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PicturePhone Set

From Jody S – When did telephone (800) prefix numbers – those toll free lines begin? What came next? Thank you.

Mr. Pop History – Can you believe – those 800 numbers started in 1969? And it cost about $1.50 per minute back then. A couple of things: Their popularity soared during the 1990’s when the FCC opened them up to competition by letting users take their 800 numbers with them when they switched long distance carriers. Plus there was a strong run fueled by an explosion of pagers, cell phones, personal 800 numbers and industry hoarding.  By the 1990’s, these 800 numbers cost owners just 25 cents a minute!

The next step was the 888 prefix, which began April of 1996, then 877, 866. Hope that helps!