Sick of hearing 555 numbers in American movies because there's only a pool of 100 to chose from (ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_number): Come to the UK where we have a set of 20,000 realistic geographic and non-geographic numbers!
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/ioi/numbers/num_drama
Also handy for testing software etc.
OK, OK, I guess you add different area codes to them, but really, America, you do have the most primitive numbering system. Geographic cellphone codes which mean you have to pay to receive calls? Get a life!
Quote from: Brazen on September 23, 2009, 07:29:02 AM
but really, America, you do have the most primitive numbering system. Geographic cellphone codes which mean you have to pay to receive calls? Get a life!
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg132.imageshack.us%2Fimg132%2F2806%2F21689530.gif&hash=18ca7dc154cdd51ded75414246eb0131bc5f934c)
I can't tell if you are serious or not. bravo.
Geographic cellphone codes? WTF is that?
Quote from: The Larch on September 23, 2009, 07:39:19 AM
Geographic cellphone codes? WTF is that?
They're not specific to cell phones, but we have area codes based (roughly) on geography.
How does geographic mobile codes even work?
It depends on where the shop you buy the phone at is?
Quote from: Caliga on September 23, 2009, 07:41:05 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 23, 2009, 07:39:19 AM
Geographic cellphone codes? WTF is that?
They're not specific to cell phones, but we have area codes based (roughly) on geography.
And I'm still pissed they split 513 into 513 and 937.
Quote from: Brazen on September 23, 2009, 07:29:02 AM
OK, OK, I guess you add different area codes to them, but really, America, you do have the most primitive numbering system. Geographic cellphone codes which mean you have to pay to receive calls? Get a life!
We don't pay to receive cell calls because of the geographic system. We pay because the cellular system relies on taking up part of a privately-owned tower's broadcast, so there's limited use available- if I get into an area with a really high number of T-Mobile users, for example, I'll sometimes get a "Network is Busy" error when I try to make a call because I can't get a signal onto a full tower. Sav would probably be able to explain this better than me.
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 23, 2009, 07:32:48 AM
I can't tell if you are serious or not. bravo.
The whole US cellphone system is backward FWIW. Your yokel jaws must just hit the floor when you come to the free smartphone handset, all the 3G you can eat haven that is Europe.
555-0001 to 555-9999 is more then 100 choices.
Freaking Euros that can't count.
Quote from: Grey Fox on September 23, 2009, 07:48:54 AM
555-0001 to 555-9999 is more then 100 choices.
Freaking Euros that can't count.
Frickin' Yanks can't read. From the wiki link:
QuoteHowever, today only numbers beginning with 555-01xx are reserved for fiction and other 555-numbers can be allocated to "information providers". A side effect of the fictional-number pool being reduced to 100 numbers is that the same ones now often recur in different movies or TV shows. The "958" and "959" exchanges have also been reserved for similar purposes in most localities, and as a result very few individuals or businesses have telephone numbers beginning with those sets of digits either (although this fact is not as well known, so such numbers have not been used in a fictional context).
Quote from: Brazen on September 23, 2009, 07:48:44 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 23, 2009, 07:32:48 AM
I can't tell if you are serious or not. bravo.
The whole US cellphone system is backward FWIW. Your yokel jaws must just hit the floor when you come to the free smartphone handset, all the 3G you can eat haven that is Europe.
You've descended into Euroretardism. I had hopes for you B. :weep:
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 23, 2009, 07:50:46 AM
You've descended into Euroretardism. I had hopes for you B. :weep:
Sorry Ed. It's a one off. We all have occasional mornings when we wake up and think, "Must... mock... Americans...". It's something they put in our water. Probably the same stuff that gives us bad teeth and poor hygiene.
Quote from: Brazen on September 23, 2009, 07:50:37 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on September 23, 2009, 07:48:54 AM
555-0001 to 555-9999 is more then 100 choices.
Freaking Euros that can't count.
