Why Are Phone Numbers 7 Digits Long?
If there were only a few homes with telephones, the numbers could be very simple. When phones first came about, this was the case. Today, however, phones are everywhere and are probably our main form of communication. Not only are those digits needed to make sure there are enough numbers to go around, they help your call get to the right place very quickly and efficiently. Your local number has seven digits which are separated by a dash. The first part is three numbers, and the second is four. If you are dealing with a long distance number, you have eleven digits with which to deal. The first is always a one, which tells the phone system that you are dialing out of your area code – which is the next three numbers. Those denote a state, or an area within a state. The first three of the seven digits in any number are called the prefix. This set of numbers is unique to your area code, but can be repeated in other area codes. These three digits tell the phone service a town, or an area wit
