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1.  

   NYC

   

   kingmanor, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 1:41am

   
   

   Here in NY having a 212 area code is immensely important for a business's perception. But you simply cannot get them anymore. 646 is the default for new regular phone service.

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2.  

   No Subject Given

   

   discojohnson, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 1:48am

   
   

   growing up military i had plenty of new numbers to have to remember. now that i'm military myself, i rather enjoy the fact that i can keep my number each time i move. it definately helps with maintaining contacts..so to me, it's a technological step that was aimed at pleasing the consumer.

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3.  

   my ### is bigger than yours.

   

   Anonymous Coward, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 1:48am

   
   

   What ever happened to "moving forward"? Why are some people so stuck on the past that they feel the need to grab and hug a set of numbers - to show-off their pride - of the past.
   
   Is there some status about having a 909 area code, over having a 213 area code?
   
   ...next, people will start bragging about how they now have a @gmail email address and look down upon those who have something other than that (or vice versa).

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4.  

   Re: my ### is bigger than yours.

   

   discojohnson, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 2:00am

   
   

   what? classes of people? not in this country.

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5.  

   Re: my ### is bigger than yours.

   

   MadJo (profile), Feb 20th, 2006 @ 2:11am

   
   

   well, I'd like to see a 404 area code :)
   
   oh and I already have a GMail addy.

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6.  

   Re: my ### is bigger than yours.

   

   fuzzmanmatt, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 2:21am

   
   

   I was always intrigued by the telephone exchange system. It was always nice to look at somebody's phone number and know where they're from, but it doesn't happen anymore unless you live in sparsely populated areas. Around me, there used to be a good distinction between physical areas and the exchanges associated with them, now, not even the wireless carriers have their own exchanges.

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7.  

   X-10

   

   curt, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 2:28am

   
   

   As a Generation Xer growing up in the Silicon Valley, I have been 10 digit dialing as long as I can remember. 7 area codes over 9 Bay Area counties and I really don’t pay much attention when dialing a phone number

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8.  

   High numbers

   

   Chris, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 3:05am

   
   

   Well I lived in alaska, and the entire state's area code is 907. Makes it rather nice, you only have to remember the 7 digits.

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9.  

   "Area codes" should be dead

   

   Sean, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 4:24am

   
   

   I live in Maryland and have my phone service through the cable company. I have unlimited local and long distance for $40 on my home phone. All phone companies should go to this type of pricing structure. With a lot of metro areas having multiple area codes and 10 digit dialing, mind as well just dial the area code and number a drop the stupid 1 for long distance.

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10.  

    in the UK they get area codes tattoed on back of n

    

    felix, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 4:46am

    
    

    There are gangs in the UK who use their area codes to represent. I've heard of people getting it tatooed. So you can't move EVER :) There's a lot of violence between neighboring districts. Pretty stupid really.

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11.  

    I kept my number

    

    Seth, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 5:11am

    
    

    I kept my number because Cingular wants to charge almost 30 bucks to change it. I don't see why there should be a charge to change the area code anyhow since my old one would just get released and another assigned to me. It's probably like 3 mouse clicks but a decent way to rake in more cash.

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12.  

    Re: I kept my number

    

    Tyson, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 7:14am

    
    

    I kept my number because Cingular wants to charge almost 30 bucks to change it. I don't see why there should be a charge to change the area code anyhow since my old one would just get released and another assigned to me. It's probably like 3 mouse clicks but a decent way to rake in more cash.
    
    All you have to do is tell them that you are getting harassing phone calls and you want to change you number to get them to stop calling. They will normally give you one number change for free, you just have to know how to talk to them :)

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13.  

    Re: X-10

    

    Anonymous Coward, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 7:54am

    
    

    But you still call it dialling? Are you using a rotary phone?

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14.  

    Areacode use

    

    Jim Sewell, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 8:26am

    
    

    If they are still planning to charge for long distance calling then the area codes help know if you are going to be charged or not and if you need 1+Area Code in front of the number.

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15.  

    Re: my ### is bigger than yours.

    

    Dustin, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 8:38am

    
    

    If you want a 404, you have to move to Atlanta, GA.
    
    PS. I've had a gmail address for a LONG time.

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16.  

    No Subject Given

    

    Anonymous Coward, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 11:34am

    
    

    I'm a lifetime 415'er and rarely interact with people outside of my area code. Snobbish? Maybe. But there really just isn't much of value in the Bay Area that isn't in SF.

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17.  

