During the '80s, could you call anyone in the world with a phone number or were there cases where you could only mail/telegraph people in distant lands?

During the '80s, could you call anyone in the world with a phone number or were there cases where you could only mail/telegraph people in distant lands?


I'm pretty sure that you could call pretty much anywhere like today, except it probably cost more than today. Long distance was quite expensive then I believe.

I'm pretty sure that you could call pretty much anywhere like today, except it probably cost more than today. Long distance was quite expensive then I believe.


I think it was monopolized or something until the early '80s.

I think it was monopolized or something until the early '80s.


Yeah everything was AT&T till like 1984 when the government broke it up into the "baby bells"

Long distance calling has changed alot since the 80's.  Back in the 80's, places that were long distance to call, no longer are

[quote author=whis

I know you could call direct - although very expensive - to western Europe (including Finland), the Philippines, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Latin America.  I also know for a fact you could not call numbers in Warsaw Pact countries.

I know you could call direct - although very expensive - to western Europe (including Finland), the Philippines, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Latin America.  I also know for a fact you could not call numbers in Warsaw Pact countries.


So, prior to 1990/'91 or so, you might as well of used the Pony Express to talk to Russia?

Dude, do a little research. Satellite telecommunications have been used since the 60's. Even before that transcontinental land lines ran across the oceans, which I believe were laid in the 20's or 30's.
Leaders of governments have been communicating since long before the 80's.  ::)