Sorry, phone number, but it's time for you to die

Darren Murph

867-5309. 911. And… that’s about it. Those two seemingly random strings of digits just so happen to be phone numbers.

One is the emergency line for U.S. citizens, established as a public service to be rung in times of utter distress. The other is best known for being the hook in a Tommy Tutone jam. For all of the technologies that have come, served their time, and went, the antediluvian phone number remains—clinging to life much like a zombie that refuses to remain planted in its grave. Unlike Sony’s MiniDisc, SanDisk’s slotRadio, and Palm’s webOS, the phone number has few meaningful supporters. In fact, it’s easily one of the most complicated and frustrating beacons of communication in the world today, but it’s hanging on for one primary reason: ubiquity. As they say, old habits die hard, and well-rooted trees require the most effort to poison. The telephone number has served us well. Despite the need f [...]

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