The four numbers we dial on a daily basis (or used to - who makes calls anymore?) are not randomly chosen, and the logic behind them is both rational and pleasing.
Prior to 1958, picking up the phone for a non-local call would mean speaking to an operator to connect you. After the introduction of dialing codes, operators weren’t needed - and the Queen made the first ‘long distance’ call from Bristol to Edinburgh using the new codes.
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The code for Edinburgh which she used was 031, with the 3 representing the first letter of the city (E) on the rotary phone. Similarly, Glasgow was given 041 - with 4 representing G. Further south, Manchester was 061, and Liverpool assigned 051.
The Reading Mercury told readers of the new codes: “A Post Office spokesman said this week the new dialing codes are proving very satisfactory.”
Edinburgh and Glasgow were the only Scottish cities to get a three digit dial code based on their first letter, with areas such as Dundee and Aberdeen receiving codes relating to their postcodes. Aberdeen was given 0224 with the numbers representing AB4 on the rotary telephone, and Dundee similarly was given 01382 - representing DU2.
British Telecom was formed in 1980 and took control of the British telephone network. In 1982, the Thatcher government offered half the shares of BT to the public - a landmark test of privatisation which became one of the defining policies for the Conservative Party.
The three digit dial codes remained in place until 1995, when the UK marked PhONEday on April 16. Geographic area codes and telephone numbers were altered, mainly with the addition of the number 1 following the 0, so Edinburgh became 0131 instead of 031.
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The PhONEday changes were preceded by a £16million advertising campaign over eight months, where both the old and new dial codes were functioning. The alterations cleared up space for new geographic area codes, as well as numbers beginning 07, 08 and 09 to be used for mobile and non-geographic services.
Three months before the shake-up, BT warned businesses of being ‘unprepared’. According to their research, nearly half of Britain’s businesses had done nothing to get ready for the extra 1.
One-third of businesses couldn’t quote their own new phone numbers, and only one in six were aware of the new international dialing codes. Despite fears and uncertainty, we made it through.
The highly publicised event on April 16 saw telephone traffic reduced dramatically, adding an extra 10 billion phone lines. The Aberdeen Press & Journal told readers of the ‘global revolution’.
They said: “Telecommunications services are now multiplying so fast that BT foresees the day when each member of the family has their own line. You won’t just be using a phone for talking.”
“You could be receiving satellite television services, linking your personal computer up to others, sending faxes, or travelling on virtual reality ‘tours’ to far-flung locations.”