Frickin' Yanks can't read. From the wiki link:
QuoteHowever, today only numbers beginning with 555-01xx are reserved for fiction and other 555-numbers can be allocated to "information providers". A side effect of the fictional-number pool being reduced to 100 numbers is that the same ones now often recur in different movies or TV shows. The "958" and "959" exchanges have also been reserved for similar purposes in most localities, and as a result very few individuals or businesses have telephone numbers beginning with those sets of digits either (although this fact is not as well known, so such numbers have not been used in a fictional context).
& yet movie producers/writers don't always use that rule.
also, not a yank.
867-5309-eeeeee-yeeeein
867-5309-eeeeee-yeeeein
867-5309-eeeeee-yeeeein
Quote from: Caliga on September 23, 2009, 07:41:05 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 23, 2009, 07:39:19 AM
Geographic cellphone codes? WTF is that?
They're not specific to cell phones, but we have area codes based (roughly) on geography.
We also have area codes based on geography, but only for land lines, they don't apply to cellphones. How does that work for cells?
Quote from: Caliga on September 23, 2009, 08:02:05 AM
867-5309-eeeeee-yeeeein
867-5309-eeeeee-yeeeein
867-5309-eeeeee-yeeeein
I was actually thinking of posting that, but got derailed. Brazen, this is why we stick to easily recognizable reserved numbers most of the time:
http://www.oldskoolphreak.com/tfiles/phreak/jenny07.txt
Quote from: The Larch on September 23, 2009, 08:04:45 AM
Quote from: Caliga on September 23, 2009, 07:41:05 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 23, 2009, 07:39:19 AM
Geographic cellphone codes? WTF is that?
They're not specific to cell phones, but we have area codes based (roughly) on geography.
We also have area codes based on geography, but only for land lines, they don't apply to cellphones. How does that work for cells?
Same way.
When it comes to numbers nothing beats the Brits ... 0118999 88199 9119725 ...3.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on September 23, 2009, 08:05:14 AM
I was actually thinking of posting that, but got derailed. Brazen, this is why we stick to easily recognizable reserved numbers most of the time:
http://www.oldskoolphreak.com/tfiles/phreak/jenny07.txt
:D
Maybe a quick solution would be to euthanise anyone who dials a number that appears on TV or in a movie with an electric shock through the phone line to eradicate that trait from the gene pool.
One of the things the company I work for does is do the back-end work for short codes, so you can dial 118118 etc. rather than 11 digits.
Quote from: Brazen on September 23, 2009, 07:50:37 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on September 23, 2009, 07:48:54 AM
555-0001 to 555-9999 is more then 100 choices.
Freaking Euros that can't count.
Frickin' Yanks can't read. From the wiki link:
QuoteHowever, today only numbers beginning with 555-01xx are reserved for fiction and other 555-numbers can be allocated to "information providers". A side effect of the fictional-number pool being reduced to 100 numbers is that the same ones now often recur in different movies or TV shows. The "958" and "959" exchanges have also been reserved for similar purposes in most localities, and as a result very few individuals or businesses have telephone numbers beginning with those sets of digits either (although this fact is not as well known, so such numbers have not been used in a fictional context).
But we also have a couple hundred area codes which leaves more than enough phone numbers for movies.
paying to recieve calls :bleeding:
Quote from: The Larch on September 23, 2009, 08:04:45 AM
We also have area codes based on geography, but only for land lines, they don't apply to cellphones. How does that work for cells?
Usually it's based on your billing address; by law you can keep your number if you change addresses or change your carriers.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on September 23, 2009, 07:45:45 AM
We don't pay to receive cell calls because of the geographic system. We pay because the cellular system relies on taking up part of a privately-owned tower's broadcast, so there's limited use available- if I get into an area with a really high number of T-Mobile users, for example, I'll sometimes get a "Network is Busy" error when I try to make a call because I can't get a signal onto a full tower. Sav would probably be able to explain this better than me.
If you get a "Network Busy" error it means all the radios on the cell site are in use and the network cannot connect you. You can get that problem on a landline phone as well; if you ever have dialed a number and gotten a busy signal that sounds faster than a normal one it's because the phone system has used up all it's available trunks.
