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View Full Version : Will the world ever run out of phone numbers?



Loony BoB
02-19-2005, 10:17 AM
Topic ripped directly from this month's issue of FHM.

Will the world ever run out of phone numbers? Can the world actually run out of phone numbers? Or do they just get longer?

Cz
02-19-2005, 10:29 AM
Stealing topics from FHM? I'm surprised at you.

My phone number is eleven digits long, which allows for 99,999,999,999 different combinations. I don't see that many phone numbers being needed, unless we meet alien races who miraculously use the same communication and counting systems as we do. Even then, we'd just add or remove a digit and everything would be fine.

Heath
02-19-2005, 10:39 AM
I don't think so, considering the huge amounts avaliable, and I suppose some could even be recycled, if that's possible (ie switching the number from one location to another). It's possible with SIM cards in mobiles, I know that much, because when I lost my SIM card, I asked Vodafone to change the number of my new SIM card to that of my old one.

Jojee
02-19-2005, 11:00 AM
More digits = harder to remember = those of us who are mentally challenged are not up to the task! ;)

Haha... they'll come up with something better than a phone in a couple decades, anyway.

Citizen Bleys
02-19-2005, 12:44 PM
Eventually, we'll just start using IPv6 IP addresses. Even without subnetting, that allows for one IP address for every molecule in the known universe. an IPv6 address can easily be issued to every living human being.

That way, you won't have to worry about if the person is home, or the wrong person answering the phone, etc.

Rye
02-19-2005, 01:17 PM
People have 11 digit phone numbers? I only have 8 digits. Unless you count the area code. Than it's 11 numbers.


Eventually, we'll just start using IPv6 IP addresses. Even without subnetting, that allows for one IP address for every molecule in the known universe. an IPv6 address can easily be issued to every living human being.

But that's bad! How do you avoid calls? What if a person won't stop calling you? They now know you're avoiding their calls because you'd have to pick up.

Destai
02-19-2005, 01:28 PM
I wouldnt count on them running out any millenium soon.

crono_logical
02-19-2005, 01:33 PM
They just make the numbers longer :p I can remember two times they've done that to my number, the first added a 2 to the start of the local number for all the numbers in the area, and the other time they inserted a 1 in the area code :p

Tokki Wartooth
02-19-2005, 03:29 PM
In Toronto, phone numbers 10 digits.

Resha
02-19-2005, 04:11 PM
In Malaysia it's 8 numbers. Lots of people don't even have phones, or phone lines...so I guess not. Yet.

Dragon Ash
02-19-2005, 04:17 PM
Working at BT, I get all the insider gossip. For instance, London is getting a new dial code, in addition to 0207 and 0208, the 0203 code will soon be coming into play. Now isn't that exciting kids?

Oh, and phone no's are just gonna keep getting longer and longer! :D

Rainecloud
02-19-2005, 04:42 PM
Phones will have been replaced by the time we run out of phone numbers.

;)

Nod
02-19-2005, 04:55 PM
Phones will have been replaced by the time we run out of phone numbers.

yeah, i agree......but with what? A magnificent telepathic thought amplifying device perhaps???? OR...........nope, i got nothing :)

Leeza
02-19-2005, 05:00 PM
All they have to do is add a new Area Code and then you can just keep repeating the numbers. Isn't that how it works? You can go on almost indefinitely this way.

Doomgaze
02-19-2005, 05:39 PM
As Bleys said, it'll all be done over IP soon enough.

Maxico
02-19-2005, 06:18 PM
My phone number is eleven digits long, which allows for 99,999,999,999 different combinations.

Thats assuming that theres someone somewhere with the phone number 1.

eestlinc
02-19-2005, 06:31 PM
back in the old days of telephone technology, there were numerous restrictions to which numbers could be used where because phone switches were triggered as each number was dialed/rung. Now that we have technology where the entire number can be saved and sent as a whole, the possibilities are much more numerous.

Cz
02-19-2005, 06:42 PM
Thats assuming that theres someone somewhere with the phone number 1.What, you didn't ever see that episode of Family Guy? :p

boris no no
02-19-2005, 07:26 PM
they'll just make them longer...or use names etc and stuff

i myyyyyyyyy day phone numbers only had 10 numbers! now they added that new fangled 1 to the area code...
*mumble grumble*

Yamaneko
02-19-2005, 07:27 PM
Yup, IPv6 is the future.

krissy
02-19-2005, 07:31 PM
no because the majority of people in the world dont actually have a phone

DMKA
02-19-2005, 07:38 PM
No, because we'll quit using telephones before then.

Armisael
02-19-2005, 07:47 PM
no because the majority of people in the world dont actually have a phone

Silmaril
02-19-2005, 10:56 PM
Not any time soon

Shlup
02-19-2005, 11:26 PM
When my stepdad was a kid his phone number was five digits. That's weeeeird. :o

fire_of_avalon
02-19-2005, 11:34 PM
That song, it goes "867-5309" they had to take it out of the user system telephone thing because people call it.

Probably not, but I want that number, gimme.

Levian
02-20-2005, 12:32 AM
In Norway, we have 8 digits, and the population is somewhere around 5 millions, so it'll take a hell of a long time to occupy all of them.

Agent Proto
02-20-2005, 12:41 AM
The world will never run out of numbers. They'll just probably add new area codes in the US, create new codes everywhere else.

How can you explain L.A. having more than one Area Code?

Nod
02-20-2005, 12:53 AM
i remember when i was a lad we used to press one number and get the guy down the street *reminisces*

Skogs
02-20-2005, 01:10 AM
Instead of increasing the number of digits in phone numbers, you could just increase the base system. For example... hexadecimal! :D [/geek]

Doomgaze
02-20-2005, 07:22 AM
That song, it goes "867-5309" they had to take it out of the user system telephone thing because people call it.

Probably not, but I want that number, gimme.

There are numerous people with that number. It has not been removed, I assure you.

Shadow_Talon
02-20-2005, 08:11 AM
the world running out of phone numbers?!?!?! wat then?

the world running out of stupid hairstyles? maybe running out of places for pericings?? the list goes on......if the day ever came that IP was used instead, that would be the day company's doing "surveys" and people like that (spamers maby??) would have ultimate annoyance power. lts hope they eva run out of numbers

Maxico
02-20-2005, 01:52 PM
Feh, by the time we run out we probably wont be using numbers anymore.