Fig typed


On Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:40:40 +0100, Richard J.
wrote:

ALL numbers in London have an area code of 020 followed by a 4-digit
exchange code...

Beg pardon?
Are you saying that all numbers on the same exchange will start with the
same 4 first numbers?
I guess not, but what do you mean by '4-digit exchange code'?


Many exchanges have more than one four digit exchange code. 8458 and
8455 have originated from the same place for as long as I can remember
(Speedwell and Meadway before all figure numbers...)

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

Richard J. wrote:
To take the number in the title of this thread as an example, the
enquiries number for London Transport used to be ABBey 1234, one of up
to 9999 numbers on the ABBey exchange, which became the 222 exchange
when all-figure numbers were introduced. That exchange is now the 7222
exchange, and all numbers on that exchange have the format 020 7222
xxxx.

There is no such thing as an 'exchange code'. Telephone numbers are
virtualised and are not tied to particular lines or exchanges although,
for historical reasons and ease of management, numbers will correlate
strongly with particular exchanges.

ESB

Fig typed

I understand, although I think your reasoning is out of date. Surely now,
the code for London is 020 and no inference can be made at all about the
next 4 digits. Numbers connected to a given exchange in London will be 8
digits long and the only thing connecting them is that they will start
with either 3,7or8?

True but many numbers give big clues to their geographical location.

I certainly like to know if a call is from 7PAD dington, 8HAR row or
8COL indale

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

"Helen Deborah Vecht" wrote in message
...
Fig typed

I understand, although I think your reasoning is out of date. Surely now,
the code for London is 020 and no inference can be made at all about the
next 4 digits. Numbers connected to a given exchange in London will be 8
digits long and the only thing connecting them is that they will start
with either 3,7or8?

True but many numbers give big clues to their geographical location.

I certainly like to know if a call is from 7PAD dington, 8HAR row or
8COL indale


If as others have said, numbers throughout the 020 area are 'virtual' can
these numbers be retained by someone moving elsewhere in the London area,
and as numbers are recycled, will 3,7 and 8 appear everywhere?

Paul

Paul Scott wrote:

If as others have said, numbers throughout the 020 area are 'virtual' can
these numbers be retained by someone moving elsewhere in the London area,
and as numbers are recycled, will 3,7 and 8 appear everywhere?

Let's put it this way. There are two big phone providers in the London
area, BT and Virgin Media. Numbers are portable between carriers and
within carriers subject to a few limitations and possible costs
depending on the circumstances. As time goes by, the geographical
correlation will reduce with porting but given the size of the existing
user base, it seems unlikely that it will disappear entirely. Recycled
numbers tend to stay in the same place.

To add to the confusing mix, a VoIP provider, like Skype, can give you
an 020 number (just one of many available UK STD codes) and so this
clearly does not lend itself to any meaningful geographical
interpretation. They're just numbers.

ESB

On Wed, 28 Mar 2007 12:10:31 +0100, Helen Deborah Vecht wrote:

True but many numbers give big clues to their geographical location.

I certainly like to know if a call is from 7PAD dington, 8HAR row or
8COL indale

Even though it's not so clear any more, a lot of that is true.

7BER mondsey, for example... though the only number I watch out for there
is sadly not a 7237 but a 7232.

Of course, HENdon became, through all the changes, 8201 - presumably
because they tied it in with COLindale.

--
Phil Reynolds
mail: (though I'd prefer followups on group)
Web: http://www.tinsleyviaduct.com/phil/
Waltham 67, Emley Moor 69, Droitwich 79, Windows 95

On Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:53:05 +0100, Steve Fitzgerald ]
wrote:

In message , Exchange
writes

We've never had 0207 numbers in London - they were in the Consett/Stanley
area in the North East. Try dialling 222 1234 locally and see what
happens.

Well you've got that very wrong, I live in Lambeth and MY number
is 0207.
And so is Scotland Yard, Waterloo station, Battersea power station
Selfridges, Every theatre in Covent Garden, Paddington Green,
Arding and Hobbs Clapham Junction, The Bull and Bush Mayfair,
The Worlds end Camden Town, Billy B of Bermondsey etc etc

Wrong - they are all 020

You will find him in London's Docklands, E16, UK
(please use the reply to address for email)
Yours must be an 0208 number?

Nope, it's an 020 number.

Well done on generating about 30 responses from such a simple remark.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!

In message , Paul Corfield
writes

Well you've got that very wrong, I live in Lambeth and MY number
is 0207.
And so is Scotland Yard, Waterloo station, Battersea power station
Selfridges, Every theatre in Covent Garden, Paddington Green,
Arding and Hobbs Clapham Junction, The Bull and Bush Mayfair,
The Worlds end Camden Town, Billy B of Bermondsey etc etc

Wrong - they are all 020

You will find him in London's Docklands, E16, UK
Yours must be an 0208 number?

Nope, it's an 020 number.

Well done on generating about 30 responses from such a simple remark.

One does one's best
--
Steve Fitzgerald has now left the building.
You will find him in London's Docklands, E16, UK
(please use the reply to address for email)

Nope, it's an 020 number.

Well done on generating about 30 responses from such a simple remark.

Thanks also for showing that it isn't just me that gets irritated by it.

Mayday University Hospital still sends out appointment letters with an 0181
number appearing on them so I suppose that is even worse than it would be if
they used 0208.

G.

In message , Graham J
writes
Nope, it's an 020 number.

Well done on generating about 30 responses from such a simple remark.

Thanks also for showing that it isn't just me that gets irritated by it.

Mayday University Hospital still sends out appointment letters with an 0181
number appearing on them so I suppose that is even worse than it would be if
they used 0208.

No doubt they will just change the 0181 to 0208 on the replacement batch
of letters they order, and perpetuate the confusion :s

I really can't understand why this has all become so confusing.
Everybody who rings numbers locally in London can just dial the last 8
digits of the 'full' number, so it should be obvious that the dialling
code is 020 from that. I suppose with the advent of mobile phones,
people are more and more used to dialling the full number wherever they
are - I know I frequently do.
--
Steve Fitzgerald has now left the building.
You will find him in London's Docklands, E16, UK
(please use the reply to address for email)