Why do Hollywood phone numbers begin with 555?

Answer 1

People tend to call numbers they see on TV. This would mean that if they accidentally put a real person's number, this person would be harrassed by people that just called to see why that number was on television.

Answer 2

The 555 prefix is not a working prefix for regular phone numbers. 555 is used to create information numbers only ie. 714-555-1212 will reach an information operator in Orange County CA. Hollywood used the 555 prefix for phone numbers and movies and on TV shows because it will only lead to information or a non-working number. This way if someone was to attempt to call a phone number on TV or in a movie, they will not get anywhere and cannot disturb people if they should accidentally reach a working phone number.

However, the FCC has announced plans to offer certain telephone services with 555 numbers, so the only numbers that are guaranteed fictitious (and thus appropriate to use in a movie or TV show) are the numbers 555-0100 through 555-0199, in each area code.

Answer 3

The majority of 555 numbers are reserved as dummy numbers and have been allocated for purposes such as TV shows. Although there are a handful of working number with the 555 code, they are all special purpose numbers and none are held by subscribers.

Viewers of TV shows can call the numbers as often as they like without disturbing real people.

Answer 4

In the early days of direct dialing, certain numbers triggered certain responses in the phone system. And specific blocks of numbers were reserved for specific uses. In the United States the 555 exchange was reserved for the use of the phone company. Directory assistance was given that prefix. So no real user would ever be inconvenienced by someone calling a number that started with 555.

Answer 5

Other than directory assistance, phone numbers do not start with 555, so numbers in the movies do not conflict with actual phone numbers.