kent@husc6.harvard.edu (Kent Borg) (07/12/89)
I recently noticed that the pizza place across from my laundromat has
a phone number which ends with 4 zeros.
I don't think I have seen this before. In fact, I remember as a kid
(I was a strange kid) thinking that those numbers would probably be
reserved for phoning the exchange itself, but I never remember seeing
0000--at least until yesterday.
Why are NNX-0000 (I hope I have the N's and X's straight) numbers so
rare?
Kent ("I have clean clothes again") Borg
kent@lloyd.uucp
or
...!hscfvax!lloyd!kentab4@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Andrew Boardman) (07/13/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0234m02@vector.dallas.tx.us> Kent writes: >Why are NNX-0000 (I hope I have the N's and X's straight) numbers so >rare? In New York, at least until recently, calling this number on many exchanges would tell you what kind of machinery the exchange was running on. I have also noted recently (although down in C&P territory) regular subscriber numbers in the NNX-99XX range, which also used to be generally inviolable. /a
halliday@cc.ubc.ca (laura halliday) (07/13/89)
In TELECOM Digest V9 #234, Kent Borg asks: > Why are NNX-0000 (I hope I have the N's and X's straight) numbers so > rare? Assuming that the interdiction stemmed from an oddity of step-by-step switching, I asked my Dad, who worked for BCTel from the early 1950's until his retirement in the mid 1980's, and was part of the team that converted Vancouver to automatic switching. For reasons that were never clear (testing purposes?), the position in Strowger switches that corresponded to NNX-0000 was left blank, and calls could not be completed to such a number. Now, of course, any number is fair game, but there are still echos of this. For example, a system used at BCTel to keep track of service orders could not process an order for NNX-9999 or NNX-0000, as it used such numbers internally as sentinels. Speaking of local calling areas, though Vancouver's is largish, there are some *huge* calling areas in the interior of B.C. You can phone from Baker Creek, B.C. (604-249) to Macalister (604-993) on a local call. The road distance is approximately 80 miles, but due to the sparse population the entire area is served by only 4 telephone prefixes. ...laura halliday, University of B.C.
szirin@cbnewsm.att.com (seth.zirin) (07/14/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0234m02@vector.dallas.tx.us> Kent Borg <lloyd!kent@ husc6.harvard.edu> writes: > >Why are NNX-0000 (I hope I have the N's and X's straight) numbers so >rare? Because there are precious few of them. :-)
onymouse@ames.arc.nasa.gov (John DeBert) (07/14/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0234m02@vector.dallas.tx.us>, lloyd!kent@husc6.harvard. edu (Kent Borg) says: > X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 234, message 2 of 3 > I recently noticed that the pizza place across from my laundromat has > a phone number which ends with 4 zeros. > I don't think I have seen this before. In fact, I remember as a kid > (I was a strange kid) thinking that those numbers would probably be > reserved for phoning the exchange itself, but I never remember seeing > 0000--at least until yesterday. > Why are NNX-0000 (I hope I have the N's and X's straight) numbers so > rare? Because there's only one per prefix? 0000 is the last number of the old mechanical CO's. Every try pulse-dialing four zero's? I suppose that it was reserved because it took so long to dial. I recall that it once had a purpose, such as a test number or something. That was a long time ago, though. It may begin to see use if an area is running out of numbers, though. JJD onymouse@netcom.UUCP > Kent ("I have clean clothes again") Borg > kent@lloyd.uucp > or > ...!hscfvax!lloyd!kent
roy%phri@uunet.uu.net (Roy Smith) (07/15/89)
Kent Borg <lloyd!kent@husc6.harvard.edu> writes: > Why are NNX-0000 (I hope I have the N's and X's straight) numbers so rare? Seems to me they should be no greater than 1 in 10,000. That seems pretty rare to me. Anyway, just for fun, I just tried dialing 636-0000. I got a ringing tone, except that it was much too long to be a ringing, and about half way through the "on" cycle, it got a bit softer. Strange. I just called it again, and got a normal (roughly 1.5-sec on, 2.5-sec off) ringing, but nobody answered the phone. -- Roy Smith, Public Health Research Institute 455 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 {att,philabs,cmcl2,rutgers,hombre}!phri!roy -or- roy@alanine.phri.nyu.edu "The connector is the network"
morris@jade.jpl.nasa.gov (Mike Morris) (07/16/89)
