If you could design the ultimate phone number system, what features would it have?

[mostakimvip06]

Designing the "ultimate" phone number system in a world moving beyond traditional telephony would require a radical re-imagining, blending the best of current communication with future privacy, security, and flexibility needs. It would essentially merge the concepts of a unique identifier, a communication address, and a personal data control center.

Here are the features of such an ultimate phone number system:

1. Decentralized, Self-Sovereign Identifiers (DIDs) as the Core
Feature: Every individual would own a unique, cryptographically netherlands number database generated Decentralized Identifier (DID) that they control, not a carrier or government. This DID would be globally unique and persistent for life (unless revoked by the owner).
Impact: No more reliance on central authorities for number assignment. Your identity isn't tied to a specific service provider, fostering true digital autonomy. This eliminates the concept of "number portability" because you own your identifier.
2. Layered Privacy Controls & Selective Disclosure
Feature: Your DID wouldn't be directly linked to your personal information by default. Instead, you'd manage Verifiable Credentials (VCs) issued by trusted entities (e.g., a "verified adult" credential from a government, a "work contact" credential from your employer). When interacting, you'd selectively present only the necessary VCs, without revealing underlying PII.
Impact: Granular control over who sees what. You could share a "contact me for work" credential that routes to your professional communications, and a "family/friends" credential that routes to a private channel, without exposing your full identity or other private details. No more unwanted calls or messages to your primary identifier.
3. Context-Aware Communication Channels
Feature: Instead of a single number, your DID would act as a routing hub for various communication "channels" or "contexts." You could define channels like "Urgent Family," "Work - During Hours," "Social - Friends Only," "Customer Service," or "Anonymous Public."
Impact: Senders would attempt to connect to a specific channel associated with your DID, rather than a raw number. Your system would then apply rules: "If from Family channel, ring immediately," "If from Work channel outside hours, send to voicemail," "If from Public channel, filter for spam." This eliminates the need for separate work and personal numbers and provides robust filtering.
4. End-to-End Encryption by Default (Quantum-Resistant)
Feature: All communications routed through the DID system (voice, text, video) would be end-to-end encrypted, with cryptographic keys managed by the users themselves. This would ideally be designed with quantum-resistant algorithms from the outset.
Impact: Ensures that only the sender and intended recipient can access the content of messages and calls, protecting against eavesdropping by third parties, including service providers or government agencies.