I lost my number
Did I lose part of my identity in the process?
Yesterday, I canceled my Spanish phone line, losing my precious mobile number. It defined me, in some fashion, for over 12 years. “Seis-siete-zero, nueve-zero-nueve, siete-uno-zero” for 670 909 710: how many times did I say those words like a robot?
Name, id number, email, mobile number… basic data which define us. This number felt like home, my own cosy space on the network. Something unique to me - yes, by definition, of course. I know. It does not belong to me, if to anyone. Mobile numbers are assigned in blocks by local telecom regulators to network operators. They are a limited resource and telcos sometimes pay to gain access to it (it depends on local regulations). They are constructed according to international and national rules dictated by international organizations like the ITU* and by States.
Interestingly, they are aliases for the IMSI** stored on the SIM card, just like for example, URLs on the web are aliases for IP addresses. A mobile number makes it easier to identify a unique technical resource which is allocated to a unique user. Wait a minute: if we stretch the logic just a bit, my name is also an alias for a human resource – me. Far fetched? Well maybe… you decide.
Anyhow, I never thought I would have feelings for a number! But here I am. Should I worry that I could become a transhumanist, defining himself (itself?) through some id number as an android would? Now, that is far fetched, even freaky.
Behind a number, a story
In reality, this number tells a story; it helps recount the tale of my Spanish adventures since 2008. I arrived in Madrid with a small case and great hopes. I had proposed to a strategy consulting boutique a mutual test: hire my brains for free for 2 months, and get access to my current contacts and sales pipe. In exchange, pay for the Paris-Madrid weekly commute and the Spanish courses.
The rest is history. I kept on working with this firm, relocated the family to Madrid the following year, just before the 2009 crisis swept away 90% of the team in just a few months. I found another job in a large technology firm; was made redundant (with many others) less than 2 years later. Became an independent consultant, worked in the Middle East for almost 4 years with the family still based in Madrid, finally found a client close to home, then in London. Joined a startup and transformed myself into a business developper.
Along the way, my number followed me. A professional number initially, it was ported as a personal number to another operator, and on to another, and another. Vodafone, Jazztel, Telefónica, Orange: the number lived its own life in parallel to mine.
Our three kids grew up. We all became fluent in Spanish. We made new friends. We changed house. We had our first cat, then another one. We visited almost all corners of Spain, which in our hearts became our second country. I traveled, alone, with my wife, with the kids. We got the virus, I even went to the hospital, we healed. Life went on through ups and downs, through moments of joy, disappointments, even hardships, and new experiences.
My mobile line, just like for you, folks, registered all those moments. Or even made them possible. Indeed, a greater part of our lives is lived through this network connection. And the mobile number is one of the main doors to this connected life.
A gatekeeper of our connected life
The importance of this number extends even further. As we relocated in France, we went through a lot of procedures, unraveling an administrative existence in one country while reconnecting old links in the other. Be my witness: managing registration processes into French administrations with a Spanish number is no box of chocolates! I had to switch SIM cards / numbers constantly as they have become our digital keys: confirmation codes, security numbers… Where there is no number, there is no way!
Now it’s over. I lost my number. End of story. End of the line. My prrrecious will probably change hands. It will be transplanted into a new phone, and into the life of a new user. Hey, new user, please: take care of this number. It was me for a while.
Jean Haguet
If you want to connect with me, go here.
> Lire l’article en français.
> Leer este artículo en español.
*ITU: International Telecommunication Union. **IMSI: International Mobile Subscriber Identity.
