# Why do I have to dial 1 for long distance now that it's ten digit dialing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 14, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-dial-1-for-long-distance-now-that-its-ten-digit-dialing/472633 "2008-11-14T00:34:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-dial-1-for-long-distance-now-that-its-ten-digit-dialing/472633/61 "2013-04-19T09:13:46Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Speed dial and directories are different. On my phones, there are directories where you enter names. You can then enter or scroll through the names to select whom to call. Speed dial is where you assign a shortcut digit (or two) to a phone number, and you have to remember what digit goes with what phone number. Oh. I’ve never seen a cordless phone that could do this. Then again, I haven’t went shopping for one in almost ten years. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-dial-1-for-long-distance-now-that-its-ten-digit-dialing/472633/62 "2013-04-19T16:47:15Z")
> [@snailboy](#): > > Oh. I’ve never seen a cordless phone that could do this. Then again, I haven’t went shopping for one in almost ten years. My Windows phone had that; if my Android does, I don’t know how to use it. It’s the only thing about the Windows phone I miss. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-dial-1-for-long-distance-now-that-its-ten-digit-dialing/472633/63 "2013-04-19T16:59:57Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > Calling from work, in addition to dialing the 9 to get out of the work system, I have to dial a 1, regardless of whether the number is local or not. The area is 919, so all local calls start 91919. I heard that 911 is getting more miscalls these days. I’m surprised more companies don’t set up their phone systems so that you dial _8_ to get an outside line. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-dial-1-for-long-distance-now-that-its-ten-digit-dialing/472633/64 "2013-04-19T21:05:48Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > My Windows phone had that; if my Android does, I don’t know how to use it. It’s the only thing about the Windows phone I miss. My Android phone has it (Samsung Galaxy III), my last Android phone had it (HTC Thunderbolt). Every cell phone I’ve had in the last 15 years has had this (Nokia, LG, etc.). You may want to RTFM 😉 ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-dial-1-for-long-distance-now-that-its-ten-digit-dialing/472633/65 "2013-04-20T08:04:37Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > My Windows phone had that; if my Android does, I don’t know how to use it. It’s the only thing about the Windows phone I miss. I think you’re talking about cell phones now, not cordless phones. I can tell you that my Android has a contact list though, and I would imagine all Android phones. I’ve imported many of my contacts via bluetooth from my old phone and from Facebook. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-dial-1-for-long-distance-now-that-its-ten-digit-dialing/472633.md?page=3)