All figure dialling refers to the change in the UK telephone numbering plan in 1966
when the three-digit numbers for local telephone exchanges began to be assigned without reference to any correspondence to the letters on the dial. Similar changes have taken place in the numbering plans of other countries.
Prior to the introduction of all figure dialling local exchange numbers were assigned to correspond to the name of the exchange, i.e for a number in the Wimbledon exchange, "WIM 1234" which translates to 946 1234. As the number of phone exchanges increased, this system became unworkable and all figure dialling was introduced.
Note that the correspondence of letters to numbers in UK telephone numbering plan differs from that used in North America, as well as from that used on modern GSM phones.
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