[VoIP] AT&T Stops 'Time', Ends An Era

[Mark Rudholm]

This is kind of depressing.  I hadn't realize that
the time service had already been discontinued in
most of the country.

It seems hard to believe that it is that expensive
to operate and that the demand is that low.  If you
try calling it on the day of a time change it's
sometimes hard to even get through.

Another similar system that is being shut down is
the National Weather Service's +1 213 554 XXXX.
I used to call that one and Pacific Telephone's
Newsline on +1 213 621 4141 almost daily when I
was a kid.  If you call the weather number now the
recording explains that the new number is +1 805
988 6610.  At least it's not dying completely.

I remember when we had step switches in my CO.
You could reach the time by just dialing 853, and
the weather by dialing just 554.

ikjtel wrote:
> FWIW, via slashdot
> 
> "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."
> 
> Full article at
> http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus29aug29,0,2466396,full.column?coll=la-home-center