why do I have to dial the area code if the call is local
Moderators: Bill Smith, Pilot
why do I have to dial the area code if the call is local
Not a big deal for 20 bucks a year, but it is kinda weird I have to dial area codes for local calls , is there a fix for this ?
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maine-iac
- Dan isn't smart enough to hire me
- Posts: 347
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:41 am
- Location: GA
The fix is to use the search function here. This has been discussed numerous times.
10 digit dialing is the way things are going now. Most cell phone services, other VOIP services, and some metropolitan areas with POTS use 10 digit dialing because everyone and their dog has at least one phone number for something and in some cases there is more than one area code in one city, Atlanta for one example.
10 digit dialing is the way things are going now. Most cell phone services, other VOIP services, and some metropolitan areas with POTS use 10 digit dialing because everyone and their dog has at least one phone number for something and in some cases there is more than one area code in one city, Atlanta for one example.
I think I might be able to help with this one:
some friends and I have discussed the most likely call routing plans that MJ uses to get cheap rates, and here's what we've come up with, and this will explain why you need to dial the area code:
MJ has several (not sure how many, but a large amount most likely) proxy servers across the US, and probably some in Canada.
When a call goes from an MJ to a land line, the proxy server handling the first hop (the one that your MJ is connected to) decides the cheapest way to get the call from there to the destination phone number. talk4free maintains a list of rates for each proxy server to each area code and exchange, and will choose the lowest rate to that exchange, and connect your call to that proxy server.
So while you may physically be in the 567 area code, you may actually be connecting to a server in the 568 area code (this can be because the majority of your calls are to that area code, or they don't have a server in the 567 area code, they're load balancing calls, etc.). Your MJ doesn't have to connect to the same server each time, and while they do know the area code of your account, it makes the system much quicker at routing the calls, and could essentially operate without the provisioning/administration servers.
Also, as a more likely reason: The counrty is running out of phone numbers, and the FCC has been toying with the notion of mandating 10 digit dialing anyway. And while they may already, your local phone company is probably adding the area code to 7 digit numbers anway. For those phone companies that have the capability of using 7 digit dialing, making a smooth switch over to 10 digit dialing, would make for an easier conversion over to a forced 10 digit dialing system. This would also allow for more exchanges, say if the FCC wanted to start using the current area codes as part of the exchange, and create a new set of area codes. If they made the current area code part of the exchange, and adding a new 3 digit area code and made the numbers 13 digits long, your capacity would go from a possible 10 billion numbers to 10 trillion numbers (or something like that). But that wouldn't be possible if phone companies were still allowing 7 digit dialing.
Maybe that shed some insight?
-Some
some friends and I have discussed the most likely call routing plans that MJ uses to get cheap rates, and here's what we've come up with, and this will explain why you need to dial the area code:
MJ has several (not sure how many, but a large amount most likely) proxy servers across the US, and probably some in Canada.
When a call goes from an MJ to a land line, the proxy server handling the first hop (the one that your MJ is connected to) decides the cheapest way to get the call from there to the destination phone number. talk4free maintains a list of rates for each proxy server to each area code and exchange, and will choose the lowest rate to that exchange, and connect your call to that proxy server.
So while you may physically be in the 567 area code, you may actually be connecting to a server in the 568 area code (this can be because the majority of your calls are to that area code, or they don't have a server in the 567 area code, they're load balancing calls, etc.). Your MJ doesn't have to connect to the same server each time, and while they do know the area code of your account, it makes the system much quicker at routing the calls, and could essentially operate without the provisioning/administration servers.
Also, as a more likely reason: The counrty is running out of phone numbers, and the FCC has been toying with the notion of mandating 10 digit dialing anyway. And while they may already, your local phone company is probably adding the area code to 7 digit numbers anway. For those phone companies that have the capability of using 7 digit dialing, making a smooth switch over to 10 digit dialing, would make for an easier conversion over to a forced 10 digit dialing system. This would also allow for more exchanges, say if the FCC wanted to start using the current area codes as part of the exchange, and create a new set of area codes. If they made the current area code part of the exchange, and adding a new 3 digit area code and made the numbers 13 digits long, your capacity would go from a possible 10 billion numbers to 10 trillion numbers (or something like that). But that wouldn't be possible if phone companies were still allowing 7 digit dialing.
Maybe that shed some insight?
-Some
The FCC has mandated 10 or 11 digit dialing in all areas with 'overlay' area codes (where two area codes serve the same geographic region). For example, Manhattan has both the traditional 212 code and a newer 646 code. Now, if you need a New York number, you can't currently get a new 212 number from MJ; they have run out and you have to settle for a 646. Verizon, on the other hand, has lots of 212 numbers available. With 7 digit dialing, this might mean that if you got a Verizon line, your buddies in 212 could dial you with only 7 digits, but if you got an MJ line (in 646), they would need to dial 10. This would give (in the eyes of the FCC) an unfair competitive advantage to Verizon, so they have demanded that Verizon (and all other New York carriers) require that all customers dial 10 digits.
Since more and more areas are getting these overlay codes, the FCC now feels that it's sensible to require 10 digits everywhere; otherwise it will be confusing to people who travel from one area to another. Within the next year, the rule will probably be implemented nationwide.
Since more and more areas are getting these overlay codes, the FCC now feels that it's sensible to require 10 digits everywhere; otherwise it will be confusing to people who travel from one area to another. Within the next year, the rule will probably be implemented nationwide.