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AT&T Stops 'Time', Ends An Era

Posted by Zonk on from the at-the-tone-i'm-finished dept.

theoeag writes "Starting in September, you will no longer be able to pick up a landline, payphone, etc and find out what time it is at the beep. AT&T, which has had the service since the 20s, cited a lack of demand in the digital age as the reason for "time"'s extinction. Actually, the service had already stopped in most states, but Nevada and California — with their large rural and unmapped areas — were still holding out, should the lost motorist or weary hiker need to know the time of day. But no more! The "Time Machine", which consisted of two large drum-like devices that contained several audio-tracks and a quite advanced system for syncing up with the caller, will probably end up in a museum, anxiously awaiting the arrival of its cousin: The Pay-Phone."

9 of 359 comments (clear)

  1. Inevitable... by nweaver · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You have NNTP, the broadcast atomic clock information, and the cell-phone network, all of which provide exquisitly accurate time to everyone.

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    1. Re:Inevitable... by dashslotter · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I don't care! Calling "time" is like pinging yahoo. Warm fuzzies when you connect....

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    2. Re:Inevitable... by eln · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I doubt if someone in a developing country was too poor to own a watch he would be spending his money calling long distance to California, where the service is being stopped, to get the time of day.

    3. Re:Inevitable... by thogard · · Score: 2, Insightful

      No, NNTP works fine, you just have to grep the news spool for a recently posted article.

  2. Re:How do you set your clocks? by drsquare · · Score: 2, Insightful

    How does everyone set their clocks without calling time?
    Teletext.
  3. Re:How do you set your clocks? by Sunburnt · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How does everyone set their clocks without calling time?

    From my cell phone, like I imagine most folks do. Heck, I hardly see anyone my age (late 20's) or younger wearing watches anymore for that same reason.

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  4. Re:It's more than sad. Help! Anyone got alternativ by jimstapleton · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Give them a number starting in 411, i.e. (area code)-411-whatever, such as (419)-411-4321

    They won't know the difference, but the locale should transfer them to information.

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  5. Lost Motorist or Weary Hiker? by HTTP+Error+403+403.9 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Actually, the service had already stopped in most states, but Nevada and California -- with their large rural and unmapped areas -- were still holding out, should the lost motorist or weary hiker need to know the time of day.
    I am lost in the uncharted areas of California or Nevada and the most important thing I need to know is the time? Are these hikers and lost motorists navigating with a sextant?

    If I have access to a phone to call the time, shouldn't I be able to call for help?
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  6. Re:How do you set your clocks? by Deep+Penguin · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yes... well... I wear a wrist watch while carrying a cellphone, among other reasons, because I have to change the battery in my watch every 24 months, whereas my phone can't last as long as a week between charges. Also, there are places I go where there is no cell service (some rural areas in the Midwest, subbasements where signals can't reach, Antarctica, etc.), or is forbidden (airplanes in flight). I'm sure someone will tell me to buy a new phone, but the one I have doesn't provide the time unless it's attached to the cell network, and doesn't have a "flight" mode. So, no signal == no battery.

    In short, the watch happens to be a reasonably foolproof way of checking the time, especially since I frequently find myself looking at a blank or "searching for service" cellphone screen.