Area Code Overlay

[Shizam76]

Well....my area code (815) is getting an overlay starting in February. They are overlaying 779 area code. The ICC document http://www.icc.illinois.gov/docs/tc/...C815799PR2.pdf shows that starting soon....I will have to dial 1+815 just to call my neighbor who also has an 815 number. How will this affect Wireless?

1. Do they just update the software on all the switches here from the main office...as opposed to physically going to all the towers?

2. Does someone now have to record a special message for the network telling the person to hang up and dial again......for instance on Cingular if I dial my neighbor without dialing 1+815 first?

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by Shizam76

Well....my area code (815) is getting an overlay starting in February. They are overlaying 779 area code. The ICC document http://www.icc.illinois.gov/docs/tc/...C815799PR2.pdf shows that starting soon....I will have to dial 1+815 just to call my neighbor who also has an 815 number. How will this affect Wireless?

1. Do they just update the software on all the switches here from the main office...as opposed to physically going to all the towers?

2. Does someone now have to record a special message for the network telling the person to hang up and dial again......for instance on Cingular if I dial my neighbor without dialing 1+815 first?

I just went through the same thing here in California. My main mobile number is in the (310) area code, which just got CA's first overlay (424), after 7 years of delays.

I believe, these days, everything is done by computer. Whether Cingular needs to record a special message for incorrectly dialed calls, I'm not sure. I do agree that it is ridiculous to have to dial 11 digits for a local number just down the street, but this is the price we pay for this technology (and all others that hog up phone numbers).

Ironically, you probably won't see many (779) numbers for quite some time. I have yet to see a (424) number for anything so far, but I'm sure somebody has this new code.

Welcome to the world of overlay area codes!!

[Shizam76]

Originally Posted by Mobile Mike

Welcome to the world of overlay area codes!!

Thanks Mike! Man I feel warm and fuzzy inside!

[Scrumhalf]

Are you sure you have to dial 1? In Portland, we recently (2-3 years ago) had area code 971 overlaid on the standard 503 code. In order to dial any local number, I have to dial the area code/prefix/number, i.e. 971-555-1212 or 503-555-1212, and not the leading 1.

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

Are you sure you have to dial 1? In Portland, we recently (2-3 years ago) had area code 971 overlaid on the standard 503 code. In order to dial any local number, I have to dial the area code/prefix/number, i.e. 971-555-1212 or 503-555-1212, and not the leading 1.

The "1" is a must here in L.A., and I'm guessing it probably is in greater Chicagoland as well. Some areas require the "1", others don't, as in your case.

[Shizam76]

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

Are you sure you have to dial 1? In Portland, we recently (2-3 years ago) had area code 971 overlaid on the standard 503 code. In order to dial any local number, I have to dial the area code/prefix/number, i.e. 971-555-1212 or 503-555-1212, and not the leading 1.

According to the ICC document, it says 1+area code.....so I assume so. I wonder, since 99.5% of my calling is done via phonebook in the cell phone and those numbers I have programmed are all without the one, such as 815-xxx-xxxx and 708-xxx-xxxx.....I have never had to use 1+area code when calling from cell phone...I wonder if that will stay the same, or if I will have to reprogram all the numbers with a 1 in front.

[NFrabbit]

As far as your cell phone is concerned just dial every number with 10 digits - (xxx) xxx-xxxx. Your call will go through regardless of whether it would be long distance from a landline or not.

In NE Ohio we have had this for several years now. In our case from a landline you dial 1+ for long distance. Just the 10 digits for local. (As you can see from above the cell phone simplifies things)

Although we went to an overlap 3 or 4 years ago I have yet to see a number in the new area code.

[ZaphodB]

In Jersey it's ten digits (732-XXX-XXXX) but here in California it's eleven (1-310-XXX-XXXX). You get the usual voice telling you "you must dial the area code" or "you must dial 1 plus the area code" if you fail.

I had to update all my 310 numbers in my mobile phonebook to add the 1-310. Now I just store all numbers as 1-AC-number (except the 011-CC-LC-number ones).

And while I know someone with an 848 (overlaid 732) mobile number, I've never seen any 424 number except the test lines.

[dmapr]

Originally Posted by ZaphodB

In Jersey it's ten digits (732-XXX-XXXX) but here in California it's eleven (1-310-XXX-XXXX). You get the usual voice telling you "you must dial the area code" or "you must dial 1 plus the area code" if you fail.

I had to update all my 310 numbers in my mobile phonebook to add the 1-310. Now I just store all numbers as 1-AC-number (except the 011-CC-LC-number ones).

And while I know someone with an 848 (overlaid 732) mobile number, I've never seen any 424 number except the test lines.

I've been storing all phone numbers as +CAAAXXXYYYY ever since I got my first GSM phone (some European numbers have different structure, but you get the meaning). Never had to worry about dialing except when area codes or numbers change.

