Is the Speaking Clock free?
Find the precise time by dialling 123 to hear the BT speaking clock (Timeline). It costs 50p a minute from BT landlines any time of day or night.
Who is the voice of the Speaking Clock?
Those are the dulcet tones of Alan Steadman, the new voice of the Speaking Clock. To mark 80 years of the famous talking clock, BT held a nationwide competition to find the fifth permanent voice of the British institution.
Is there a Speaking Clock?
The Speaking Clock is still an emblem of accuracy to some people, which might explain why they’re still prepared to pay for it, says Rory McEvoy, a curator of horology at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. In 1936, when the speaking clock was introduced, people were reliant on mechanical clocks, says McEvoy.
How does the Speaking Clock work?
The message Each day the speaking clock makes 8,640 announcements. When the service was first launched, calls to the Speaking Clock cost one penny from home and ‘tuppence’ from a phone box. After listening for 90 seconds, the caller, if they had not hung up already, would be automatically disconnected.
Can you still call for time?
Even in the smartphone age, you can still dial up the time in hours, minutes, seconds. The U.S. Naval Observatory’s time-by-phone line received more than three million calls in 2015. Quick, try this: Dial 202-762-1401. Trust us, it’s not a scam, but you may be surprised by what you hear.
Does it cost to ring 123?
Calling the 123 Speaking Clock now costs at least 39p. It’s probably not something you’re too concerned about, until you spot the phone number mysteriously appearing on your landline phone bill.
Why was the talking clock called Tim?
The BT Speaking Clock has kept time since 1936, when it was also known as “TIM” — the three-letter code short for “time” which callers dialled on old-fashioned alphabetic phones. Since its launch, only four people have leant their voice to the service.
Is the speaking clock still active?
BRITAIN’S famous speaking clock may have been introduced in 1936 but it still keeps perfect time for the 30 million people who use the service each year. At the third stroke the speaking clock will be 80 years old precisely. It is still ticking on and offering accurate timekeeping, like a relic of a bygone age.
What is Tim the talking clock?
The BT Speaking Clock has also been known as TIM (the three-letter code, that subscribers dialled in Director areas). The BT Speaking Clock receives around 70 million calls a year. The BT Speaking Clock has been ticking 24-hours a day, seven days a week since 24th July 1936 and is now 70 years old!