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Uploaded: Friday, October 19, 2012, 10:30 AM
Change in 408 area code begins Saturday
South Bay residents will have to dial area codes for local calls
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The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is reminding South Bay residents that they will have to dial area codes for local calls beginning Saturday, Oct. 20.
The change will affect residents of Santa Clara County and parts of Alameda and Santa Cruz counties in the 408 area code, and is occurring because a new 669 area code is being added to the region. CPUC spokesman Christopher Chow said that if the South Bay did not add another area code, the region would run out of new numbers by January.
"People are gobbling up numbers," Chow said.
To address the problem, the CPUC had two options: cut the geographic 408 area into two parts, forcing some residents to switch area codes, or assign the 669 area code to new numbers, meaning both area codes would exist in the same geographic area. The agency chose the latter option.
The downside is that all residents in the 408 region will now have to dial a "1" then the area code to make local calls. Those using cell phones won't have to dial the "1". Phone companies will still charge the calls as local calls, Chow said.
The 408 area code has existed since 1959, according to the CPUC. Prior to that, the South Bay was part of the 415 area code until the region was split up because of growing demand for numbers, CPUC officials said. The decision to add the 669 area code was made by the CPUC in October 2011.— Bay City News Service Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Nayeli, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Oct 20, 2012 at 9:15 am I still don't understand the need for this. If your number is "tied" to your area code, then it shouldn't make a difference whether or not you include an area code.
However, it seems that many people might inadvertently dial a "long distance" number that they don't know is long distance (because it is nearby and under the same area code).
The phone companies will be happy about this extra source of "inadvertent" income.
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Posted by tin foil hat, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Oct 21, 2012 at 9:06 am prep for a new area code, 669, in November, iirc
same thing happened here a few decades ago, when 650 split off from 415
any one who doesn't use full area codes when they enter numbers in their cell is foolish, it won't function from another area code when u travel
or maybe its a vast liberal conspiracy
your choice.
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Posted by Crescent Park Dad, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Oct 22, 2012 at 6:06 am The difference this time is that the new 669 area code is an overlay in the 408 area code. Whereas before the 650 code breakout was a discrete geographical split.
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Posted by Resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Oct 22, 2012 at 7:33 am Can't see why people are complaining. It would have been a much worse scenario if it had been a geographic split and half the area had to change their area code. Changing phone numbers is much harder as not only do people have to inform all contacts, but printing of all stationary, business cards, makes it an expensive change.
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Posted by mo tin foil, a resident of another community, on Oct 22, 2012 at 4:37 pm yo, Nay Nay, now that some peeps have looked up the 411 for you, you think it's still a phone co vast conspiracy to get you on prices?
or yo just still "inadvertent"
thx to da peeps for the info
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Posted by Jan H., a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Oct 22, 2012 at 7:08 pm It isn't a big deal. I have been through it twice, once in the East Bay and once here. Neither time did any extra charges apply. It was explained then that it was simply a case of too many people and not enough numbers.
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Posted by No change, a resident of Stanford, on Oct 23, 2012 at 11:43 am This is different Jan. Previously area codes were split by defined region--this an overlay. Even if you have a 408 code and wantto dial another 408 number you will have to dial the 11 digits, for example
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