Have you ever though about the way that the digits of a telephone number are grouped differently depending on which country you are in? Also have you ever wondered why landline telephone numbers are longer in some countries than others?
On this page we will look at the format of telephone numbers in a range of countries across the globe. Not only will we look at how these numbers are usually organised when written down, but also the way that people group the numbers when the speak.
Australia
The digits of Australian phone numbers are organised as follows:
Landline: 00-0000-0000 (2-4-4). This format is a bit weak defensively, but they will score some goals!
Mobile phone / cell: 0000-000-000 (4-3-3). This formation is good going forward and tight at the back.
The United Kingdom
Landline: 00000-000000. This 5-6-0 formation is quite defensive, even if they have played the goalkeeper as an on-field player. However the fact England have not chosen to play a striker suggests they will struggle to score the goals necessary to win at the international level. When telling someone their mobile phone number English people usually follow a 5-3-3 pattern, a much more balanced line-up methinks.
The United States
The number format in the US is 000-000-0000. The USA team have gone for an attacking-minded 3-3-4, we just hope they can score enough goals to compensate for the fact that they will inevitably ship goals at the back.
China
The number format in China is 00-0000-0000. Ever the mavericks China have decided to start with a 2-4-4 formation if the game is played in a big city such as Beijing (10-0000-0000), or Shanghai (21). however if the match is played in a smaller city this code can be 3, or even 4 digits long. Therefore we could be looking at China starting with a 4-4-4 formation. Hard to beat a 4-4-4 formation on a wet windy Wednesday night in Changbai (4458-0000-0000).