Kent Borg <lloyd!kent@husc6.harvard.edu> writes: > >I recently noticed that the pizza place across from my laundromat has >a phone number which ends with 4 zeros. > >I don't think I have seen this before. In fact, I remember as a kid >(I was a strange kid) thinking that those numbers would probably be >reserved for phoning the exchange itself, but I never remember seeing >0000--at least until yesterday. > >Why are NNX-0000 (I hope I have the N's and X's straight) numbers so >rare? > I was told (years ago) by a knowledgeable installer that the 0000-0020 numbers in the first exchange installed in an area was reserved. There was, and still is (but to a lesser degree) a need for test numbers. At least here in the LA area, 0004 is the test board, and 0000 is the switchroom foreman. Years ago 0018 and 0019 were loop-arounds. I've forgotten the rest, but one was a sweep tone, one was a dead short (for measuring loop resistance), one was a never-answer, one was a always- busy, etc. US Snail: Mike Morris UUCP: Morris@Jade.JPL.NASA.gov P.O. Box 1130 Also: WA6ILQ Arcadia, Ca. 91006-1130 #Include disclaimer.standard | The opinions above probably do not even [Moderator's Note: I guess the rules change over the years. My personal number is < 0020 on a very old exchange in the area. The custom in Chicago has always been the numbers from 9900 - 9999 were used internally by telco. 9900/01 was the chief operator; 9902/03 was the Directory Assistance direct number (where 411 went through some routing); and from 9990 to 9998 were all technical in nature, including always-busy, silent termination, etc. PT]
gil@eddie.mit.edu (Gil Kloepfer Jr.) (07/17/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0239m11@vector.dallas.tx.us> Roy Smith <roy%phri@uunet. uu.net> writes: > Anyway, just for fun, I just tried dialing 636-0000. I got a Just for fun, I tried dialing 746-0000 [area code 516] and I got the strangest message myself... It said, "The number you have reached, seven four six, oh oh oh oh, may not yet be connected." Some exchanges in 516 I picked at random said that the number was disconnected, one just kept ringing, and another was not in service. ------- | Gil Kloepfer, Jr. | ICUS Software Systems/Bowne Management Systems (depending on where I am) | ...icus!limbic!gil or gil@icus.islp.ny.us [Moderator's Note: Programming errors abound. For a laugh, try 312-922-4600. For about seventy years, that was the main number for Sears, Roebuck & Company at their downtown store and offices. They've been gone for years, and now dialing the number results in a recording, "you must dial one before calling this number". No matter how I dial it, with a one or not, that recording still comes on the line. PT]
glaser@starch.enet.dec.com (Steve Glaser SHR1-3/E29 DTN 237-2586) (07/17/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0234m02@vector.dallas.tx.us> Kent writes: >Why are NNX-0000 (I hope I have the N's and X's straight) numbers so >rare? Some of us live in systems that still allow 4 or 5 digit dialing. NNX-0000 would not be dialable as 4 digits as that would get you the operator. I am served by the (508) 838 prefix (Berlin, MA) and only need 4 digits. The next town over (Clinton) needs 5 digits. Real fun switch. We get lots of wrong numbers. Equal access -- what's that?We cet a choice of AT&T or AT&T. Touch Tone -- what's that? Custom calling -- you've got to be kidding? Hunt group -- has to be contiguous numbers, to add a line to our hunt group we have to change our phone number or convince the other guy to change his. Also, about 10% of the time dialing long distance gets us an operator asking what number we're dialing FROM. What's really amazing to me is that we get pretty good data service. We used to have a problem when it rained but they fixed the local loop. It was bad enough that voice service was unusable so we had no problem convincing then to fix it. It's real fun talking to the salesfolk from NET when they try to sell you custom calling and such. We're not even on any of their schedules. Confuses the daylights out of them. Steve Glaser Digital Equipment (508) 838-2121 [home] (508) 841-2586 [work]
levin@bbn.com (Joel B Levin) (07/18/89)
Of course, these numbers are rare because there are so few of them. :-)
I find it interesting; around here and most of the country, it's
terrific to have a number ending in two or more zeros (for the obvious
reasons of memorability and I suppose prestige). I always thought the
preferences in Arizona were much more practical. There an average
large store or company would (when I was there ~20 years ago) strive
to have a number ending in -11, or if possible, -111. These numbers
were equally memorable, and since almost everyone was using pulse
equipment with a rotary dial, they were fast and easy to dial! (I
really felt sorry for a high school acquaintance whose number was
N99-0990 [the digits permuted to preserve anonymity].)
/JBL
=
UUCP: levin@bbn.com (new) or {backbone}!bbn!levin (old)
INTERNET: levin@bbn.com POTS: (617) 873-3463
"The night was"r4@cbnews.att.com (richard.r.grady..jr) (07/19/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0234m02@vector.dallas.tx.us> Kent Borg <lloyd!kent@husc 6.harvard.edu> writes: =I recently noticed that the pizza place across from my laundromat has =a phone number which ends with 4 zeros. = =I don't think I have seen this before. In fact, I remember as a kid =(I was a strange kid) thinking that those numbers would probably be =reserved for phoning the exchange itself, but I never remember seeing =0000--at least until yesterday. = =Why are NNX-0000 (I hope I have the N's and X's straight) numbers so =rare? NNX-0000 numbers are not unusual in my area: Lawrence MA (508)-68X- Salem NH (603)-89[0348]- These offices are ESS. Some are assigned to businesses, some to private residences. The numbers seem to exist here at about the proper frequency (1/10000). Dick Grady r4@mvuxd.att.com ...!att!mvuxd!r4