Dialing for Digits in France, Australia

Calling France and Australia is getting to be more of a mouthful as those nations add digits to their telephone numbers.

The growth in fax, wireless, Internet and other new communications services has forced France to add 1 million numbers each year, France Telecom Inc. says.

Starting at 11 p.m. French time Friday, callers outside France will need to dial nine digits, rather than the current eight, after the country code 33. What is being added is a zone code: 2 for northwest France, 3 for the northeast, 4 for the southeast and 5 for the southwest. Paris already requires a zone code (1) and will continue to do so.

Confusing? Actually, it’s quite simple compared with what Australia is doing. It is gradually phasing in either one or two extra digits, depending on the location, over three years. Melbourne, for instance, gained an extra 9 in 1995; several smaller cities change in November.