Abbreviated dialing is the use of a very short digit sequence to reach specific
telephone numbers, such as those of
public services. The purpose of such numbers is to be universal, short, and easy to remember. Typically they are two or three digits.
Carriers refer to the shortened number sequences as ''abbreviated dialing codes'' (ADCs). Unlike SMS shortcodes, they are generally not automatically synchronized across carriers. ADCs are provisioned separately for mobile networks versus landline networks.
Examples
The most commonly known examples are
emergency telephone numbers such as
9-9-9,
1-1-2
112 is a common emergency telephone number that can be dialed free of charge from most mobile telephones, and in some countries, fixed telephones in order to reach emergency services (ambulance, fire and rescue, police).
112 is a part of the ...
and
9-1-1
, usually written 911, is an emergency telephone number for the United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Palau, Argentina, Philippines, Jordan, as well as the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), one of eight N11 codes. Like other emergency nu ...
. 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. State highway departments in recent years have used abbreviated dialing codes to allow drivers to obtain information about road conditions or to reach the state highway patrol. Examples are *55 in Missouri and Oklahoma, or *FHP which connects to the Florida Highway Patrol. In December 2019, the
Federal Communications Commission proposed making 9-8-8 a national number in the United States for the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Security
Privileged group-number, system-number, and enhanced-number lists provide access to numbers that typically would be restricted.
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 are often
prefixed by 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
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is a division of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. It is Florida's highway patrol and is the primary law enforcement agency charged with investigating traffic crashes and criminal laws ...
); other codes as short as one numeral (like *1) are used to report
breaking news or
traffic to the
newsroom
A newsroom is the central place where journalists—reporters, editors, and producers, associate producers, news anchors, news designers, photojournalists, videojournalists, associate editor, residence editor, visual text editor, Desk Head, s ...
s of local
news radio or
TV stations.
A
mobile dial code (MDC) is a phone number, typically preceded by a * or #, that allows the request and receipt of information directly to a
mobile phone. MDCs are also known in carrier terminology as "abbreviated dialing codes" (ADCs). Mobile dial codes are dialed just like a regular telephone number. The caller can be presented with any one of a variety of responses that an advertiser defines: a voice or
IVR call, a
text message, a video or audio clip, a
mobile coupon, game or an application.
These types of dialing options can be used for a number of things. "Pound two-fifty" (#250) is an MDC commonly used in radio & TV advertising. Callers are able to dial #250 for a voice-activated, hands-free connection to a business. Callers are prompted to say a keyword or key-phrase, which corresponds to an advertiser (e.g., "Food For The Poor" causes a connection to that non-profit charity). #250 is the only MDC that is functional on all significant mobile carriers in the US and Canada, including
Verizon,
AT&T,
T-Mobile,
Sprint
Sprint may refer to:
Aerospace
*Spring WS202 Sprint, a Canadian aircraft design
*Sprint (missile), an anti-ballistic missile
Automotive and motorcycle
*Alfa Romeo Sprint, automobile produced by Alfa Romeo between 1976 and 1989
*Chevrolet Sprint, ...
,
U.S. Cellular, cSpire and several smaller regional carriers (in Canada, on Rogers, Bell Mobility, Telus, Freedom Mobile, Eastlink, Sasktel, Fido, and Videotron).
See also
*
Crisis hotline
A crisis hotline is a phone number people can call to get immediate emergency telephone counseling, usually by trained volunteers. The first such service was founded in England in 1951 and such hotlines have existed in most major cities of the E ...
*
Enhanced 9-1-1
*
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains jurisdiction ...
(United States)
*
In case of emergency
*
Next Generation 9-1-1
Next Generation 9-1-1 (abbreviated NG9-1-1) refers to an initiative aimed at updating the 9-1-1 service infrastructure in the United States and Canada to improve public emergency communications services in a growing wireless mobile society. In addi ...
*
Social services
Social services are a range of public services intended to provide support and assistance towards particular groups, which commonly include the disadvantaged. They may be provided by individuals, private and independent organisations, or administe ...
*
Speed dial
References
External links
FCC fact sheet on 2-1-12-1-1 Information & Referral SearchWireless 9-1-1 Services Guide
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
from KidsHealth
The Nemours Foundation is a non-profit organization in Jacksonville, Florida, created by philanthropist Alfred I. du Pont in 1936, and dedicated to improving the health of children. The Foundation operates the Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware ...
Emergency Numbers Around the World
from 911dispatch.com
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Telephone numbers