Quote from: The Larch on September 23, 2009, 08:04:45 AM
We also have area codes based on geography, but only for land lines, they don't apply to cellphones. How does that work for cells?
it depends on where you register your phone and who is the provider.
You may buy your cell phone in a city and have it registered in another city if you want to.
One thing I love about the Yukon - although we do have to dial 7, or even 10 numbers (depending on whether it's long distance or not) most of the time you can get away with just quoting 4 digits as your number. Outside of whitehorse every town had the same prefex (e.g. Watson Lake - 536), so residents can tell people "my number is 1234".
:cool:
Quote from: viper37 on September 23, 2009, 09:38:27 AM
it depends on where you register your phone and who is the provider.
You may buy your cell phone in a city and have it registered in another city if you want to.
... if you're a drug dealer.
Unlimited data/minutes and extensive contacts list (actually dialing phones numbers is for scubs. This applies to work too, because if the person isn't important enough to have an extension, fuck em) crew checking in. :cool: :P
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on September 23, 2009, 10:48:08 AM
Unlimited data/minutes and extensive contacts list (actually dialing phones numbers is for scubs. This applies to work too, because if the person isn't important enough to have an extension, fuck em) crew checking in. :cool: :P
At my work we can call, text and send reminders from IRC.
Quote from: Brazen on September 23, 2009, 10:49:30 AM
At my work we can call, text and send reminders from IRC.
We can too sort of (well we use Spark), but it's not the same as actually talking to someone over their shitty desk phone through your shitty desk phone.
Edit: Actually, Spark has become more of a group chat/bullshitting thing than anything else, email is sent out for updates and reminders (and dumbass FW:FW:FW:FW: stuff), and the phones are used for directly bitching someone out or telling them to come here so you can do so in person (along with the usual phone things), etc.
Quote from: Brazen on September 23, 2009, 10:45:27 AM
Quote from: viper37 on September 23, 2009, 09:38:27 AM
it depends on where you register your phone and who is the provider.
You may buy your cell phone in a city and have it registered in another city if you want to.
... if you're a drug dealer.
I'm seeing it more often these days. With free long distance on most cellphone plans, people just keep their old numbers as they change cities and states, so you'll see people in Atlanta with Ohio and DC numbers.
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 23, 2009, 07:43:06 AM
Quote from: Caliga on September 23, 2009, 07:41:05 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 23, 2009, 07:39:19 AM
Geographic cellphone codes? WTF is that?
They're not specific to cell phones, but we have area codes based (roughly) on geography.
And I'm still pissed they split 513 into 513 and 937.
We were a little uneasy being lumped in with you Daytonites.
Quote from: Barrister on September 23, 2009, 10:40:59 AM
One thing I love about the Yukon - although we do have to dial 7, or even 10 numbers (depending on whether it's long distance or not) most of the time you can get away with just quoting 4 digits as your number. Outside of whitehorse every town had the same prefex (e.g. Watson Lake - 536), so residents can tell people "my number is 1234".
:cool:
People do that in my town, since the entire town (county?) has just the prefix "477". :hug:
Quote from: ulmont on September 23, 2009, 10:59:28 AM
I'm seeing it more often these days. With free long distance on most cellphone plans, people just keep their old numbers as they change cities and states, so you'll see people in Atlanta with Ohio and DC numbers.
:yes:
I'm on a plan with my family (save about 12 bucks a month and always free calls between us) and so I have a Massachusetts area code.
My brother still has a '617' area code from when he was living in Boston. :yes:
With Google Voice, you can choose your own area code & phone # from thousands that are available (I made the last three digits spell "EERS" :) ) and you can set that # to forward to any other #'s you want (e.g., you can set it to try your work phone, then cell phone, then home phone if no answer). All you have to give people is that one Google Voice number. It also has visual voicemail & some other cool stuff I haven't played with yet.
Quote from: Brazen on September 23, 2009, 07:48:44 AM
free smartphone handset, all the 3G you can eat haven that is Europe.
