12LEE

I've worked for 12 years in telco and never thought about this. Now I just have and realise that I am a sad git.

How were the international dialling codes allocated.

US = 1. Biggest? Dumbest? First?
UK = 44. Why? David Blaine tribute?
France = 33.
Eire = 353.
Germany = 49.

What's the deal?

Brendan Hughes

Americans invented the phone.

Some other questions -

Why is Canada the same as the US? (1)?

Who has 2, 3, 4? Russia has 7...

douglasb

They might think they did, but since when has Alexander Graham Bell, a Scotsman living in Canada and trying to invent a device to allow his deaf wife to hear, been American?

Doug

alter_ego

Both countries are part of the North American Numbering Plan, as is much (most?) of the Carribean.


[Edited by alter_ego - 9/17/2003 11:45:31 PM]

Brendan Hughes

Je m'excuse...

Dracoro

2,3,4 etc. are probably 'secret' codes for the CIA etc.

fast bloke

How come all of America just uses ten thousand numbers. This is true. I saw it in the movies. Every time someone give out a number it starts with 555

Dracoro

Pity the poor fellas and lasses that do actually have them 555 numbers

scoob_babe

could it be cos 555 has never been allocated

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

there is no such dialing code as 555 in the US which is why it is used in films. Therefore any number they say will not exist so idiot Americans won't try and call it.

jaycee

Just cos it doesn't exist doesn't mean idiot Americans won't try and dial it!!

Jason

Dicke C

And now for the answer....Well its not mine and its a long read but try this link. Its taken an office of 10 men all day to come up with this in their spare time....Enjoy!
http://mirror.lcs.mit.edu/telecom-ar.../country.codes

Dicke C

12LEE

Top man