Leslie Massey
In Australia, 1900 is the initial prefix for premium-rate telephone numbers, which charge callers a higher price for select services, including information and entertainment. These numbers are generally used for psychic services, tech support, and adult chat lines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number type | Premium-rate telephone number |
| Number format | 190x xxx xxx |
| Country | Australia |
| Prefix | 19 |
| Common uses | Tech support, psychic hotlines, adult chat lines, directory enquiries, weather forecasts, competitions, ratings televoting |
| Call charges | Higher price rates for select services |
| Call fee distribution | A portion of the call fees is paid to the service provider |
| Call fee benefits | Premium calls are an additional source of revenue for businesses |
| Call fee payment methods | Minute-basis |
| Other names | 0055 numbers |
| First digit | 9 |
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What You'll Learn
Premium-rate telephone numbers
In Australia, premium-rate telephone numbers generally begin with the prefix 19, with premium-rate voice services using the prefix 190x. Of these, 1900 was the initial prefix and is the most common; since then, 1901 and 1902 have also been allocated. The first digit of 1900 numbers is mainly 9. The 1901 prefix is specifically reserved for "restricted services", where a user must register with the service provider. These can include services of a sexual nature, although this is not the only definition of "restricted". The prefix 1906 is reserved for premium-rate paging services. Other numbers beginning with 19 are generally used for premium-rate SMS services on mobile phones.
Tech support, psychic hotlines, and adult chat lines (e.g. dating and phone sex) are among the most popular kinds of premium-rate phone services. Some businesses, such as low-cost airlines and diplomatic missions, have also used premium-rate phone numbers for calls from the general public. Premium calls are typically independent of the caller's area code.
In other countries, premium-rate telephone numbers work differently. For example, in Mexico, premium-rate numbers are served by Telmex and start with the dialling prefix 01-900, where 01 is the domestic long-distance prefix and 900 is the premium-rate area code. In Mongolia, premium-rate numbers also start with 1900. In Vietnam, premium-rate numbers start with 1900, and premium-rate SMSes have four digits starting with 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, with the second digit deciding the price.
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1900 is the initial prefix
In Australia, premium-rate telephone numbers generally begin with the prefix 19, with premium-rate voice services using the prefix 190x. Of these, 1900 was the initial prefix and is the most common; since then, 1901 and 1902 have also been allocated. The first digit of 1900 numbers is mainly 9; such numbers were converted from the 0055 prefix (for example, 0055 55 123 would become 1900 955 123). Before the introduction of eight-digit numbering, the prefix 0055 was used for premium-rate services, and as a result, 190x numbers are occasionally referred to colloquially as 0055 numbers.
In many countries, premium-rate numbers are used for customer service lines, with callers paying a premium above the cost of a normal telephone call. In Australia, premium-rate voice services using the 190x prefix include tech support, psychic hotlines, and adult chat lines (e.g. dating and phone sex). Other services include directory enquiries, weather forecasts, competitions, and ratings televoting (especially relating to television shows). Some businesses, such as low-cost airlines and diplomatic missions, have also used premium-rate phone numbers for calls from the general public.
1900 premium-rate numbers are unavailable in Australia due to the fact that calls charging for these services cannot be done in real-time. However, 1900 numbers are used as premium-rate numbers in several other countries, including Vietnam and Mongolia. In Mexico, premium-rate numbers are served by Telmex and start with the dialing prefix 01-900, where 01 is the domestic long-distance prefix and 900 is the premium-rate area code.
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Used for psychic services
1900 numbers are often used for competition lines, voting, charity donations, and—as is relevant in this case—psychic services.
Psychic services have long been associated with 1900 numbers in Australia, and this remains a common use for the prefix today. Many psychic services operate via 1900 numbers, offering callers the opportunity to receive readings, predictions, and guidance from psychics, mediums, and clairvoyants.
Callers to these numbers are typically charged a premium rate, which is often a key source of revenue for the service providers. The cost of the call may be a flat fee or a per-minute rate, and it is usually higher than the cost of a standard phone call, so those who spend a lot of time on the line might find it an expensive endeavor.
