Why do we still have phone numbers?
Suggested by 
Jehue Francois
almost 4 years ago
I have always hated the idea that we still have cellphone numbers. I originally thought they would go extinct when phones had the infrared components and then NFC capabilities but I was wrong. A phone is an extension of my "person" and only people I know should be allowed to reach me (digitally "touch" me). We have so many messaging platforms that I can meet someone new if I choose to but I don't a random phone call. My health care system should be able to ping me, my family should be able to ping me, and all other services I signup for should reach me through their native apps or a liaison app.
Hate spam calls, texting is becoming the norm because of sensory overload fatigue and its 2023.... Do something new already!
Director of Product @ DexCare (most recent)
Phone numbers are still an important part of proving your identity in the digital world. For example, payments identity verification are often based on your mobile phone contract.
I'd love to ditch my phone number, but some kind of verified digital ID would likely be part of the solution.
CEO @ Exotic Systems
I've been thinking about this for a while.
Telephone numbers are an invention from the era when automated exchanges were invented. Twenty years ago you used your cellphone for voice calls and SMS messaging services from your mobile service provider. Today, mobile operators are generally dumb pipes to the Internet. Most of the services you use are from 3rd parties on the Internet. The obsolescence of the telephone number is near.
We need an easy simple replacement of the telephone number, that is not controlled by a monopoly. The solution could be based on Web3.