New 679 area code begins in November for Detroit & other areas

[Lowell]

For the first time since the early web internet days of the 1990s, when everybody needed new numbers for their dial up modems, our region is getting a new area code as 313 numbers are running out.

The good news is that current 313 number holders will not be forced off their numbers, as very inconveniently happened to me in the 1990s when I got bounced to 248 and then to 586 even I remained in my Highland Park house all along.

There will be some slight inconveniences however...

When that area code goes into effect, all local calls with a 313 area code will require 10-digit dialing, which means you have to include the area code with each call.

To prepare customers, there will be a six-month "permissive dialing" period starting April 7 to get used to the requirement. During that time, all local calls can be made with either seven or 10 digits, and all calls that are local will continue to be local even if you dial 10 digits.

Starting Oct. 7, all local calls must use the 10-digit phone number. Calls using only seven digits will not be completed.

Other important to know about the upcoming addition of the 679 area code include:

• Your current telephone number, including the current 313 area code, will not change.
• You will need to dial the area code and telephone number for all local calls, including calls within the same area code.
• You will continue to dial 1 plus the area code and telephone number for all long-distance calls.
• What is a local call now will remain a local call.
• The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
• You can still dial just three digits to reach 911 and 988. You can also dial three digits to reach 211, 311, 511, and 811 where available.
  
  More details here: https://www.wxyz.com/news/new-679-ar...to-be-required

[Vic01]

When I first read about this last night, my reaction was "what is this B.S.?", but then I realized that with cell phones and numbers stored/dialed by that phone, it likely won't be much of a headache at all

[1953]

Its just that 313 is a nice number, what with the repetition, and 679 is so, eh.

Can we ask them to pick again?

1953

[yaktown]

For the first time since the early web internet days of the 1990s, when everybody needed new numbers for their dial up modems, our region is getting a new area code as 313 numbers are running out.

What about the 947 area code in Oakland County? That's been around for about 25 years.

[Jimaz]

This topic has come up on DetroitYES! surprisingly often in the past. It might be worth a search.

One tidbit I recall was that the reason 313 was used for Detroit was its small digits made dialing faster, which was important for large cities with a lot of phone traffic. Other large cities like New York and Chicago also had area codes with small digits for the same reason.

[EASTSIDER BALDUCK]

Number 2-9- then a zero or one- then Number 2-9 was the original rule.
313 det
616 w. mich
212 nyc
714 sf
904 jack fla.
202 dc
906 up mich
617 boston

[Lowell]

I wonder if some of the 313 shortage is being driven in part by the numbers being bought up by spam callers as in "Oh, an unknown call is coming from a 313 number. It might be friend. I should answer it."

[EASTSIDER BALDUCK]

These are display "fields" for input.
Input the same # [[call back) and re-directs to real #.

"Please call back ASAP, your account is frozen until confirmed"
313-123-3400 Display field
313-123-3400 Input field=Display field
800-253-6717 real

so is it using the 313 number? good question

[Gistok]

The new 679 area code for Detroit an overlay for 313. It is known as an "overly' area code... because every single phone number requires dialing the ten digit area code + phone number, even if you are calling from within the area code. This is the same in Oakland County, where 248 and 947 are overlay area codes.

586, 810, and 734 are not overlay area codes, and any one of the 3 area codes requires only 7 digit if dialing within the area code.

[48202]

Number 2-9- then a zero or one- then Number 2-9 was the original rule.

List of original area codes include number 1 as the third digit when number O is assigned as the second digit.

201 through 901 are eight of the originally assigned x01 area codes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin...can_area_codes

Does anyone on Detroityes still have a landline with a working dial [[pulse) phone?

[Hypestyles]

... waiting for "679 Boys" to become the name for an up and coming rap group.

[EASTSIDER BALDUCK]

The new 679 area code for Detroit an overlay for 313. It is known as an "overly' area code... because every single phone number requires dialing the ten digit area code + phone number, even if you are calling from within the area code. This is the same in Oakland County, where 248 and 947 are overlay area codes.

586, 810, and 734 are not overlay area codes, and any one of the 3 area codes requires only 7 digit if dialing within the area code.

I have to dial the area code here in 810 to a 810 number.

[EASTSIDER BALDUCK]

List of original area codes include number 1 as the third digit when number O is assigned as the second digit.

201 through 901 are eight of the originally assigned x01 area codes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin...can_area_codes

Does anyone on Detroityes still have a landline with a working dial [[pulse) phone?

I think about 1990 pulse stopped, but love to know for sure myself!!
I do remember some early cheap touch-tone phones had buttons, but still pulsed.[[after att break-up with western elec and itt)

[Gistok]

I have to dial the area code here in 810 to a 810 number.

I have to with 586 as well, using Google Voice on my PC. Same for a smart phone. But unlike unlike the areas that have an overly... if you used a landline, you would not have to.

[Pat001]

Does anyone know what happens when we run out of area code numbers?

[13606Cedargrove]

Does anyone know what happens when we run out of area code numbers?

A good question. But I have wondered if the phone company has considered an audit of lines currently issued versus lines actually being used. My theory is that there may be a substantial amount of lines that could be cancelled and re-issued, such as unused lines for dormant land lines, fax machines, alarms, discarded cellphones, etc.

[jiminnm]

A few years back New Mexico split into 2 area codes and added the 10 digit dialing requirement. Seemed like overkill for a state with 2.3 million people. The explanation given was that it allowed 911 [[3 digit) calling everywhere.

[Jimaz]

You'd think they could have come up with a plan at the very start that would have never run out of numbers ever {he said suggestively}.

[Gistok]

I remember reading somewhere that AT&T is ending land lines in 2028. That should free up a bazillion numbers...

[Zacha341]

^ Yes. I'll be one of those odd folk grudgingly giving up my land phone...... We rarely use our mobile phones for lengthy conversations when at home.

[Jimaz]

I remember reading somewhere that AT&T is ending land lines in 2028. That should free up a bazillion numbers...

I'm foreseeing a future with way less clutter overhead. Telephone poles are just part of it. All the signs, signals, billboards will vanish into displays. It's just one of those unintended consequences of tech. The planet's going to go bald again.

[EASTSIDER BALDUCK]

I remember reading somewhere that AT&T is ending land lines in 2028. That should free up a bazillion numbers...

Why would they give a bazillion customers away?

[canuck]

Why would they give a bazillion customers away?

Because the data from cell users is worth more to them than landlines. It’s also less costly to shoot satellites than to repair all the old infrastructure[[?)

[Gistok]

I remember reading somewhere that AT&T is ending land lines in 2028. That should free up a bazillion numbers...

I forgot to say... they are eliminating land lines for RESIDENTIAL customer. All the business land lines will remain.