All figure dialling
Encyclopedia
All-figure dialling refers to the change in the UK telephone numbering plan
in 1966
when the three-digit numbers for local telephone exchange
s in director areas
(major metropolitan areas) began to be assigned without reference to any correspondence to the letters on the telephone dial. The six areas (cities) were: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, and Manchester
Similar changes have taken place in the numbering plans of other countries where letters were used on the dial.
Prior to the introduction of all-figure dialling, local exchange numbers in director areas were assigned to correspond to the name of the exchange, i.e for a number in the Wimbledon
exchange, "WIM 1234" which translates to 946 1234. Due to the introduction of international direct dialling where different countries' telephone dials differed, this system became unworkable and all figure dialling was introduced.
Note that the correspondence of letters to numbers in UK telephone numbering plan
differs from that used in North America
, as well as from that used on modern GSM phones.
UK telephone numbering plan
The UK telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning telephone numbers in the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies...
in 1966
when the three-digit numbers for local telephone exchange
Telephone exchange
In the field of telecommunications, a telephone exchange or telephone switch is a system of electronic components that connects telephone calls...
s in director areas
Director telephone system
The Director System was a system which made it possible to call subscribers at other telephone exchanges without operator intervention in large multi-exchange cities, and to have a mixture of automatic and manual exchanges within these cities...
(major metropolitan areas) began to be assigned without reference to any correspondence to the letters on the telephone dial. The six areas (cities) were: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, and Manchester
Similar changes have taken place in the numbering plans of other countries where letters were used on the dial.
Prior to the introduction of all-figure dialling, local exchange numbers in director areas were assigned to correspond to the name of the exchange, i.e for a number in the Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
exchange, "WIM 1234" which translates to 946 1234. Due to the introduction of international direct dialling where different countries' telephone dials differed, this system became unworkable and all figure dialling was introduced.
Note that the correspondence of letters to numbers in UK telephone numbering plan
UK telephone numbering plan
The UK telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning telephone numbers in the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies...
differs from that used in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, as well as from that used on modern GSM phones.