London, Feb 14: Millions of Britons are taking themselves out of the telephone book as the possession of an ex-directory number becomes the country's newest status symbol, the Times reported on Saturday.The British Telecom phone company (BT) was "worried about a threat to its 100 pounds ($164) a second profits if too many people make themselves difficult to ring at home," the newspaper said.
The Times said ex-directory numbers among Britain's 20 million residential telephone owners had risen from 24 per cent in 1991 to 37 per cent.
London now has the world's highest rate of ex-directory numbers with 56 per cent of residential telephone owners choosing to stay out of the book.
"BT is so alarmed that it is to write to 10 million customers urging them to keep their home numbers available," the Times said.
The newspaper quoted BT as saying: "Social cachet is an element. Privacy equals exclusivity."
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
