# The number you have reached....(that recorded operator voice)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-number-you-have-reached-that-recorded-operator-voice/288944>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 8, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-number-you-have-reached-that-recorded-operator-voice/288944 "2005-02-08T04:14:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-number-you-have-reached-that-recorded-operator-voice/288944/1 "2005-02-08T04:14:02Z")

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All my life I’ve been hearing that familiar recording telling me that I’ve reached a number that has been disconnected or no longer in service…or the number has been changed, etc.

Is this recording the same across the US and who recorded that voice. The voice is the same one I remember as a child. Is there any history of the recordings by the phone company?

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**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-number-you-have-reached-that-recorded-operator-voice/288944/2 "2005-02-08T04:26:35Z")

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> [@jasonh300](#):
>
> who recorded that voice.

[Jane Barbe, apparently.](http://www.etcia.com/jane_barbe.html)

> [@](#):
>
> Is there any history of the recordings by the phone company?

[Some here.](http://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.html)