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Time Is Up for Calling for the Time
Alas, the march of time never stops. Only now it just got a little bit harder to tell exactly what time it actually is. Well, for some of us, anyway. That's because AT&T is finally putting out to pasture its so-called "POPCORN" time service, the automated system you could call any time of day to hear the robotic pre-recorded voice of a woman tell you the current time. It was called 'POP' because 7-6-7 (P-O-P) was one of a few prefixes that dialed the service, no matter what four numbers followed.
The system has been around since the 1930s, relying on manual drums of track recordings to determine and play back the current time. It was most often used to set your clocks by -- especially after power outages. But these days, with the clock displays on cell phones that are always correctly set (as long as the phone is connected), the need for such a service has declined. In fact, until now the service had been discontinued in every state except California and Nevada. As of September 19, even those old holdouts are calling it quits. POP is officially extinct. And in California alone, the freed up prefixes will create 300,000 new phone numbers.
So, RIP "At the Tone" lady. Perhaps you and the paper airline ticket system will become fast friends in tech heaven.
From latimes.com
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Comments
22
Subscribe to commentsEl CoquiAug 29th 2007 3:52PM
That sucks! I call for the time often! Don't do this to me!!!!!!!!!
smcAug 29th 2007 11:45PM
yet another thing I'm going to have to teach my little daughter about "the olden days".
PDXSoloJetAug 30th 2007 6:37AM
I wonder what she is going to do now for a living? It's kind of like when they gave the Refrigerator Elves the boot.
DeeSep 3rd 2007 2:12PM
It is so sad to see something that has been around for years "bite the dust". I'll miss being able to call and get the time.
HSep 3rd 2007 2:21PM
El Coqui says:
That sucks! I call for the time often! Don't do this to me!!!!!!!!!
Ya know, these new fangled phones, landlines and or cells, they display the time, day and date. As do your TV's, radios, yada yada yada
kizzandraSep 3rd 2007 3:17PM
Now that's a bummer. I really do call to get the correct time. If we have another blackout, heavy thunderstorm--just mother nature really doing her thing, we are sure gonna really miss her giving us the correct time. Make sure to check the battery in your watch!
MarkSep 3rd 2007 3:17PM
Years ago when 3 way calling came out, I would call the time lady, then call a friend at 3 am. About 7 or 8 rings later they would answer the phone hearing what time it was. One friend said Hey guess what? The time lady called me last night. "She will be missed"
susanSep 3rd 2007 3:28PM
I used to call for the time when there was a blackout or battery in watch stopped but nowadays all I have to do is look at my cell phone or the cable box ( it always comes back on with correct time--how do they do that??)-LOL
buttSep 3rd 2007 4:03PM
Man, AT&T first f**ks up my cell phone after joining with cingulair, now this?!
kmmSep 3rd 2007 4:44PM
Leave it to AT&T always figuring a way to oust employees. Yet pay the CEO MAJOR MONEY AND STOCK OPTIONS...........BOOOOOOO TO AT&T......
ViviSep 3rd 2007 4:48PM
This is not good news for people like me who live in an area where there are frequent power failures due to lightning and all power lines being above ground where they are exposed to the elements and squirrels gnawing through power lines. I for one, use the service frequently.
charlesSep 3rd 2007 5:23PM
So there out sorcing it to India lol just had to say that :P yeah I know new fangled gadgets :P
pocket rocketSep 3rd 2007 6:11PM
people are so stupid. There are many services still available. The one in my hometown is supplied by our bank.
pk1699Sep 3rd 2007 6:23PM
Aww this is truly sad. I used to call the time as a kid and thought it was the coolest thing. Too bad my son wont be able to experience it too :-(
cmatthews3528Sep 3rd 2007 6:47PM
people just go to the dollar store and buy a watch
robSep 4th 2007 4:21AM
quicker to look at your cel phone anyways
cmatthews3528Sep 3rd 2007 10:36PM
cant you people tell time go buy a watch
LisaSep 3rd 2007 7:34PM
I live in Maryland and I can still call to get the time; 301-844-4444
garrySep 3rd 2007 7:47PM
It's Bush's fault
garrySep 3rd 2007 10:08PM
It"s Bush's fault