Free? :huh:
My personal cell phone was like $10 or something and it's pretty nice.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.letstalk.com%2Fimg%2Fprod%2Fcell-phones%2Fatt%2Fsonyericsson%2F34617_pdi.gif&hash=3e5ccdde5e4b40c930e64b727801f2ac9a953266)
I hate the US Cellphone market.
/jealous
Quote from: Caliga on September 23, 2009, 11:23:37 AM
My personal cell phone was like $10 or something and it's pretty nice.
Decent cell phones are only cheap in the US because they force you in to overpriced contracts
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 23, 2009, 11:27:07 AM
Quote from: Caliga on September 23, 2009, 11:23:37 AM
My personal cell phone was like $10 or something and it's pretty nice.
Decent cell phones are only cheap in the US because they force you in to overpriced contracts
Yup. Thankfully my company reimburses me for a good chunk of my bill each month.
Princesca's bill gets reimbursed as well. Mine doesn't, but that's because I have a separate blackberry on a different carrier thru work. But yeah, the contract thing blows. I used to have Virgin Mobile before I moved down here, and that's why--no contract.
As a rule America is incredibly backwards when it comes to this stuff. Telephones, internet, credit card security etc etc etc.
As for phone bills of course I don't pay for either my phone or my calls. I work for a living.
Okay, now you guys got me thinking about phones too much. I'm eligible for subsidized pricing on a new phone, and I'm ready to ditch this generally reliable but boring Moto Q9c. I'm really tempted to get a Palm Pre, but that tiny keyboard may be a deal-breaker.
My sensible, professional side (or what's left of it) says get the Blackberry Tour 9650 but it would feel too much like what I have now.
I should just hold off until Sprint's two Android phones come out in the next few weeks. But what will I do for instant gratification? :(
Quote from: derspiess on September 23, 2009, 12:13:13 PM
Okay, now you guys got me thinking about phones too much. I'm eligible for subsidized pricing on a new phone, and I'm ready to ditch this generally reliable but boring Moto Q9c. I'm really tempted to get a Palm Pre, but that tiny keyboard may be a deal-breaker.
My sensible, professional side (or what's left of it) says get the Blackberry Tour 9650 but it would feel too much like what I have now.
I should just hold off until Sprint's two Android phones come out in the next few weeks. But what will I do for instant gratification? :(
Don't you love america? Aren't you patriotic?
Spend my friend, spend!
Quote from: Savonarola on September 23, 2009, 09:00:06 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 23, 2009, 08:04:45 AM
We also have area codes based on geography, but only for land lines, they don't apply to cellphones. How does that work for cells?
Usually it's based on your billing address; by law you can keep your number if you change addresses or change your carriers.
Yep my cell number has a philly area code still.
Quote from: derspiess on September 23, 2009, 12:13:13 PM
I should just hold off until Sprint's two Android phones come out in the next few weeks. But what will I do for instant gratification? :(
Give in to your lust for shiny consumer electronics.
Buy an iPhone.
Join us..............
Quote from: Barrister on September 23, 2009, 12:35:06 PM
Give in to your lust for shiny consumer electronics.
Buy an iPhone.
Join us..............
brains.....
Quote from: derspiess on September 23, 2009, 12:13:13 PM
Okay, now you guys got me thinking about phones too much. I'm eligible for subsidized pricing on a new phone, and I'm ready to ditch this generally reliable but boring Moto Q9c. I'm really tempted to get a Palm Pre, but that tiny keyboard may be a deal-breaker.
My sensible, professional side (or what's left of it) says get the Blackberry Tour 9650 but it would feel too much like what I have now.
I should just hold off until Sprint's two Android phones come out in the next few weeks. But what will I do for instant gratification? :(
Has Sprint launched WiMax in your market? If so hold off for the Android. I know some people who have worked for Sprint on 4G launches and they say WiMax technology is blazing fast.
Quote from: Barrister on September 23, 2009, 12:35:06 PM
Quote from: derspiess on September 23, 2009, 12:13:13 PM
I should just hold off until Sprint's two Android phones come out in the next few weeks. But what will I do for instant gratification? :(
Give in to your lust for shiny consumer electronics.