Psychic services offered via 1900 numbers typically provide a range of options for callers. Some services may offer a general reading, while others may specialize in specific areas such as love and relationships, career guidance, or spiritual healing. Callers might have the option to choose a specific psychic to speak with, or they may be randomly allocated one.
Some psychics may use tools such as tarot cards, astrology, or numerology to provide readings, while others may rely solely on their intuitive abilities. It is important to note that the accuracy and effectiveness of psychic readings can vary, and the use of 1900 numbers for these services has sometimes been linked to scams or fraudulent activity. As such, callers should remain cautious and be aware of potential risks.
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Premium-rate voice services
In Australia, premium-rate telephone numbers generally begin with the prefix 19, with premium-rate voice services using the prefix 190x. Of these, 1900 was the initial prefix and is the most common; since then, 1901 and 1902 have also been allocated. The first digit of 1900 numbers is mainly 9. These numbers do not have a trunk access code prefix (0).
The 1901 prefix is specifically reserved for "restricted services", where a user must register with the service provider. These can include services of a sexual nature, although this is not the only definition of "restricted". The prefix 1906 is reserved for premium-rate paging services. Other numbers beginning with 19 are generally used for premium-rate SMS services on mobile phones.
Premium-rate telephone numbers charge callers a higher price for select services, including information and entertainment. A portion of the call fees is paid to the service provider, allowing premium calls to be an additional source of revenue for businesses. Tech support, psychic hotlines, and adult chat lines (e.g. dating and phone sex) are among the most popular kinds of premium-rate phone services. Other services include directory enquiries, weather forecasts, competitions, and ratings televoting (especially relating to television shows).
Some businesses, such as low-cost airlines and diplomatic missions, have also used premium-rate phone numbers for calls from the general public. Premium calls are typically independent of the caller's area code. These telephone numbers are usually allocated based on a national telephone numbering plan that makes them easily distinguishable from non-premium numbers.
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1901 is for restricted services
In Australia, premium-rate telephone numbers generally begin with the prefix 19, with premium-rate voice services using the prefix 190x. While 1900 was the initial prefix and is the most common, 1901 and 1902 have also been allocated. The 1901 prefix is specifically reserved for "restricted services", which can include services of a sexual nature, although this is not the only definition of "restricted". To access these services, a user must register with the provider of the service on that number.
Premium-rate telephone numbers are telephone numbers that charge callers higher prices for select services, including information and entertainment. A portion of the call fees is paid to the service provider, allowing premium calls to be an additional source of revenue for businesses. Tech support, psychic hotlines, and adult chat lines (e.g. dating and phone sex) are among the most popular kinds of premium-rate phone services. Other services include directory enquiries, weather forecasts, competitions, and ratings televoting (especially relating to television shows).
Some businesses, such as low-cost airlines and diplomatic missions, have also used premium-rate phone numbers for calls from the general public. Premium calls are typically independent of the caller's area code and are usually allocated based on a national telephone numbering plan that makes them easily distinguishable from non-premium numbers.
In other countries, premium-rate numbers may start with different prefixes. For example, in Mexico, they start with 01-900, while in Mongolia, they begin with 1900. In New Zealand, premium-rate telephone numbers begin with 0900 and are used by phone sex companies, phone support services, and for donations to charitable organizations.
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Frequently asked questions
1900 numbers are premium-rate telephone numbers that charge callers a higher price for select services, including information and entertainment.
Tech support, psychic hotlines, and adult chat lines are among the most popular kinds of premium-rate phone services. Other services include directory enquiries, weather forecasts, competitions, and ratings televoting.
In Australia, premium-rate numbers generally begin with the prefix 19, with premium-rate voice services using the prefix 190x. Of these, 1900 was the initial prefix and is the most common.
Other numbers beginning with 19 are generally used for premium-rate SMS services on mobile phones. Additionally, 1901 is reserved for "restricted services", where users must register with the service provider, and 1906 is reserved for premium-rate paging services.
