[Info-vax] [OT] US telephone numbers, was: Re: OT: Chrome bug with Applet and threading

[glen herrmannsfeldt]

Simon Clubley <clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-earth.ufp> wrote:

(snip)

>>>    1-800-555-1212

>> Sorry I'm not in the US.  What does that number do?

> Freephone directory enquiries for the US.

> However, the 555 area code is also reserved for use by fictional programs
> set in the US, so that real customer phone numbers are not used by mistake.

No, the 555 prefix. I don't know about the 555 area code.

The general form is 1-(areacode)-555-1212 gets directory assistance
for that area code. Though much of that was before deregulation.

I believe, though, that the whole 555 prefix for each area code
is reserved, and so convenient for fictional numbers. 
(After too many were sued by the people with actual numbers that
were used in show.)

-- glen