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Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: patric on February 04, 2009, 11:57:23 pm Dialing 7 digits to call a local phone in or around Tulsa may end soon... depending on the outcome of the Corporation Commission's decision regarding the depletion of numbers in the 918 area code.
The other option is dividing the 918 area code and giving outlying areas a new area code of their own, as was done a few years ago to the 405 area code. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code_918 The later could mean that calling areas in the new area code would now be considered Long Distance, while the former could mean three extra keystrokes to call the house next door. The commission promises to spill the beans tomorrow in a news conference. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Hoss on February 05, 2009, 12:32:44 am quote: But probably not until at the very least 2011 would this even be needed. And some of your facts regarding LD and the split or overlay are misleading. LD wouldn't be magically assigned to areas where they weren't before. It also appears that NANPA (North American Numbering Plan Administration) has a document that says an overlay type was requested in May with the OCC. Whether or not that is final has yet to be seen. http://www.nanpa.com/reports/NPA_Relief_Activity_Status_Report_010109.pdf Find area code 918 in that table. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: sgrizzle on February 05, 2009, 07:00:04 am Like Hoss said, changing area code doesn't mean it's now long distance. Batlesville is long distance, but has a 918 number, while major cities like LA let you call numbers in many area codes, as local calls.
Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: joiei on February 05, 2009, 07:18:00 am Having overlaying codes is no big deal. I have lived in areas where this was the case. And the house next door was not LD. That is why today I always input the area code on any phone number that I put into my home phone or cell phone. A habit I picked up there and have held onto.
Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: cannon_fodder on February 05, 2009, 08:14:01 am If we could take a vote, I'd vote for having TULSA and the burbs be 918 and the rest of NE Oklahoma change area codes. Otherwise it throws off the "Don't hate the 918" T-shirts.
A better reason: less people would be effected by the change in this manner AND a long distance number would be more indicative of the likelihood of it being a long distance call from Tulsa. Not that long distance really matters anymore. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: sgrizzle on February 05, 2009, 09:18:29 am quote: That is what they did with the 405/580 conversion. OKC got to keep 405 and the rural areas had to change. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on February 05, 2009, 02:04:24 pm quote: Doesn't SBC..err at&t have toll alerting here? You know, forcing you to dial a leading 1 to make a long distance call? (and annoyingly, not putting the call through if you do dial a leading 1 and it's actually a local call) Overlays are generally better in that they eliminate the burden of remaking signs, business cards, and everything else that has telephone numbers on it. Don't get me wrong, I like 7 digit dialing, but I hate placing a monetary burden on businesses and individuals even more. With the overlay, nobody's number changes. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Conan71 on February 05, 2009, 03:15:14 pm quote: "If Jimmie's donkey ain't home, I don't know what the **** we're going to do, man. 'Cause I ain't got no other partners in 8-1-8." Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: swake on February 05, 2009, 04:24:20 pm I would also guess that an area code split would split the metro in half as the 918 region isn’t that large and the large majority of the population in 918 is in metro Tulsa. I would hate to have to figure out if a person or business is east or west of Yale Ave to know what area code to use. Cell phones would be a nightmare to figure out which area code they would be.
An overlay would be much easier on people. If someone has an existing phone number, it remains the same, if you get a new number; you get the new area code. Simple. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on February 05, 2009, 04:28:30 pm quote: You'd think that, but it's not very likely. Look what they did in Arkansas when they split 501 and 870. Maybe we could do the reverse somersault overlay with a twist they did with 321 and 407 in central florida.[xx(] Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on February 05, 2009, 06:02:21 pm quote: Sure, but a couple of years later they split the rural areas of 501 off into 870. Didn't make much sense to me. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: naenae42day on February 05, 2009, 07:15:25 pm quote: Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: joiei on February 05, 2009, 09:08:38 pm Here is how overlays work in Florida. (http://"http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=46") They now have 3 different regions with overlays.
quote:It really is not that big of a deal. Plus it is cost effective for the residents because they do not have to reprint all their forms, letter heads, advertisements, an on and on. How many pieces of stationary and such have your company's phone number? Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: cannon_fodder on February 06, 2009, 08:12:47 am Just looking at the area code map, it appears overlays are the are the minority. Particularly in areas where there is one major population center. I don't see any areas as large as the 918 that have an overlay.
