That was the phone-number-inspired song by the B-52’s all the way back in 1978. If you want a nostalgia trip, this is it in a nutshell: the call was made from a payphone because, well, mobile phones were not even on the horizon for mere mortals. The call cost just one dime, but sadly, as the B-52’s sang, “The number’s been disconnected.”
I know the feeling: I just discovered that my mobile phone number doesn’t work. Anyone calling it receives a message saying that the number is not in service. And… apparently it has been like that since the day I first bought the service 18 months ago. A year and a half and I am just noticing suggests an incredible lapse on my part but the reality is that I have probably missed out on nothing of significance.
Voice – the good old-fashioned service that was available for the B-52’s – drove initial mobile services but by this point in time it’s almost as historically moot as the fact that 150 years ago today, Alexander Graham Bell made the first ever phone call. His call was a simple one: “Mr Watson, come here. I want to see you.” And that is (sort of) the point: we no longer make voice calls, we use video calls. No need to call Watson over from the other room, we can Teams, FaceTime or myriad other solutions.
Please don’t get me wrong: I’m not suggesting that I no longer talk on the phone: it’s good to talk (see Bob Hoskins, 1990s BT adverts if so inclined). But rather, the idea of dialing a phone number seems rather antiquated. My conversations are all IP calls, using FaceTime, WhatsApp or other messaging solutions. Basic cellular voice service is as nostalgic as a payphone. And let’s face it, even if you are making what you think is an old-fashioned voice call, the chances are extremely high that it’s still a Voice-over-IP call (love that WiFi-calling option!).
So why do we still need phone numbers? As I see it, the primary use case for a phone number is to open the door for spam calls, not friends and family. Messaging services provide greater control over who you can block, making it harder for spammers to keep spamming. Indeed, I finally got my mobile service sorted out with my local carrier so incoming calls work and the first call I received? Apparently my truck’s warranty is about to expire. Sure.