Microsoft's area code just changed from 206 to 425. Netscape's changed from 415 to 650. Each time some place has its area code changed, the resulting dislocation wastes tens of millions of dollars in conversion costs and inconveniences hundreds of millions of callers worldwide.
Of course, we need new area codes: the old ones are filling up. But instead of cutting today's codes into smaller and smaller pieces, we should bite the bullet, overlay the new area codes on top of the old ones, and adopt 10-digit dialing for all local phone calls. As area codes keep shrinking, more and more calls are effectively being dialed with 10 digits anyway. The real question is whether we wish to adopt 10-digit dialing now, and save billions, or wait until our number comes up later.
Simson Garfinkel (simsong@vineyard.net) writes about digital culture from area code 508.
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Numerological Breakdown
