Apparently, anyone dialing the US phone number (248) 771-0023 will be in for some serious sticker shock on the price of payphone calls these days.
The number appears to be some sort of a test line, or just a really messed up bug in some company’s phone network. No, it won’t give you free long distance calls or allow you to phreak the network or anything. But it is good for a laugh, and near as I can tell, it registers as a network error message and so the call doesn’t actually cost you anything… but we’ll see whether that’s really true when my next phone bill shows up.
For the dial-skittish, you can listen to the call here.
I really do think that the extra seven cents at the end is a nice touch. 🙂
EDIT (December 8, 2005): Aww crap. The number is now disconnected, and no longer plays the recording. Sadly, the website hosting the sound file also appears to be equally “disconnected.” Damn the impermancy of the web, and damn the phone company, too!
Hi.
I was looking for the most expensive phone number I could possibly
dial, and came accross this website.
My motive – I’ve been getting these junk emails lately,
urging me to fill in some application form with my details
(including bank account number, etc.),
with a promise to get tons of money.
Usually, they describe in details some bullshit story about a family
relative who had died and left a fortune which only I can claim…
Now, apparently, if you reply to them (no matter how sarcastic you try to be),
some of them actually try to call you back to the number you give them.
Would you be able to tell me whether this phone number,
(248) 771-0023, would be suitable for the job?
Thanks.
Barak.
The sound file you were looking for has changed. The new address is http://www.thisisarecording.com/sounds/mp3/2487710023 . Please make a note of it. This is a recording.
😛