Buy an iPhone.
Join us..............
If it had a physical keyboard I'd seriously consider it.
Speaking of shiny consumer electronics, my Zune HD is a thing of beauty :) It ain't the apps monster that is the Touch, but that's not what I bought it for.
Quote from: derspiess on September 23, 2009, 01:26:32 PM
If it had a physical keyboard I'd seriously consider it.
Get a blackberry then. Apparently they have the nicest keyboards.
Quote from: Savonarola on September 23, 2009, 12:54:13 PM
Has Sprint launched WiMax in your market? If so hold off for the Android. I know some people who have worked for Sprint on 4G launches and they say WiMax technology is blazing fast.
I thought WiMax was still only available in Baltimore, but I'm not sure. They are advertising it in Sprint stores here, but I don't think it's available yet.
My wish list for my next phone is:
*Android OS
*physical qwerty keyboard
*16x9 (ish) screen
*wifi
This is in addition to all the stuff we take for granted now.
If it turns out to match the rumors, the InstinctQ may fit the bill: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/19/samsung-instinctq-for-sprint-pictured-imagine-a-g1-but-better/
Quote from: Barrister on September 23, 2009, 01:36:56 PM
Get a blackberry then. Apparently they have the nicest keyboards.
As I mentioned, my current phone is very similar.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpective.com%2Fm%2Fmotorola-q9c&hash=359377e54d51ad921feae9d060571a029fc79d80)
I want a bigger screen & that form factor is feeling a bit dated.
Quote from: Brazen on September 23, 2009, 10:45:27 AM
Quote from: viper37 on September 23, 2009, 09:38:27 AM
it depends on where you register your phone and who is the provider.
You may buy your cell phone in a city and have it registered in another city if you want to.
... if you're a drug dealer.
won't do you any good for that.
However, for someone living in an area and working/traveling frequently in another, it's useful as you avoid long distance charges.
Quote from: derspiess on September 23, 2009, 01:39:20 PM
I thought WiMax was still only available in Baltimore, but I'm not sure. They are advertising it in Sprint stores here, but I don't think it's available yet.
It looks like you're right. Avoid Sprint like the plague then; their 3G service is awful.
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 23, 2009, 11:27:07 AM
Decent cell phones are only cheap in the US because they force you in to overpriced contracts
try Canada. Then you can complain ;)
Quote from: Savonarola on September 23, 2009, 01:46:09 PM
It looks like you're right. Avoid Sprint like the plague then; their 3G service is awful.
Actually EvDo here in Cincy is quite good. When tethered to my laptop, I've gotten over 1.5mbps down :)
Quote from: derspiess on September 23, 2009, 12:13:13 PM
Okay, now you guys got me thinking about phones too much. I'm eligible for subsidized pricing on a new phone, and I'm ready to ditch this generally reliable but boring Moto Q9c. I'm really tempted to get a Palm Pre, but that tiny keyboard may be a deal-breaker.
AAAAARGH. I *hated* my Moto Q... worst cellphone ever. :mad:
Quote from: Barrister on September 23, 2009, 01:36:56 PM
Get a blackberry then. Apparently they have the nicest keyboards.
My BB has a great keyboard, yeah... I can type out an email on it basically as fast as I can at a desktop/laptop, unless I need to use alot of special symbols or something.
Quote from: Savonarola on September 23, 2009, 01:46:09 PM
Quote from: derspiess on September 23, 2009, 01:39:20 PM
I thought WiMax was still only available in Baltimore, but I'm not sure. They are advertising it in Sprint stores here, but I don't think it's available yet.
It looks like you're right. Avoid Sprint like the plague then;their service is awful.
Fixed
Quote from: Savonarola on September 23, 2009, 09:06:52 AM
If you get a "Network Busy" error it means all the radios on the cell site are in use and the network cannot connect you. You can get that problem on a landline phone as well; if you ever have dialed a number and gotten a busy signal that sounds faster than a normal one it's because the phone system has used up all it's available trunks.
