A small but important development is happening this month

[thecaretaker]

A small but important development is happening this month as BT finally ends the free distribution of a physical phone book on 31st March 2024. The move, which was announced last year, will bring to end a service that has been running since as far back as 1880. It should save about 6,000 tonnes of paper a year (equivalent to 72,000 trees). https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2 ... mers.html

I take it this means no more....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2TilNclT8k

[Keyolder]

A sad day for the older community that are not really internet savvy, I suppose it makes sense in the grand scheme of things

[thecaretaker]

I think one of my favourite BT adverts was of Maureen Lipman as Beatie (BT) and her son who got an Ology

Like phone boxes, the phone book is just thing a of the past now.

[welshhunk]

I used to love how people answered the public phones in a phone box as they walked by and then used to knock on ( Mrs Jones house ) saying that she had a call.
Hated how the same boxes were used as a toilet

[Dragonrider]

I can remember when the Phone Book was a massive block of paper with personal numbers and addresses which was about 1-2" thick. There was the Yellow Pages as well, where all the businesses in the region were likewise listed, again up to a couple of inches think.
I just had what is probably the last Phone Book dropped off last month. Smaller than the Radio Times and includes every landline still listed for the region.

So many people no longer use a landline or have gone ex-directory and mobile-only I guess.

[Keyolder]

So many people no longer use a landline or have gone ex-directory and mobile-only I guess.

I went ex-directory years ago, but it didn’t stop the “your name has been chosen to win a” or the cold callers, so I unplugged the phone but still needed the line for the internet. I no longer have a BT landline and use a USB sim dongle plugged into my router for the internet so am mobile only.

[thecaretaker]

I'm mobile only. I don't have a phone plugged into it, but I still pay for the phone line as I need it for the internet. But when FTTP eventually arrives to my house, it will be gone for good. I still live in hope.

[welshhunk]

Also loved the “ strongman competitions” tearing the phone book in half.

[Keyolder]

Also loved the “ strongman competitions” tearing the phone book in half.

Oh yes I forgot about those the secret I believe was in breaking the spine first

[twiglets]

No land line- haven't had one since full fibre- didn't even use one for about 4 years before, just disconnected it as the only calls were cold callers.
My favourite advert was "fly fishing by J R Hartley". although this was the yellow pages part.