Nearly All Local Calls Now Being Made With Area Code

Tuesday, July 08, 2008 09:22 AM

Prince George, B.C. - Almost 90 per cent of local phone calls are already being made using the full 10 digits.

Telus says callers are getting the message that they must include the area code for all local calls

Telus says a sample of several million phone calls on June 30 found 87 per cent of calls were being made using 10 digits. That sample was done just a week after the start of the ‘permissive dialing’ period one June 23. During this period, callers who dial seven digits will hear a recorded reminder to dial 10 digits next time they place a call. Beginning on September 8, 2008 all calls must be made with the area code included or they will not be connected.

All three-digit numbers, including 211, 311, 411, 611, and 911 emergency service (where applicable) will remain the same and will not require the inclusion of an area code.

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Posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2008 09:22 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: vocer on July 8 2008 9:44 AM

I cant tell you how many times I got the message even after dialing 250. Seems to be a bug in the system

Posted by: rufus1 on July 8 2008 9:45 AM

I still don't understand why the system doesn't recognize all local calls as being local ---- the default. There are "defaults" for all sorts of computer activities.

Posted by: eve on July 8 2008 9:55 AM

Ive also dialed the area code and still had the message saying to dial it?

Posted by: rambleon on July 8 2008 10:16 AM

I think the glitch in the system occurs when you're dialing cell phone numbers. Nearly every time I call a cell phone from a landline it tells me I haven't used the area code.

rufus1, the system HAS been 'defaul[ing]' to the 250 area code until now. The reason this has changed is because you will now see numbers with a new (is it the already in place 778?) area code. Now your 250 phone number may be the same as another, and the area code will distinguish the two.

Posted by: rambleon on July 8 2008 10:16 AM

'default[ing]'

Posted by: metalman on July 8 2008 10:37 AM

P.I.A.
metalman.

Posted by: red2b on July 8 2008 11:51 AM

Will it be Opinion 778?

Posted by: DPJ on July 8 2008 1:03 PM

calling a bell cell phone number was getting this message (with using 10 digits). I think it is the individual cell phjone companies that have the message. When I called using 7 digits by accident, I got this message twice when calling a bell cell phone number.