Call me stupid but why on TV do USA phone numbers start with 555??

Question

No matter what programme I watch, the American phone numbers always seem to start with 555.
I am not a mathmatician (can't even spell it) but surely there is only a certain number of numerical combinations!!

Can someone please explain how the phone system works all the way over there??

WOW!! Thanx to EVERYONE.

I have another question now.........Who on earth do I pick as best?? lol

Answer 1

All American phone numbers have a three digit area code. This refers go the general area the caller is in. Usually 2 or 3 counties per area code, sometimes many more. Then there are 7 more digits that are associated with the city. I am not sure how these numbers were originally designated, but if one cancels their phone use, another person in the area can begin using their phone number. It is all controlled through the "carrier" or phone company. In the United states of America has no such area or city code as 555. Therefore when you see a 555# on tv, you know that it is not and can never be a phone number. I think it is to prevent tv shows from using peoples actual telephone numbers.

Answer 2

You really have 2 different questions here. So I will answer the first one first.
Way back in the day, a phone # would be used in a movie and it was some made up random number. However, as the phone system changed and most everyone has a phone in their homes, offices etc. These made up #s would end up actually belonging to someone. So they started using the prefix (which I will explain later) 555, because this prefix is not used in the US. Therefore, if anyone dials a number they have heard in a movie, they would not be disturbing an actual person.

As to how the phone system works, it has changed a lot in a short period of time, as the world becomes smaller (more phones, internet lines etc) we are running out of #s to use for phone numbers. (I think there is a similiar problem in the UK with license registration numbers, more cars fewer available numbers, that fit the current format)

Anyway, back to phones. We now have 10 digit phone numbers. The first number is 1, the country code for the US. The next three are an area code, this denotes the area and is randomly decided by the phone company, it is can be a county, part of a county, or part of a few different counties. The prefix, used to denote the specific area within an area code. This seems to no longer be the case. It know appears that the last 7 seven numbers are just random.

For instance, when I was growing up, my # was 755 4753, or PLaza5 4753. You would have been able to tell by this number what area of my city I lived in. Know it would be 1 650 755 4753 and I could be anywhere in the 650 area code which covers several counties.

A bit confusing, but not much different from the system in the UK or other parts of Europe.

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

Phone companies encouraged TV and media to use 555 prefix for fake numbers. Not all 555 numbers are fake. You know that 867-5309 song. That caused tons of problems with that number. People even were trying to obtain that number for promotional purposes. Try 1800-555-tell or 5551212. only 555-01xx are fake numbers.

Answer 5

Because in real life, NO U.S. town has the prefix 555, so crazies won't be tempted to see a number on TV and keep calling it, it would be a pain for the owner of that number. They purposely chose and use 555 for that reason, and don't assign it as a number anywhere.

Answer 6

That's not a stupid question. They do it because no real phone number here starts with 555.

Answer 7

It is the only combination of numbers that are not really used in real life.. no one has a number like 555- ???? They use is so nobody could call a number on tv and reach a working number!

Answer 8

It's a curious question. A popular telephone exchange in the Burbank Hollywood area of Los Angeles just happens to be 555. This is the movie makers area and other than being liable for many prank calls influenced by viewers, the producers pick out a 'local' number .

Answer 9

555 is a non-active area code, so no one has it. They used to try real phone numbers and area codes, but got too many calls from viewer. Sometimes, it was even a real person's number the writers just picked or made up.

Answer 10

because it all started with a rock song! the number in the song was repeted over and over again! Then people where really calling the number and not getting the person they expected! the song said the number "867-5309" so it's a real number and people were getting harrased by idiots! thats why they use 555 as a fake number! so if anyone does try to call it, it will never go through!