[Quint101]

Originally Posted by ZaphodB

In Jersey it's ten digits (732-XXX-XXXX) but here in California it's eleven (1-310-XXX-XXXX). You get the usual voice telling you "you must dial the area code" or "you must dial 1 plus the area code" if you fail.

I had to update all my 310 numbers in my mobile phonebook to add the 1-310. Now I just store all numbers as 1-AC-number (except the 011-CC-LC-number ones).

And while I know someone with an 848 (overlaid 732) mobile number, I've never seen any 424 number except the test lines.

Although I do understand 10D dialing for areas that have multiple area codes, what is the purpose of mandatory dialing of 11 digits for local calls? Does this conserve phone numbers?

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by Quint101

Although I do understand 10D dialing for areas that have multiple area codes, what is the purpose of mandatory dialing of 11 digits for local calls? Does this conserve phone numbers?

The only thing I can think of is the area code is used or reserved in another county, but I am not positive.

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by Quint101

Although I do understand 10D dialing for areas that have multiple area codes, what is the purpose of mandatory dialing of 11 digits for local calls? Does this conserve phone numbers?

I'm guessing it has to do more with the particular State utility commission to decide how they want to do it.

I originally wondered if it had to do with the fact that certain areas like Chicago and Los Angeles have such large metropolitan areas with many area codes that 1-NNN-XXX-XXXX dialing is commomplace. Instead of reverting to 10-digit dialing, 11-digit dialing remains the norm. But if this were true then why does New Jersey use 10-digit dialing when they are part of both New York and Philly metro areas?

I've lived in the Los Angeles area my entire life, and 11-digit dialing has always been the norm with each area code split, even if I am in one code and my neighbor accross the street is in another. Go fig??

[walkguru]

we used to be able to dial the last 4 when in a small town. but now its the last 7, except long distance.

[Quint101]

Originally Posted by Mobile Mike

I'm guessing it has to do more with the particular State utility commission to decide how they want to do it.

I originally wondered if it had to do with the fact that certain areas like Chicago and Los Angeles have such large metropolitan areas with many area codes that 1-NNN-XXX-XXXX dialing is commomplace. Instead of reverting to 10-digit dialing, 11-digit dialing remains the norm. But if this were true then why does New Jersey use 10-digit dialing when they are part of both New York and Philly metro areas?

I've lived in the Los Angeles area my entire life, and 11-digit dialing has always been the norm with each area code split, even if I am in one code and my neighbor accross the street is in another. Go fig??

Atlanta is different in this respect... all calls there must be dialed with the area code. If I dial a 1 plus area code and phone number from a landline, I get an error message. I remember when I was able to dial the seven digit number back in the day. Now all of northern Georgia has 10 digit dialing for all local calls.

Originally Posted by walkguru

we used to be able to dial the last 4 when in a small town. but now its the last 7, except long distance.

My current location is just like this; when I came to Tallahassee from Atlanta, I forgot that I didn't have to dial an area code first... none of my calls would complete lol. I also had to realize that all numbers in an area code aren't local either.

[Telekom]

Originally Posted by Scrumhalf

Are you sure you have to dial 1? In Portland, we recently (2-3 years ago) had area code 971 overlaid on the standard 503 code. In order to dial any local number, I have to dial the area code/prefix/number, i.e. 971-555-1212 or 503-555-1212, and not the leading 1.

It all depends for regular lines. If your area has "toll alerting" meaning that it requires you to put a 1 first to indicate that it's a toll call. Many areas do not have toll alerting and putting 1 an area code only indicates that you're calling a different area code and has nothing to do with whether the call is local or long distance. Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Chicago have this non toll alerting.

Dialing from a cellphone though is often different and you often do not have to dial the 1 first.

[ZaphodB]

Originally Posted by walkguru

we used to be able to dial the last 4 when in a small town. but now its the last 7, except long distance.

Yeah, when I lived in Iowa my phone number was 2918. If I wanted to call the next town I dialed 1-927-0000 or whatever. Now there's been an area-code split and the towns are in different area codes, so you have to dial 1-563-927-0000. That wasn't very long ago -- 7 years ago, in fact.

Having 11-digit dialling is easier than both 10- (for local) and 11-digit (for LD) dialling.

It is going to be weird -- we're moving from a place where 11-digit dialling is enforced to a place where it isn't, and you can dial seven digits. Odd.

[Quint101]

Originally Posted by ZaphodB

Yeah, when I lived in Iowa my phone number was 2918. If I wanted to call the next town I dialed 1-927-0000 or whatever. Now there's been an area-code split and the towns are in different area codes, so you have to dial 1-563-927-0000. That wasn't very long ago -- 7 years ago, in fact.

Having 11-digit dialling is easier than both 10- (for local) and 11-digit (for LD) dialling.

