Though you only see exchange names in a filtered form today, they are still in use. You can list your number somewhere with the exchange name, but most many not recognize it as a number. That can be a neat trick if you wish to post you number online, but you don't want people to realize what it is if it comes up in a search. Exchange names or numbers were phone digits that contained letters as well.

If you look at the keypad on your phone, you see that each number as three or four letters associated with that number. You are probably well aware of this if you use text messaging, as the letters are used by pressing each number a certain amount of times. The most common type of exchange used today is when a business will get numbers so that they spell out a name or word when used together. They may want their number to be 1-800-eat-here. That is easy to remember and actually very clever.

Before all numbers were simply numbers, it was thought that most could remember their numbers, and other numbers, much better if letters were involved. If you think about it, there is some truth to this. The number KLondike 5-5555 is actually the number 555-555-5555. The K and L correspond with the 5 on the phone keypad. Mostly, however, the exchange was used for local numbers, so it would have been KL5-5555.

One you know that the letters in an exchange number correspond with certain numbers, you can easily figure out the number you need to dial. When you have that, you can then figure out where the area code is within the country, and then you can find the prefix within that area code to see where that call comes from. It's that simple.

Though figuring out exchange numbers and area codes is a great start with locating a name to go with a number, that is not always enough. When you have to be sure about who is calling before you answer or call them back, find a reverse lookup to help you search a number for more exact information.