Abbreviated dialing

An operator takes a call at the Jackson, Tennessee 9-1-1 Dispatch Center.

Abbreviated dialing is the use of a very short telephone number to reach public services. The purpose of such numbers is to be universal, short, and easy to remember. Typically they are two or three digits.

Examples

The most commonly known examples are emergency telephone numbers such as 9-9-9, 1-1-2 and 9-1-1. Other services may also be available through abbreviated dialing numbers, such as the other of the eight N11 codes of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) besides 9-1-1.

Similar concepts

For text messaging, the technical equivalent is a short code; however these are rented by their private users rather than being universal and for public services.

Vertical service codes may also be considered as abbreviated dialing, though these prefix the special touch-tone characters * and # (or often 11 for pulse dialing) instead of using only numerals. Most are used to access calling features rather than a called party, and some are specific to each telephone company. Some are used only locally or regionally (such as *FHP (*347) to reach the Florida Highway Patrol); other codes as short as one numeral (like *1) are used to report breaking news or traffic to the newsrooms of local news radio or TV stations.

References

    See also

    External links

    Look up 911 in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.


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