It is going to be weird -- we're moving from a place where 11-digit dialling is enforced to a place where it isn't, and you can dial seven digits. Odd.

I found it to be strange too... I moved from a 10D dialing area to a 7D dialing area and it took time for me to get used to that; it was initially frustrating when none of my calls would complete

[Telekom]

Originally Posted by Quint101

I found it to be strange too... I moved from a 10D dialing area to a 7D dialing area and it took time for me to get used to that; it was initially frustrating when none of my calls would complete

Here in Seattle there is no overlay yet (new area code won't be needed for another 15 years according to the folks who assign codes) and we can dial from regular phones three ways with 7, 10, or 11 (1+A/C+number.) With my mobile handset I can dial four ways with 7, 10, 11 or +1 area code and number.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Quint101

I found it to be strange too... I moved from a 10D dialing area to a 7D dialing area and it took time for me to get used to that; it was initially frustrating when none of my calls would complete

I did the same, moving from 10 --> 7 digit dialing area. But I work in a 10-digit area, kept my cell phone which is in a 10-digit area, but spend a couple days working from home in my 7 digit area....

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by Quint101

I found it to be strange too... I moved from a 10D dialing area to a 7D dialing area and it took time for me to get used to that; it was initially frustrating when none of my calls would complete

Now that's odd, you would think even if you dialed an area code the call would still go through.
I haven't tried it on my wired landline & may have to try it and see what happens, I know with my VoIP I have to dial an area code even for local calls.

All I know is everything I program in my cell & VoIP have the area code, I have debated adding the 1 for the future when it becomes required.

[NFrabbit]

Since before 10 digit dialing in my area (NE Ohio) my cellphones always worked fine by dialing 10 digits even if only 7 were needed.

If you think about it this is the way it should have been. A cell phone travels around and you really can not be 100% positive which area code you are in! For this reason I have always stored numbers in my cell phone in 10 digit format.

If you have 7 digit dialing at home, go to another area code with 7 digit dialing, and call home - you might get the local pizza shop/bookie joint/brothel/ etc. 10 digit dialing might seem strange at first but it becomes very logical once you think about the alternative.

[walkguru]

Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: LG-CU500 Obigo/WAP2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

Originally Posted by NFrabbit

Since before 10 digit dialing in my area (NE Ohio) my cellphones always worked fine by dialing 10 digits even if only 7 were needed.

If you think about it this is the way it should have been. A cell phone travels around and you really can not be 100% positive which area code you are in! For this reason I have always stored numbers in my cell phone in 10 digit format.

If you have 7 digit dialing at home, go to another area code with 7 digit dialing, and call home - you might get the local pizza shop/bookie joint/brothel/ etc. 10 digit dialing might seem strange at first but it becomes very logical once you think about the alternative.

That happened to me. I went to tulsa and called a buddy but got some one else. Took me a while to figure it out.

[ZaphodB]

It could be worse. To call, say, Disneyland, from my 3HK phone while in the US, I have to dial **128*1968 1 714 781 1000.

[NFrabbit]

Originally Posted by ZaphodB

It could be worse. To call, say, Disneyland, from my 3HK phone while in the US, I have to dial **128*1968 1 714 781 1000.

I assume the 1 714... and on is a standard US number. How about clueing us in on the first part.

[ta206]

The new 10-digit dialing in our area gave an interesting new twist to the excuse "I tried to call you but it wouldn't go through". I guess it helps weeds out the ones you put on the "do not date" list.

[Quint101]

Originally Posted by Fire14

Now that's odd, you would think even if you dialed an area code the call would still go through.
I haven't tried it on my wired landline & may have to try it and see what happens, I know with my VoIP I have to dial an area code even for local calls.

All I know is everything I program in my cell & VoIP have the area code, I have debated adding the 1 for the future when it becomes required.

This occured on the landlines; the mobile worked appropriately (i.e. mandatory 10D on the Atlanta numbers...)

[ZaphodB]

Originally Posted by NFrabbit

I assume the 1 714... and on is a standard US number. How about clueing us in on the first part.

**128* is the access code that 3HK (three.com.hk) require to make any call originating outside of HK, Macau and Guangdong province; 1968 is the discount IDD code (the equivalent of 011 in the US).

You can also do **128*001 1 714 781 1000 but it would cost approximately six times as much during the day, and three times as much during the evening.

[Shizam76]

Okay...Saturday Feb 17th was D day....and everyone here in the 815 area code started getting the recording for not dialing 1+815 before the number.

I could still dial just 7 digits on my cell phone.....until Monday the 19th. Just dialing 7 digits on the cell now I get the cell phone recording "Your call cannot be completed as dialed, ............" the same message I get when I am in another market, and forget....and dial the 7 digit number.

Did they have to force software updates to all the switches here in the 815 area code?