10-digit dialling will add fun to your calls
Article from www.iol.co.za by Carol Lazar
It is not difficult, you know, to place an area code prefix in front of a phone number. Cellphone users do it all the time so I cannot understand why there's so much reluctance, grumbling and mumbling about the new telephone regulations.
It's quite comforting actually, that at least in principle, you are confirming the person you are calling lives in Gauteng, Cape Town, Ogies or wherever.
There was something disconcerting about just dialling a number and hoping it would get the right person in that area.
With this new system, you can triple the chance of making a mistake and the potential to make new friends is unlimited.
Take Cape Town and Pretoria, the prefix digits are almost the same so imagine what fun you can have if you, on purpose or erroneously, whatever the case might be, dial 012 instead of 021.
"Hello, can I speak to Catherine please."
"Hello, yes, this is Katerina."
"Is that Catherine in Bantry Bay, Cape Town?"
"Huh?"
"Is that Catherine in Bantry Bay, Cape Town?"
"No, this Katerina in Valhalla, Pretoria."
"Oh, I was looking for Catherine from Bantry Bay, but Katerina you sound pretty cool, so, hi Katerina from Valhalla, Pretoria. This is Benson from Cape Town.
"Ag, you're so funny Benson," giggle, giggle.
"So what do you do, Katerina."
"I'm a model."
"A model?!" Benson's voice rises a notch.
"And you, Benson? What do you do?"
"I'm a surfer..."
While Benson of Cape Town and Katerina of Pretoria consolidate their new telephonic friendship, Telkom is smiling as the minutes and charges tick over. Such is the joy of a monopoly.
Of course, the reality is there will be more wrong numbers than there already are as to dial 10 figures instead of seven means the potential to make a mistake rises by 30 percent.
Again, the main beneficiary is Telkom, but then, why shouldn't they be?
They always have been and at least something remains consistent in the scheme of things.
Nonagenarians do not take kindly to change. When I explained the new system to my 92-year-old mother, she responded with vigour.
"Watch Telkom's profits increase," she said. "When you have the monopoly, you can always do what you want. Mind you," she added, "it makes sense to dial a complete number with an area code. They do it everywhere else in the world. I must remember to change the international numbers on my cell."
I blinked. "What international numbers on your cell? What cell? You don't have a cellphone?"
"I was speaking figuratively," she said snippily. "I'm thinking of getting a cellphone."
"But you live with us, you have your own landline, you don't need a cellphone," I pointed out.
"A cellphone will give me more mobility," she replied. "And you never know when I might need to make a call. I may be stuck on the highway at midnight."
Right. Meanwhile, this household has reprogrammed all the relevant phone numbers and we wait with interest to see how the changeover progresses.
The new system offers tremendous potential.
"Hello, is that Hugh in London?"
"No, this is Boris from Mongolia. I am a warrior prince and I'll come and sweep you away on my white horse and take you into my yurt and feed you sweetmeats..."
It is not difficult, you know, to place an area code prefix in front of a phone number. Cellphone users do it all the time so I cannot understand why there's so much reluctance, grumbling and mumbling about the new telephone regulations.
It's quite comforting actually, that at least in principle, you are confirming the person you are calling lives in Gauteng, Cape Town, Ogies or wherever.
There was something disconcerting about just dialling a number and hoping it would get the right person in that area.
With this new system, you can triple the chance of making a mistake and the potential to make new friends is unlimited.
Take Cape Town and Pretoria, the prefix digits are almost the same so imagine what fun you can have if you, on purpose or erroneously, whatever the case might be, dial 012 instead of 021.
"Hello, can I speak to Catherine please."
"Hello, yes, this is Katerina."
"Is that Catherine in Bantry Bay, Cape Town?"
"Huh?"
"Is that Catherine in Bantry Bay, Cape Town?"
"No, this Katerina in Valhalla, Pretoria."
"Oh, I was looking for Catherine from Bantry Bay, but Katerina you sound pretty cool, so, hi Katerina from Valhalla, Pretoria. This is Benson from Cape Town.
"Ag, you're so funny Benson," giggle, giggle.
"So what do you do, Katerina."
"I'm a model."
"A model?!" Benson's voice rises a notch.
"And you, Benson? What do you do?"
"I'm a surfer..."
While Benson of Cape Town and Katerina of Pretoria consolidate their new telephonic friendship, Telkom is smiling as the minutes and charges tick over. Such is the joy of a monopoly.
Of course, the reality is there will be more wrong numbers than there already are as to dial 10 figures instead of seven means the potential to make a mistake rises by 30 percent.
Again, the main beneficiary is Telkom, but then, why shouldn't they be?
They always have been and at least something remains consistent in the scheme of things.
Nonagenarians do not take kindly to change. When I explained the new system to my 92-year-old mother, she responded with vigour.
"Watch Telkom's profits increase," she said. "When you have the monopoly, you can always do what you want. Mind you," she added, "it makes sense to dial a complete number with an area code. They do it everywhere else in the world. I must remember to change the international numbers on my cell."
I blinked. "What international numbers on your cell? What cell? You don't have a cellphone?"
"I was speaking figuratively," she said snippily. "I'm thinking of getting a cellphone."
"But you live with us, you have your own landline, you don't need a cellphone," I pointed out.
"A cellphone will give me more mobility," she replied. "And you never know when I might need to make a call. I may be stuck on the highway at midnight."
Right. Meanwhile, this household has reprogrammed all the relevant phone numbers and we wait with interest to see how the changeover progresses.
The new system offers tremendous potential.
"Hello, is that Hugh in London?"
"No, this is Boris from Mongolia. I am a warrior prince and I'll come and sweep you away on my white horse and take you into my yurt and feed you sweetmeats..."
Labels: South Africa - telkom
