having to dial the area code with every number
 

why do I have to dial the area code for every number I dial even the ones that are the same area code as my number ? I called customer service and they couldn't help me was wondering if someone on here could give me an answer since its quite a nuisance

Most landlines are like this also, nothing new. It's probably better to have the area code in there anyhow so that your phone works when you're not in your home area code

The phone companies claim to be running out of numbers and need to use the same numbers over and over again. I am in Illlinois and they could use 847-555-1234 and then for someone in the next town over that uses a different area code they could use the same number over with a different area code, 773-555-1234. This is how I understand it to work and why the area code must be dialed.

When I got my phone about 2 months ago, the rep told me to dial the area code but I found that I could still dial w/o.
I was on the phone w/ Cust serv a few days ago and asked why I was suposed to dial the area code and he said that with all of the new numbers poping up in the past few years that the phone systems are going to start making a change in the future(no time fram discused) and you will have to dial a 10 digit # for all calls.

never had to dial 10 digits on my verizon cells....hmmm

Most??? I don't have to do this with either my landline OR my cellphone if I'm calling a number in my same area code.

It is something called permissive dialling, and for the most part, is required when calling an area with 2 area code overlays. (Different from a split). When you have an overlay, you need to dial the ten digits to differentiate between the two area codes. They anticipate in approximately 5 years, all dialling will be by 10 digits. Bottom line, tho, is that whether you have to dial 7 or ten digits is not the faultof you phone provider, be it landline or wireless, but rather it is determined by the organizations that determine phone numbering systems.

Since a long long time ago, I've had to dial 10 numbers, landline and cell.

It drives me crazy when we travel to places where I don't have to.

Well with my Cingualr GSM Nation here is how it goes. I live in a place where you don't have to dial an area code to dial out to any number (within our 2 county area - all same area code so it doesn't matter I guess).

So...

When I am in Volusia and/or Flagler counties all I have to do is dial out with out an area code (just 7-digit number). If I travel anywhere outside these counties I must dial the 10-digit number (including area code). If I dial the 7-digit number outside of Volusia and/or Flagler counties I get the "Your call can not be placed at this time; you must dial, area code first and then the seven digit telephone number you are trying to contact to place this call. Please hang up and try again. Thank You." - It sounds like a Bellsouth (our local telephone carrier) Error Message (not Cingular Wireless)

Let me rephrase.... most major metropolitain areas have to use 10 digits when dialing. When my phone changed over maybe 6 years or so ago to 10 digits, they said it was so more numbers could be used and because there were overlapping area codes.

Ive had to dial the area codes for 3 years.
Well I do have friends that have a different area code (908 instead of 973) and we live in the same city...some in the same development even. I dont really find it that hard. Its all in my phonebook and Im used to dialing 3 extra numbers.

yeap he's right is mostly big city where the population is large and due to this they're runnning out of #'s as someone mentioned that's why alot of big cities like LA, NY, San Fran, miami, Ft. lauderdale etc. have at least 2 area codes. so far where I live we still could dial 7 digit #, but soon that would change in the future.

I thought all the areas that still allow you to dial 7 digits also accept 10 digit dialing. That's the case in Ca. I thought I read somewhere that 10 digit dialing will be required at some point nationwide - but could be wrong.
I think 10 digit dialing is always accepted from cel phones even if it isn't from land lines. It has often been mentioned on HoFo that GSM users should always store (U.S. and Canadian) numbers in the universal +1 xxx xxx xxxx format. That way you can be sure the number is dialed correctly wherever you are in the world.

...mike

It's not just a cell thing, it's land lines too--even here in Jackson, MS this is in effect. We got a second area code also. I guess with all the land lines, beepers, faxes, and cell phones, they ran out of #s.

Yea in areas like the suburbs of chicago, the phone company desided to overlay two area codes into one large area, instead of just making two smaller ones. So we have to dial the ten digit all the time. The funny thing is a I've never seen a number with the new area code and we've had it for 8 years. Now its like automatic dialing 10 digits. In fact at school in a different area code i dial the 10 when i can just use the 7 (or even 5 when on campus).