    Missing the original point

    

    Gabriel Tane (profile), Feb 20th, 2006 @ 1:32pm

    
    

    The original point of the Area Code wasn't just a geographical indicator, it was to make sure there were enough numbers. In a 7-digit number (where the first number cannot be 0) there are only so many combinations. I know there is some kind of math function that can figure that out, but I'm tired. Don't feel like digging.
    
    Anyway, while the answer to "how many numbers can there be" is a pretty big figure, it's still only a fraction of phone users in the nation. Therefore, we need a way to repeat some of those numbers while not duplicating them. In other words, we need more numbers. Find that math figure and add area codes into the mix. See how big that gets.
    
    Area codes will always be here, unless we just stop calling the AC's and all go around w/ a 10-digit number.

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18.  

    Re: Missing the original point

    

    Mousky, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 1:48pm

    
    

    Most, if not all of North America, should be capable of 10-digit dialling. And you are correct there are more phone numbers than phone users. Even though a business my advertise a single phone number, it may have hundreds of phone numbers - one for each outside line.

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19.  

    Two illustrations

    

    Faiser, Feb 20th, 2006 @ 8:15pm

    
    

    Two illustrations of this cool phenomenon:
    * Reggie Bush, NCAA Heisman winner, wore the letters '619' on his eye black. This is, of course, a reference to the area code of San Diego, whence he travelled to USC.
    * Rey Mysterio, WWE wrestler, owns a move called the '619.' This is another reference to the 'Diego.
    Interesting illustrations in that they highlight different facets of the US culture over which the importance of an area code has spread. Good stuff.
    out

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20.  

    Re: X-10

    

    curt, Feb 21st, 2006 @ 12:41am

    
    

    What better to call it? Numeric telephone addressing... I simply refer to it as dialing as it has been known to be called. Some people refer to slip lock pliers as channel locks, what is the difference. 10 digit phone numbers are the current standard in many places, or at least how it is done.

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21.  

    Re: 415 lifer

    

    curt, Feb 21st, 2006 @ 12:54am

    
    

    Thank God they reduced the 415 area cod and created the 650. It helps keep narrow minded people who would base their social connections on an area code. The last thing we need is these types of people getting out of their sheltered routine and exploring the world and who it has to offer. I can only hope that there is never an overlay area code in San Francisco and that as future needs arise that the 415 will once again shrink and there by shrink the worlds and minds of these types of people, to whom I might be referring. Whatever you do stay north of the 408! We here in the 831 enjoy a much more peaceful and open minded way of life than anyone who would center their world in such a disillusioned manner.

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22.  

    415 lifer snob

    

    curt, Feb 21st, 2006 @ 12:58am

    
    

    Thank God they reduced the 415 area cod and created the 650. It helps keep narrow minded people who would base their social connections on an area code. The last thing we need is these types of people getting out of their sheltered routine and exploring the world and who it has to offer. I can only hope that there is never an overlay area code in San Francisco and that as future needs arise that the 415 will once again shrink and there by shrink the worlds and minds of these types of people, to whom I might be referring. Whatever you do stay north of the 408! We here in the 831 enjoy a much more peaceful and open minded way of life than anyone who would center their world in such a disillusioned manner. Life is full of splendor everyone else explore

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23.  

    Area codes and words

    

    Howard Plumley, Feb 21st, 2006 @ 5:36am

    
    

    Once upon a time all of north Florida was 904. When it split to make 352 the Capitol in Tallhassee chose to keep the 904 and we got FLA. A later split got a lot of small towns 386 (FUN). The next split gave the 904 to Jacksonville, a more populous area, and Tallhassee ended up as 850 TL0 (They lost out).
    

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24.  

    Re: NYC

    

    paulv, Mar 17th, 2006 @ 9:28am

    
    

    As a matter of fact, although as rare as rent stabilized apartments these days, 212 phone numbers do get released eventually when someone abandons them and you see them pop up on ebay once in a while, look for "212 area code SIM card" or such.

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25.  

    Re: Re: I kept my number

    

    Anonymous Coward, Jul 30th, 2006 @ 7:21am

    
    

    All you have to do is tell them that you are getting harassing phone calls and you want to change you number to get them to stop calling. They will normally give you one number change for free, you just have to know how to talk to them :)
    
    Not so fast. Modern technology has helped reduce the harassing phone calls with Caller ID and records of every call, such as local incoming calls. Any intelligent customer service agent will offer the service of investigating any harassing calls. They probably have some department to deal with this and and reporting to the police if necessary.

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