So Nynex, hardly the most popular local telephone company in America, knew it was in for a scrap when it recently unveiled a plan to deprive some Manhattanites of their treasured 212 area code--arguably the only local telephone code that is recognised from Tokyo to Tomsk.

ECONOMIST: The sexiest code on earth

Kosovo still does not have an international telephone dialling code - and, unlike other Balkan countries, its citizens cannot travel visa-free to the European Union.

BBC: Kosovo marks fifth year of independence from Serbia

It allows smartphone owners to make in-store purchases by typing in a telephone number and personal ID code at the cash register.

BBC: Barclaycard Quick Tap reader