"Prefix * for 0800"

I've just noticed the RAC sticker in my (rather old) car. It says the phone
number for the RAC is 0800 82 82 82 and in small print underneath "Prefix
with * when calling from mobile phones". Why would anyone need to prefix a
number like this?

The sticker also lists some 0272 numbers, suggesting it's from before 1995.
Did analogue mobiles not let you direct dial numbers like this?

Theo

Theo Markettos wrote:

> I've just noticed the RAC sticker in my (rather old) car. It says the phone
> number for the RAC is 0800 82 82 82 and in small print underneath "Prefix
> with * when calling from mobile phones". Why would anyone need to prefix a
> number like this?

> The sticker also lists some 0272 numbers, suggesting it's from before 1995.
> Did analogue mobiles not let you direct dial numbers like this?

Vodafone and Cellnet (as it was) required you to prefix 0800 with *
when dialling from a mobile. *I think* this was to indicate to the
operator that you were aware that the call would be chargable and
accepted the charges.

Tariq

Tariq wrote:
> Theo Markettos wrote:
>
>> I've just noticed the RAC sticker in my (rather old) car. It says the phone
>> number for the RAC is 0800 82 82 82 and in small print underneath "Prefix
>> with * when calling from mobile phones". Why would anyone need to prefix a
>> number like this?
>
>> The sticker also lists some 0272 numbers, suggesting it's from before 1995.
>> Did analogue mobiles not let you direct dial numbers like this?
>
> Vodafone and Cellnet (as it was) required you to prefix 0800 with *
> when dialling from a mobile. *I think* this was to indicate to the
> operator that you were aware that the call would be chargable and
> accepted the charges.

I was going to write pretty much the same then saw your post. From
memory you still heard a recorded message when calling *0800 numbers
warning of the charge - and I seem to recall this first working circa 1988.

"Colin Forrester" <colin@thefrogslepthere.com> wrote in message
news:4crn0pF16qtseU3@individual.net...

> I was going to write pretty much the same then saw your post. From memory
> you still heard a recorded message when calling *0800 numbers warning of
> the charge - and I seem to recall this first working circa 1988.

Cellnet required you to remove the 0, so you would dial 800 xxxxxx. Vodafone
required you to put a * in front, ie: *0800 xxxxxx.

When you dialled like that, there was no message. You only got that if you
just dialled 0800 xxxxxx (Quote Cellnet back in the 90's: "Access to the
number you have dialled is not free of charge from mobile phones. Please
redial, without the first zero")

Even in the early days, if you called a calling card on Orange, you were
charged at 59p/min, and you had to dial the number with a 6 in front, ie:
60800 xxxxxx

Blimey how things have changed....

Simon Ough <simon.orange@nospambtinternet.com> wrote:
> Even in the early days, if you called a calling card on Orange, you were
> charged at 59p/min, and you had to dial the number with a 6 in front, ie:
> 60800 xxxxxx
>
> Blimey how things have changed....

True. Pity the call costs haven't got much better

Thanks for the interesting replies...

Theo

"Tariq" <xycom1@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1147706819.831517.69430@v46g2000cwv.googlegro ups.com
> Theo Markettos wrote:
>
> > I've just noticed the RAC sticker in my (rather old)
> > car. It says the phone number for the RAC is 0800 82
> > 82 82 and in small print underneath "Prefix with * when
> > calling from mobile phones". Why would anyone need to
> > prefix a number like this?
>
> > The sticker also lists some 0272 numbers, suggesting
> > it's from before 1995. Did analogue mobiles not let you
> > direct dial numbers like this?
>
> Vodafone and Cellnet (as it was) required you to prefix
> 0800 with * when dialling from a mobile. *I think* this
> was to indicate to the operator that you were aware that
> the call would be chargable and accepted the charges.
>
> Tariq

Tesco Mobile has an interesting arrangement. It requires you to dial the
0800 number without the initial 0. Not quite sure why, but if you dial the
number normally you get a recorded message telling you to do this.

Ivor

"Ivor Jones" <ivor@despammed.invalid> wrote in
news:4ctrf6F15u340U1@individual.net:

>
>
> "Tariq" <xycom1@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1147706819.831517.69430@v46g2000cwv.googlegro ups.com
>> Theo Markettos wrote:
>>
>> > I've just noticed the RAC sticker in my (rather old)
>> > car. It says the phone number for the RAC is 0800 82
>> > 82 82 and in small print underneath "Prefix with * when
>> > calling from mobile phones". Why would anyone need to
>> > prefix a number like this?
>>
>> > The sticker also lists some 0272 numbers, suggesting
>> > it's from before 1995. Did analogue mobiles not let you
>> > direct dial numbers like this?
>>
>> Vodafone and Cellnet (as it was) required you to prefix
>> 0800 with * when dialling from a mobile. *I think* this
>> was to indicate to the operator that you were aware that
>> the call would be chargable and accepted the charges.
>>
>> Tariq
>
> Tesco Mobile has an interesting arrangement. It requires you to dial
> the 0800 number without the initial 0. Not quite sure why, but if you
> dial the number normally you get a recorded message telling you to do
> this.
>
> Ivor
>
>

As above, to do with actively "accepting" the charge for a freefone number.
O2 (formerly Cellnet) require the leading "0" to be dropped (dial
800xxxxxxx) and Tesco use O2 as their virtual network.