🚀 go-pugleaf

Those "vanity numbers" sound like the user just gets to specify their own phone
number; New York Telephone provides this for free, including searching for an
unallocated phone number based on simple criteria (e.g. for my two home phones,
I specified the last 4 digits and they found two exchanges where those numbers
weren't in use).  I'd imagine that such searches require almost no effort, so
charging for that kind of non-service seems pretty slimy; I wonder how they
justify the monthly fee?
						Chris

P.S. One thing to watch out for is what the number was used for in the past,
and why it isn't in use: it would be pretty annoying to pay extra for a vanity
number and wind up with a number that's etched into the wall in a men's room
somewhere, or very close to a radio station's phone-in contest line.

[Pacific Bell has to-date been willing to check number availability, although
 only about 10% of "disconnected" numbers have ever been available when
 I've requested them.  Unfortunately, I'm afraid, this service will only
 heighten demand for "vanity" numbers, now that the public will KNOW they
 can have them.  -Elmo]