Hello? Manitoba running out of phone numbers

Hello? Manitoba running out of phone numbers

Last Updated: Thursday, May 28, 2009 | 3:45 PM CT - CBC News

The Canadian Numbering Administrator, which consists of representatives
from both government and industry, says Manitoba's 204 area code is
expected to exhaust its supply of telephone numbers by January 2011.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said
Thursday it has initiated a process to resolve the number shortage.

A relief planning committee (RPC) is being established to evaluate
various options and make recommendations to the CRTC, said a release
from the commission.

In its planning, the RPC will evaluate possible relief measures, including splitting an area code's region or adding a new code to the region.

"The CRTC will then determine the most appropriate relief plan, taking
into consideration the RPC's recommendations," the release stated.

The CRTC is an independent public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.

I expect they will likely add a new area code. One for the Winnipeg Capital Region and one for the rest of Manitoba.

This does not surprise me. Some families have 3, 4, 5 cell phones. One of my friends has 6, 5 cell phones and a land line. Yikes.

Does cell phone numbers affect hard line numbers?

I would assume so. There are only so many combination's of telephone numbers available. I'd say it matters not if they are assigned to a land line, a cell phone, a fax machine, or whatever else requires a telephone number.

1,000,000 available.. but 1000s of those are reserved or not used.

I guess all 800 numbers. 866. 888. 411. 611. 911. Of course 311. 1XX. What else?

Today, the RPC has recommended that the people of Winnipeg and Brandon are limited to one telephone per city block. Rural areas must share a phone at the ratio of 1:500 people. This includes cell phones.

I use my neighbours phone. Pisses them off when I get calls at 6am.

death128 wrote:Today, the RPC has recommended that the people of Winnipeg and Brandon are limited to one telephone per city block. Rural areas must share a phone at the ratio of 1:500 people. This includes cell phones.

Sounds like the type of restrictions you'd hear about in countries like Russia, where citizens have very little freedom of choice.

grumpy old man wrote:I guess all 800 numbers. 866. 888. 411. 611. 911. Of course 311. 1XX. What else?

at one time payphones had there own digits

ie 633-9XXX I think it was 9.. no longer though I dont think...

Not sure why 800 and 866 exchanges would be out though?
225- is all MTS I think?

and all 555 numbers... are out because thats what the entertainment industry uses in shows
000
001
...
098
099

series is out

cuts down the available number fast eh?

Deank wrote:Not sure why 800 and 866 exchanges would be out though?

They are only out as available numbers for John Q. Public.

555 is actually used by phone companies...for example 555-1212 is "Information" in most of the US (the same as 411)
555-xxxx is also used among phone companies in the US for test numbers and relay numbers within the companies.
The only reason the entertainment industry uses them, is because people tend to call those numbers to see what they get...and the phone companies can control the calls.
For example on the show Heroes, they showed a phone number and website for the "guy with the glasses" paper company. The number was actually directed to a voice machine, and the website actually reflected the company and said it was hiring.

One of the most famous numbers (we had a thread a few months ago) in entertainment is called several hundred times per day. That same song (were it written today) would not be allowed to be aired on MSM radio stations because of the possible harassment in today's market.

800, 866, 888, 877 are all reserved for toll-free or business exchange.

I know the aversion to "ten-digit" dialing...everyone gets used to the 7-digit dialing and doesn't want to change.

Some of you may remember when you actually had names and a number. Don't know what they were here...but you might have picked up a phone...cranked it a couple of times...and then told the operator "could you connect me with Transcona 668" and they would put you through.

Many people don't even dial numbers anymore anyway. They pick a number off a list in an address book, or hit speed-dial. Though most phones are programmed for 7-digit or 1+ dialing...there would have to be some major upgrades to firmware in the phones if they want to implement 10-digit dialing.

Most of NJ & NY have changed to 10-digit. Dialing a number for someone across the street is now 10-digit instead of 7. Not a big deal. Just a bit extra to remember. And ironically, where the area code changes, you'd have to dial 1+10 to call someone across the street in a different area code. Fortunately though, the phone company has allowed for that...and it's not a long distance call.

Yeah, in Toronto and area there were 3 or 4 area codes. I think there may be more today. They tried using logic but that did not end up working well. But you adjust. The key is the first three digits are limited. Not really a problem.

Some of you may remember when you actually had names and a number.

I still have some business cards with my number as GLobe2-8163.

I haven't had that number for years, and even after it was changed to simply 452-8163....almost 20 years now I bet.

It appears that it is still not being re-used though. Is there a whole bunch of numbers that are in limbo, like this appears to be?

What about those "ghost" numbers, like 586-1111 me thinks.
There used to be numbers that answered with sirens or howls.

you been hit with electricity too many times E?

Electrician wrote:What about those "ghost" numbers, like 586-1111 me thinks.
There used to be numbers that answered with sirens or howls.

Italian numbers are different

Or you're calling someone's fax machine...or dialup modem .

used to be a phone number where you dial for free from any payphone in the province and listen to a radio station.

Cant remeber the station or the number.

Huh? That's wild.

You're walking down the street and suddenly, you want to listen to some music. You go up to a pay-phone and dial up a station and listen to it.

I wonder who thought up that idea, and how much of a bonus was paid for it.

Maybe it's just me, but that is bazarre.

Not just you. Bizarre to me also. Perhaps the precursor to the portable radio???

Heh. I wonder if the guy went on to invent the Gun Registry?

JTF wrote:Huh? That's wild.

You're walking down the street and suddenly, you want to listen to some music. You go up to a pay-phone and dial up a station and listen to it.

I wonder who thought up that idea, and how much of a bonus was paid for it.

Maybe it's just me, but that is bazarre.

heh we lived in The Pas.... not much to do after the two arcades close and listening to the radio at a pay phone was at least a way to make it look like you were maybe calling for a ride or something and the cops might leave you alone.

JTF wrote:Heh. I wonder if the guy went on to invent the Gun Registry?

No the he invented the whamo shamo or whatever it is called . Then got arrested for beating up a hooker.