So yeah. More limited radio capacity would explain why I get that somewhat frequently. Anyway, I knew about the fast busy, but I was only really trained in terrestrial phone engineering and never had much of a chance to learn the technical side of cellular- we mostly overrode it and used our own phone routing for our purposes.
Quote from: derspiess on September 23, 2009, 01:39:20 PM
Quote from: Savonarola on September 23, 2009, 12:54:13 PM
Has Sprint launched WiMax in your market? If so hold off for the Android. I know some people who have worked for Sprint on 4G launches and they say WiMax technology is blazing fast.
I thought WiMax was still only available in Baltimore, but I'm not sure. They are advertising it in Sprint stores here, but I don't think it's available yet.
My wish list for my next phone is:
*Android OS
*physical qwerty keyboard
*16x9 (ish) screen
*wifi
This is in addition to all the stuff we take for granted now.
If it turns out to match the rumors, the InstinctQ may fit the bill: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/19/samsung-instinctq-for-sprint-pictured-imagine-a-g1-but-better/
I'm going to the Sprint store tonight to try out the HTC Hero (Sprint's first Android phone). If I like it enough, I might be willing to give up on a physical keyboard :o
Quote from: Caliga on September 23, 2009, 08:02:05 AM
867-5309-eeeeee-yeeeein
867-5309-eeeeee-yeeeein
867-5309-eeeeee-yeeeein
Haha...I pity the person who has that phone number! :lol:
Quote from: KRonn on October 15, 2009, 12:30:49 PM
Quote from: Caliga on September 23, 2009, 08:02:05 AM
867-5309-eeeeee-yeeeein
867-5309-eeeeee-yeeeein
867-5309-eeeeee-yeeeein
Haha...I pity the person who has that phone number! :lol:
This the same song is there another about a girl called Ilene/Irene/Whatever ?
http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/8675309.asp
I'm freed from the shackles of WinMo 6.1 & am now experiencing pure Android goodness. The Hero is a solid phone, and I can actually type a full sentence on the on-screen keyboard in landscape mode.
Quote from: derspiess on October 15, 2009, 10:57:40 PM
I'm freed from the shackles of WinMo 6.1 & am now experiencing pure Android goodness. The Hero is a solid phone, and I can actually type a full sentence on the on-screen keyboard in landscape mode.
They
just released Windows Mobile 6.5. I wonder if it doesn't totally suck ass like 6.1.
Quote from: derspiess on October 15, 2009, 10:57:40 PM
I'm freed from the shackles of WinMo 6.1 & am now experiencing pure Android goodness. The Hero is a solid phone, and I can actually type a full sentence on the on-screen keyboard in landscape mode.
That's what I have (and have been stalking you on) - rebranded G2 by T-Mobile UK for no readily apparent reason.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 15, 2009, 11:24:49 PM
They just released Windows Mobile 6.5. I wonder if it doesn't totally suck ass like 6.1.
I've read some very angry reviews, saying that's really terrible.
I am quite happy with my Nokia E71. I actually like that it's a phone for grown ups (no smilies etc.), so thus far no reason to flush it in the toilet and ask for a new one.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 15, 2009, 11:24:49 PM
They just released Windows Mobile 6.5. I wonder if it doesn't totally suck ass like 6.1.
The thing to keep in mind is that it is 6.5, not 7. People's expectations should have been set accordingly.
The one bright shining light for the line of phones running 6.5 is this:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/06/htc-touch-hd2-hands-on/
But from what I hear, what makes this phone great is the stuff HTC added on top of WinMo 6.5, rather than 6.5 itself.
Quote from: katmai on September 23, 2009, 12:19:24 PM
Quote from: Savonarola on September 23, 2009, 09:00:06 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 23, 2009, 08:04:45 AM
We also have area codes based on geography, but only for land lines, they don't apply to cellphones. How does that work for cells?
Usually it's based on your billing address; by law you can keep your number if you change addresses or change your carriers.
Yep my cell number has a philly area code still.
Yeah, aa kept her WV number for a while after we moved to NC, but eventually changed it so that people around here with land lines (particularly prospective employers) wouldn't have to call long distance.