General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Do Phone Number "Area Codes" Actually Matter Anymore? [View all]Gorp
(716 posts)The 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx format is only necessary for land lines. Cell phones assume the 1 if the number is ten digits and assume local area code if it's seven. Two of my daughters are out of state but I only need to use their seven digit number to contact them from either my cell or my land line.
But other than that technical aspect of it, you're correct. We essentially have a ten digit phone number now. Once upon a time, area code meant strictly that. Now there are a lot of regions with overlapping area codes because one won't support the territory.
Same with exchanges. That meant something when all phones were hard-wired, but cell phones changed all of that. We've got three land-line exchanges in our territory and more cell phone exchanges than I can think of at the moment.
I'm old enough to remember when every house had exactly one phone number. Then they introduced the second number option with the double-ring (which I currently have). I used to have two physical lines, one for voice and one for modem, but DSL has made that obsolete. Now I've got one land line with two numbers assigned to it, DSL that I can use for Skype, and five cell phones between us - seven phone numbers and an IP address for one house.
Times have changed, eh?