It seems like the M.O. has been to standardize the area code around the largest population center and reassign the outlying areas. Basically draw a line around metro Tulsa and tell Bville, Miami, and Kansas, Oklahoma they have a new number. http://www.answering-services-phone-messaging.com/area_code_map.jpg I prefer this for two selfish reasons: 1) I get to get my same number and business cards. 2) It makes Tulsa appear like a large city. Most large cities have their own area codes, I want one too. and one practical reason: 3) Having to dial a ten digit number would be more indicative of long distance and/or location than an overlay. I know 405 is OKC, I know 580 is rural Oklahoma. With an overlay 918/921 (whatever) the number wouldn't give you any useful information. For those that curious, here is a full list of used and unused codes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NANP_area_codes Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: dbacks fan on February 06, 2009, 08:51:29 am Here is the area code split (http://"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code_602")that they did for Phoenix and Arizona. If you live in Phoenix you have to do ten digit dialing between 623, 602 and 480 with no long distance charges. I would suspect that they may give the Tulsa and the surrounding area 918 and give the NE part of the state a new area code. The impact would be less expensive to people due to the smaller population.
Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on February 06, 2009, 12:08:12 pm quote: New York, Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Charlotte, Chicago (at least the outlying areas that continued to expand), LA, San Francisco, Miami (Florida), Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Portland, Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta all have overlays. West Virginia's new area code is going to overlay the entire state rather than split. And an overlay means nobody has to replace business cards, signs, letterhead, or anything else. Can someone with an at&t phone (or a Cox phone for that matter!) do me a favor and try to dial a number in Bartlesville as a 10 digit call? If they're doing what they do in Arkansas, it'll tell you that you have to dial a one to call that number, thus letting you know it's long distance. I think splits are pretty dumb now that we can do overlays. http://www.lincmad.com/areacodemap.html All the area codes with a + after them have overlays. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: cannon_fodder on February 06, 2009, 12:53:11 pm Perhaps I wasn't clear.
What I was trying to say is that when there is a major population center in an area that needs to be split, generally the population center retains the area code without an overlay, and the outlying areas are reassigned. That's how you end up with most major metro areas having their own bubble of area code. Then, if the city continues to grow and need more numbers they put an overlay over the metro area. To put it another way, there are no overlays that cover 1/3rd of a state. They seem to avoid having large areas with overlays. Metro areas have overlays, larger areas get split (barring West Virginia apparently). See what I'm getting at? - - - Also, fwiw, when they do a split the old number works for more than a year. It says "redirecting to new area code XYZ" for a while, then it makes you hang up and redial with the new area code, then it says that number has been transferred to XYA area code and no longer works. It takes a very long time for numbers to just die. Still a pain in the neck, but not a killer (as long as it doesn't happen to me:). Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on February 06, 2009, 01:06:22 pm quote: That's mainly for historical reasons. Prior to 2000 or so, overlays were almost never done, as there were too many old mechanical central offices still in operation. That's how many of our largest cities ended up with a ring of area code splits around them. Even California, one of the most anti-overlay states has finally come around. Just FWIW, on the size issue, the 706 & 772 overlay in north/northeastern Georgia isn't much smaller than a 918 overlay would be. And the impending 541/458 overlay in the non-Portlandish areas of Oregon will be much, much larger by land area than a 918 overlay would be. If I were feeling a bit more industrious, I'd download the list of exchanges and rate centers in 918 and see how many there are outside of Tulsa and its immediate suburbs. I doubt there are all that many, thus making the utility of a split pretty minimal. An overlay is a far more efficient use of numbers. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: swake on February 06, 2009, 01:14:59 pm Then there is the cost to all the businesses that get their number changed. They will need things like PBX and phone systems reprogrammed, new signage, letterhead, and business cards. An overlay avoids all of that. No one changes their number, we just have to change our dialing habits.
Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Steve on February 06, 2009, 01:46:14 pm My own personal preferrence is a split, leave Tulsa, Sand Springs, BA, Owasso, Bixby & Jenks as 918, all other 918 areas get a new code. I will leave the ultimate solution to the authorities for whatever is the best, long-term solution. In any case, we will all get used to it after a minor adjustment period, and it was bound to happen sometime.
Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: joiei on February 06, 2009, 02:03:02 pm quote:And for some of us old habits die a very hard death and I am guilty of resisting change. But having been through this type of change once, it isn't as bad as you imagine. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Conan71 on February 06, 2009, 03:13:08 pm quote: I think all of Arkansas was 501 until about 15 to 20 years ago wasn't it? Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on February 06, 2009, 03:20:30 pm quote: 479 permissive dialing began 01/19/2002. 870 permissive dialing began 04/14/1997. I had the chronology backwards in my head. Good news for those wanting a split, though. The Tulsa metro only has 290 CO codes. While it's not very balanced, the slow growth rate of the outlying areas along with number pooling would make the split feasible from the standpoint of the new code having a while before exhaustion: quote: Unless there's more that people would generally consider 'tulsa and its immediate suburbs' Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: PonderInc on February 06, 2009, 03:58:11 pm So, just b/c every 12-year old in the metro area "needs" a cell phone, I have to dial 10 digits?
Can't we just implement some rule that people 25-years-old and younger have to get the new area code, and people 26 and older get to keep their 918 area code and 7-digit dialing? That way, you'd only have to dial 10 digits if you were calling a kid...which I would never have to do! Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: TeeDub on February 06, 2009, 04:22:26 pm There are two meetings in OKC at the Commission regarding this... They will both be held in Courtroom 301 at 9:30 a.m. on March 5th and April 2nd. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on February 06, 2009, 04:44:43 pm quote: Yell at the FCC. They're the ones who require intra area code 10 digit dialing when overlays are done. (some BS about customers favoring businesses with the customer's own area code) Nor do they allow overlays only for wireless phones. They had one like that in NYC that was grandfathered, but they started putting other things in that code a few years ago. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on February 07, 2009, 03:30:32 pm quote: I corrected myself yesterday. Regardless, that order of events is even more evidence for my position that splitting off rural areas isn't a good long term solution. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Red Arrow on February 08, 2009, 01:05:54 pm Even in my lifetime there were party lines, semi-private(2 party) lines and local calling was 4, not 7 digit. Maybe we need to do away with the term "area code" and just admit we need the capacity of 10 digits. Not my favorite idea but it may come to that. Who knows how long it will be until another group of digits will be added as we run out of 10 digit numbers.
Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Red Arrow on February 08, 2009, 10:16:38 pm quote: I don't call that many people on my cell phone. It is more trouble to learn to program it and then remember how to use the programming than to "dial" the digits. The plus side is that if my phone is "misplaced", I don't have to worry too much about the info on it. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Hoss on February 08, 2009, 11:01:37 pm quote: And, in actuality, if I have my current phone (Sony/Ericcson w580i) not programmed with someone's name with the full 10 digit number, regardless of if they are withing the local calling area, it won't display the name when they call me as in my phone address book; it just displays the number. So I store ALL my phone numbers with 10 digits (AT&T Wireless, but started out as Cingular). Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: cannon_fodder on February 09, 2009, 08:05:24 am quote: Dial number. Hit options/menu. Go to "save number." Enter in name. Hit save. There, you've learned how to program it. Welcome to the 1990's. [:P] Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Red Arrow on February 09, 2009, 12:35:29 pm quote: Turn phone on. Dial one of about 4 or 5 memorized numbers that I call with any frequency. Press Call. Complete conversation. Turn phone off. No menu, no muss, no fuss. I use my phone less than 15 min per month with a few exceptions. I have no desire to be in contact with the world 24/7. I realize some people think they are important enough to require 24/7 connection but I also realize I am not one of those persons. Leave a message on the land line at the house. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on February 09, 2009, 04:00:35 pm quote: Heh, half the hours I bill each month are spent talking to somebody on my cell phone. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Red Arrow on February 09, 2009, 07:46:20 pm With a few exceptions like when driving, I don't mind people chatting their time away. Some use a phone for a business tool. Also fine. It's just not me. Some people could be a little more courteous of people around them though.
Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Hoss on February 09, 2009, 09:55:02 pm quote: I don't mind people talking when driving as long as they are using a handsfree (bluetooth or some other form) when doing it. I try to NEVER use the phone when in my car. If I know it's going to have to be used, I'll pull over somewhere before answering or call back when I'm not in the car. I can't tell you how many times people have nearly hit me when I'm trying to make the exit from the westbound BA onto the northbound 169 ramp because they have a phone plastered to their ear. It oughta be outlawed unless it's a handsfree. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: joiei on February 09, 2009, 10:11:18 pm quote:I agree, we need a law. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Red Arrow on February 10, 2009, 12:13:19 am quote: You may remember from your pilot training that it is difficult to ignore ATC and fly the plane sometimes, and you were trained to do that. Most people on the phone in the car have no such training. If someone is in virtually no traffic etc, then I probably couldn't object too much. I've been around too many drivers that need to pay more attention to their driving. I can hear the cries about radio and other distractions. I have always been able to "tune out" the radio when traffic demands and resume listening when safe. I don't think I can say the same for cell phone users, handsfree or not. Edit: I should clarify that in order to ignore or unreasonably delay a response to ATC, you need to be in a situation involving the safety of the flight requiring your immediate attention to flying the plane. Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Hoss on February 10, 2009, 12:27:26 am quote: But, I tend to be more tolerant of those. And yes, I still remember 'aviate, navigate, communicate'. [:D] Title: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on February 10, 2009, 12:38:17 am quote: Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: patric on January 04, 2010, 12:50:34 pm So, it's decided:
10-digit dialing for everyone. http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=11748362 Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Steve on January 04, 2010, 01:00:42 pm So, it's decided: 10-digit dialing for everyone. http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=11748362 At least the decision has been made, after months of unnecessary delay. When the 405 area code was used up several years ago, they did a split, rather than an overlay. Why did they decide to go the overlay route with 918? Maybe because of urban vs. rural population and demand for communication services. In any event, we will adapt. Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: sgrizzle on January 04, 2010, 02:12:49 pm Seems odd to me you would do such a long transition period, and THEN open up new phone numbers. It would seem like opening up the new area code would help people adopt to 10 digit dialing easier.
Can I get a "Don't hate the 938" t-shirt now? Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Townsend on January 04, 2010, 02:20:20 pm Seems odd to me you would do such a long transition period, and THEN open up new phone numbers. It would seem like opening up the new area code would help people adopt to 10 digit dialing easier. Can I get a "Don't hate the 938" t-shirt now? It'll be like the digital turnover. After the transition period we'll hear "My tel-e-phone don't work no more and I want me some answers" on the local news. Anyone else already used to a 10 digit system with a cell-phone only house? Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on January 04, 2010, 02:25:24 pm Seems odd to me you would do such a long transition period, and THEN open up new phone numbers. It would seem like opening up the new area code would help people adopt to 10 digit dialing easier. Has the code been decided already? I hope not, that one is too close to the existing code for my taste. Makes for easy confusion.Can I get a "Don't hate the 938" t-shirt now? Personally, I've been doing 10 digit dialing exclusively for years, thanks to my cell phone. It'll do 7 digits when I'm on my home system (in 479), but I'm not there much anymore, so it's pretty much always 10 digits for me. Even when I had the landline, I'd still dial 10 digits with it. It's too much trouble to remember which phones I can dial 7 digits from and which require 10 digits. I can't even say I think of numbers much with 7 digits anymore. If someone asks me for my telephone number, it always includes the area code, regardless of whether I'm giving them one of my 479 numbers or my 918 number. I pretty much always say, "area code 10 digit number" Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Conan71 on January 04, 2010, 02:31:06 pm Has the code been decided already? I hope not, that one is too close to the existing code for my taste. Makes for easy confusion. Personally, I've been doing 10 digit dialing exclusively for years, thanks to my cell phone. It'll do 7 digits when I'm on my home system (in 479), but I'm not there much anymore, so it's pretty much always 10 digits for me. Even when I had the landline, I'd still dial 10 digits with it. It's too much trouble to remember which phones I can dial 7 digits from and which require 10 digits. I can't even say I think of numbers much with 7 digits anymore. If someone asks me for my telephone number, it always includes the area code, regardless of whether I'm giving them one of my 479 numbers or my 918 number. I pretty much always say, "area code 10 digit number" They said they will name the code at a later date, Grizzle was just throwing out a hypothetical number. I'm used to the whole 10 digit thing as well. Even when I prepare quotes for Tulsa companies, I put my area code in the sentence that says: "Feel free to call me at 918-555-1212..." Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: sgrizzle on January 04, 2010, 02:49:13 pm Has the code been decided already? I hope not, that one is too close to the existing code for my taste. Makes for easy confusion. Personally, I've been doing 10 digit dialing exclusively for years, thanks to my cell phone. It'll do 7 digits when I'm on my home system (in 479), but I'm not there much anymore, so it's pretty much always 10 digits for me. Even when I had the landline, I'd still dial 10 digits with it. It's too much trouble to remember which phones I can dial 7 digits from and which require 10 digits. I can't even say I think of numbers much with 7 digits anymore. If someone asks me for my telephone number, it always includes the area code, regardless of whether I'm giving them one of my 479 numbers or my 918 number. I pretty much always say, "area code 10 digit number" Nope, it hasn't been decided yet. Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: swake on January 04, 2010, 04:01:07 pm It'll be like the digital turnover. After the transition period we'll hear "My tel-e-phone don't work no more and I want me some answers" on the local news. Anyone else already used to a 10 digit system with a cell-phone only house? Everything has been 10 digits in my cell for years. Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: DolfanBob on January 04, 2010, 05:23:49 pm I just heard new customers will be assigned area code 539
Missed Jr Samples number by 1 digit. BR-549(Hee Haw) Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Conan71 on January 04, 2010, 10:21:28 pm I just heard new customers will be assigned area code 539 Missed Jr Samples number by 1 digit. BR-549(Hee Haw) 539? That's an ugly number combo. Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on January 04, 2010, 10:47:53 pm 539? That's an ugly number combo. It hasn't been decided yet, unless it just hasn't made it to the list on NANPA's website yet. (I just checked for myself)Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Hoss on January 04, 2010, 11:09:32 pm It hasn't been decided yet, unless it just hasn't made it to the list on NANPA's website yet. (I just checked for myself) the news is reporting it as 539 as NANPA has allegedly let the FCC know, but the final authority is the FCC I believe. Currently the 918 area code has 80 NXX's (prefixes) left. Not sure I'm a big fan of the overlay. I think a split would have made more sense as long as the 918 area code was kept for the Tulsa Local Calling Area, and all those outside given 539. But businesses hollered about having to make new letterhead or what have you. Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: patric on January 05, 2010, 12:37:30 am Has the code been decided already? The North American Numbering Plan Administration, which works with the Federal Communications Commission, announced that the new area code will be 539. The organization had estimated the 918 area would run out of telephone numbers sometime in the second quarter of 2012. On Aug. 7, a “permissive calling” period will begin and allow local calls to be completed with or without dialing the area code. By March 5, 2011, all callers will need to dial the area code in order to make local calls. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=12&articleid=20100104_46_0_Reside898056 Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on January 05, 2010, 12:39:16 am the news is reporting it as 539 as NANPA has allegedly let the FCC know, but the final authority is the FCC I believe. Currently the 918 area code has 80 NXX's (prefixes) left. Weird that it's not posted yet..Not sure I'm a big fan of the overlay. I think a split would have made more sense as long as the 918 area code was kept for the Tulsa Local Calling Area, and all those outside given 539. But businesses hollered about having to make new letterhead or what have you. Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: sgrizzle on January 05, 2010, 06:36:09 am Not sure I'm a big fan of the overlay. I think a split would have made more sense as long as the 918 area code was kept for the Tulsa Local Calling Area, and all those outside given 539. But businesses hollered about having to make new letterhead or what have you. Dana Murphy voted against it and wanted the split, said the elderly thought they should have to dial 10 whole number to reach the person across the street. Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: swake on January 05, 2010, 07:40:38 am 539? That's an ugly number combo. Don't whine about the 539 Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: sgrizzle on January 05, 2010, 08:03:50 am Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Hoss on January 05, 2010, 08:26:28 am Don't shine the 539 Funny..Six in the Morning did a piece on just that very subject this morning (regarding the 'Don't Hate the 918' tees and how to go about it with 539). Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Hoss on January 05, 2010, 08:27:02 am Don't whine about the 539 Like yours better....because I'm sure it will apply when all this starts. Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Conan71 on January 05, 2010, 08:36:02 am Or a T-shirt for very busty women that says: "539 you lookin' mighty fine"
Though I gotta say, Swake's slogan gets my vote for a well-timed reply. Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: RecycleMichael on January 05, 2010, 08:55:12 am feeling fine in 539
Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Nik on January 05, 2010, 11:05:39 am So I guess its official?
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=11748362 Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: nathanm on January 05, 2010, 12:11:50 pm NANPA have finally updated their site. 539 is officially Oklahoma's new area code.
Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: Townsend on January 05, 2010, 03:08:33 pm Well the words I can come up with for 539 are "JEW", "KEY", and "LEZ".
If you can make a T-shirt out of those, get-a-printin'. Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: RecycleMichael on January 05, 2010, 03:22:52 pm I was thinking LEX. The downtown exchange used to be LUTHER (58) and I thought the two words were good together.
Title: Re: 7-digit dialing may end Post by: sgrizzle on January 05, 2010, 10:32:41 pm Well the words I can come up with for 539 are "JEW", "KEY", and "LEZ". If you can make a T-shirt out of those, get-a-printin'. I'm pretty sure some shirts have been made already with 1 or 2 of those words on it. |