A Number For Everything

jtcampbell writes: "Whilst reading the Times today I found this article about a U.S. government idea to give everyone a unique 'ENUM,' that serves as a universal phone number, email address, and fax number. Quite a cool idea, but will everyone adopt the standard? besides, i thought we left numeric email addresses with compuserve a few years back. And remembering these 11 digit numbers could be fun ..."

Comments

This already exists

[Gerv]

As soon as countries standardise on 00 as the international access code (and that's happening) then we will have a global unique numbering system administered by countries. It's called the phone system.

In the UK, we can already get "personal numbers" which you can have redirected to wherever you are. There's no reason why companies in other countries can't do the same thing.

That gives you all the benefits of unique personal numbering without many of the SSN/Big Brother/Brave New World/buzzword-X privacy concerns.

Gerv

With help like this ....

[Zero__Kelvin]

"FOR (sic) those who cannot remember their work, home, mobile, fax and pager numbers, and their e-mail address, help may be at hand."

Yes sir .. may I fuc[H[H[Hhelp you?

You know, I'm quite proud of our Government. Always trying to help they are. They're worried my insurance premium might go up, so they pass a law requiring me to wear a seat belt. You would think that if they passed such a law it would be to save my life ... but nope, the state Government is looking out for my real interests. After all, I *HAVE* to buy the insurance if I want to drive, which I also understand is a law passed for my own good. Completely removing the option of putting some money in escrow instead, I don't have to worry about all that nasty decision making trying to decide if I should make the insurance company or myself rich. Of course, this isn't done to make the Insurance companies rich. It's more like the law against Marijuana ... you know ... for my health. The Government wouldn't want me to smoke a joint because it's bad for my health. Besides, why would I want pot when I can walk right down to the corner and buy something that is *good for me* and gives a potentially life-long buzz ... like alchohol. While I'm there, I'll buy me a pack of cigarrettes if I want to smoke something. And for when I've drunken myself into a stupor, I'll go back and buy me some rope. I can rest assured it was made without hemp, which is a good thing because I hear it doesn't make good rope, and the Government is doing so much to help me lately I just might need it to hang myself before they do!

Of course, if the Government really wanted to help me remember all my numbers, then they would assist me in getting a handheld. This is more so big business doesn't have trouble finding my number.