our (xxx)xxx-xxxx format for North America

but yes I think in dmc numbers sometimes, also in ammo sizes. both come up in my mind with the number 762

[richardandtracy]

In the UK we have a 5 digit area code, then a six digit phone number. The area code always starts with an '0', and then usually a '1', but as they were running out of numbers in London a few years ago the area code can now start '02' as well.

If you imagine my old phone number was 01795 538062.

If someone lives in the 01795 area code, they did not need to dial it in order to get me. The '0' acts as a trigger to indicate 'out of area call'.
If the number is to be called from abroad the country code the first '0' is dropped and the country code of '44' is added, giving 'Local International dialling code ' + '44 1795 538062', and this is usually written down +44 (0) 1795 438062

As numbers got used up we used to need to remember extra digits being added into the number. To give an example of this I'll cite that of my parents in Devon.

When they moved in (1985) the number was 'Bradworthy 295', and you could contact the operator and be put though to it.
In 1987 the area code was introduced, and theirs was a six digit code giving (040 924) 295
In 1990, they ran out of numbers in the Bradworthy area and added a 1 before the number, giving (040 924) 1295
After this, about 1994) the area code was rationalised to 4 digits, with the last numbers of the area code being tacked on to their number giving (0409) 241295
Finally (in 1998?), the area code was increased to 5 digits, giving (01409) 241295.
Fortunately the numbering has remained the same since.

(Oh, btw, I have changed the actual numbers to make it harder to find...)

Regards,

Richard.

[Mabel Figworthy]

To make it more confusing there are some places (like Leicester, 0116) which have 4-digit area codes followed by a 7-digit number, and there are a few pockets with a 5-digit area code and a 5-digit number (can't remember any now, but they do exist).

It's called "standardisation"

[richardandtracy]

Yup. Standards are good. Let's have lots of them...

I think with places like Leicester, there are really several 5 digit codes all beginning with the same first 4 digits, it's just that BT & other phone companies don't want to publically admit they ran out of numbers & have had to subdivide the city into different code areas. It would be interesting (well, slightly interesting for a second or two) to see if (say) the 01161 and 01162 code areas overlapped in any way.

Regards,

Richard.

[cairee]

vancouver and area ran out of numbers some years back, they just put in new area codes and all calls, local or not, must use the area code.

[rcperryls]

vancouver and area ran out of numbers some years back, they just put in new area codes and all calls, local or not, must use the area code.

Same things happen here all the time. Between faxes and mobile phones and more people with phones numbers run out. We have just had to start including area codes for local numbers also, but other states and cities have had this requirement for a while. Have no idea of what is coming next.

Carole