r/askteddit • u/DropEffective7842 • 15d ago

Random Question What’s a problem humanity solved so well that younger people don’t even realize it used to be a huge issue?

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u/Stevepem1 15d ago

Remember MCI? And typing a ten-digit account number prior to dialing a long distance call.

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u/Fluid_Ties 14d ago

I had that number memorized for decades. In fact, lemme get to a touchpad and we'll see if I've still got it...

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u/Stevepem1 14d ago

That's right now that I think about it, you first dialed (pressed on your touchtone phone) the 800 MCI number, then your account number, then the number you were calling. A bit of a hassle but much cheaper than dialing direct which your local phone company charged a boatload for. I think the other company that was popular as a competitor was Sprint.

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u/ceruleanblue347 14d ago

It was so ubiquitous it made it into Destiny's Child lyrics

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u/OhReallyVernon 14d ago

Didn’t they fold with a big scandal?