I just dialed 323-853-1212 and got "Good Evening, Pacific Daylight time is 10 ... 58 ... and 20 seconds.

It's had the "Good Evening" for several years now, but has worked (surprisingly.)

When I grew up and lived in LA it was 853-xxxx any number from any area code in LA. That worked until about 1998 when they changed it to only the 323 area code. Before that, they tried several 976 services with the time (976-TIME for one,) and they were popular for a while, but I think got caught up in the 976-900 number evildom.

The "Good Evening" and "Pacific xxx time" was added sometime after 2000, but I don't remember when.

I still use it to check and make sure my cellphone has the correct time. It may be better now, but my phone was up to 35 seconds off in changing minutes in the past.

Anytime I set a clock I still call that number. It's easier than going on the internet to get the seconds.

If it goes away, I will be sad.

I used to call the "speaking clock" in England every now and then for fun (and when I worked for a company with a leased voice line there it was free,) but I may just add international dialing to my plan . . .