RIP 800 Numbers?

I was just thinking, are 800 numbers becoming obsolete?

With the evolution of wireless phones and the evaporation of long distance and roaming fees, people are using their mobile phones for everything these days.  Many people are getting rid of their land lines at home.  "What's the point?" they ask.  "I use my mobile phone for everything anyway, right?"  It's true.  Why would you pay for long-distance service on a home phone when you can make limitless long-distance calls for free as part of your cell phone plan?

So, when I heard an 800 # advertised on the radio today, I had a similar thought - What's the point?

In the past, businesses would set up 800 numbers as a service to their customers, so that people could reach them easily without the worry of having to pay long distance charges for the call.  But personally, I don't even think about that anymore since I make all calls on my cell phone.  If I had to call an out-of-state business today, I wouldn't even take notice of whether or not they had an 800 # or a local area code #.  It wouldn't make a difference to me.  I'm sure this is already having an effect on certain businesses and small businesses choosing to go without an 800 # and I'm wondering if it's a trend that will continue all the way to the elimination of 800 #'s.  If we get to a point in this world where there is no such thing as "long distance" calls being any different than local calls, there will be no need for them at all. 

I predict we'll be there in 10 years.  At the end of the next decade, we'll say stuff like, "Remember 800 numbers?" and my kids will say stuff like, "What's a long-distance call?"  Or maybe even scarier, "What's a land line?"

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