Spike in phone number demand could exhaust 405 area code in central Oklahoma | News OK (http://newsok.com/spike-in-phone-number-demand-could-exhaust-405-area-code-in-central-oklahoma/article/3758237#comment_thread)

"A surge in new telephone number requests could mean the 405 area code will exhaust its supply of numbers by 2016. The previous estimate said numbers would run out by 2020."

When this happens, would you rather have an overlay with area code 405? Or split it?

Somewhat discussed here already: http://www.okctalk.com/current-events-open-topic/33321-free-cellphone-program-exhausting-area-code-405-phone-numbers.html

They will likely just do an overlay. I think it is pretty rare for them to do splits anymore. The only thing is for people to get use to 10-digit dialing. Though with many on mobile phones now, they are use to it already.

405 has had two splits already. (When the original list of area codes came out in the 1940s, Oklahoma had only one; 918 was split off in 1953. You already know about 580.)

About the time 539 was overlaid over 918, I speculated that 405 would eventually get an overlay, which would be 572.

What is the difference between an overlay and a split?

Guessing, all new numbers would receive the new area code, and keeping existing numbers intact. And a split would be geographical, and people on one side of the line would receive new area codes/numbers?

What is the difference between an overlay and a split?

Guessing, all new numbers would receive the new area code, and keeping existing numbers intact. And a split would be geographical, and people on one side of the line would receive new area codes/numbers?

Exactly.

The only real difference for existing customers in an overlay is a change to 10-digit dialing instead of 7-digit.

If you're making a 405 to 405 number, you still have to use all 10 digits?

If you're making a 405 to 405 number, you still have to use all 10 digits?

Yes. That's how it is here. You always have to dial 918. Not hard at all though, and I got used to it faster than I thought I would.

If you're making a 405 to 405 number, you still have to use all 10 digits?

Yes, because that helps maintain a level playing field. Phone numbers under the new area code will be slow to come online, so they will be in the slim minority for a long time. If you only had to dial 10 digits when calling between area codes, having the new code would be a signifcant disadvantage. Similarly, service providers who were assigned prefixes under the new code would be at an unfair competitive disadvantage.

ZYX2, do you see a lot of 539 numbers up there, or are they still pretty rare?

I got a new phone number after the change to 539 and still got a 918 number. I have not yet seen a 539 number.

I'm still curious as to why Tulsa, a smaller MSA got 2 area codes before OKC??

I'm still curious as to why Tulsa, a smaller MSA got 2 area codes before OKC??

It wasn't just because of Tulsa. It was because of the entire 918 area code.

The 918 area code covers a much larger area geographically than 405, which is pretty much exclusive to the OKC Metro Area, Stillwater, and a few areas around Seminole.

You can get a 918 number as far west as Cushing and as far south as Talihina in LeFlore County.

If They think that They are going to take away my telephone number area code prefix, They need to know that they will have to pry my 405 out of my cold, dead fingers. (i know you are tired, 405 . . . nearly exhausted . . . yet . . . i promise what i just typed . . . unless they change you overnight . . . . =)

If They think that They are going to take away my telephone number area code prefix, They need to know that they will have to pry my 405 out of my cold, dead fingers. (i know you are tired, 405 . . . nearly exhausted . . . yet . . . i promise what i just typed . . . unless they change you overnight . . . . =)What? lol. . .

Your terms ... are acceptable.



P.S. Thanks for the new Edgar suit

If you're making a 405 to 405 number, you still have to use all 10 digits?


Yes. That's how it is here. You always have to dial 918. Not hard at all though, and I got used to it faster than I thought I would.


Yes, because that helps maintain a level playing field. Phone numbers under the new area code will be slow to come online, so they will be in the slim minority for a long time. If you only had to dial 10 digits when calling between area codes, having the new code would be a signifcant disadvantage. Similarly, service providers who were assigned prefixes under the new code would be at an unfair competitive disadvantage.

That is not true in every case though, it may depend on how much switching equipment you go through to the other number. Possibly a holdover from the calling numbers that use to be long distance in the same area code before many cell phones had long distance for the same rate as local calls.

You already have to do that today for some 405 to 405 calls. Call out to a remote area, say Holdenville, from OKC and you have to dial with 10 digits. As Snowman says, it depends on the switches the call travels through to get there. The lovely recording will tell you if you need to dial it or not.

But also keep in mind, these days, long distance is free with almost all cell phones, and I believe Cox does free long distance. So the old days of 10cents a minute calls to cross the area code line, aren't really there anymore.

Any word on where we are on this? Are there plans to add another area code? When do they expect the 405 area code to run out of numbers?

It will happen eventually, if it does they will either do a split of the region into two aread codes or do an overlay, my bet would be an overlay another area code on top of the existing 405 region

It will happen eventually, if it does they will either do a split of the region into two aread codes or do an overlay, my bet would be an overlay another area code on top of the existing 405 region

Yeah I can't see them splitting again. They'll just do an overlay and we'll go to ten-digit dialing like many areas already are.

Since 580 is nowhere close to exhausting its numbers, whats the likelihood that 405 is just trimmed back by a county or 2?

OKC is the first place I've lived where I didn't have to use 10 digit dialing since I was in middle school (I'm 34 now).

In Tulsa they simply did an overlay over the 918. I can imagine they would do the same thing here. I'm still getting used to not dialing 10-digits.

Since 580 is nowhere close to exhausting its numbers, whats the likelihood that 405 is just trimmed back by a county or 2?

The trend as been to just do overlays instead of modifying geographical boundaries it seems.

I read somewhere last year after this story came out that they have to make changes three years prior to running out and that the forecast as of that time was 2016 but that a study would have to be done to figure out if the numbers being consumed would maintain its burn rate. That story said they originally expected the numbers to run out in 2020 but that the lifeline programs were eating them up at a rate that could be as early as 2016. Well if the run out was going to be 2016 then 2013 would be the point where they would have to start the process of whatever they were going to do. I haven't heard anything since this story last year.

In Tulsa they simply did an overlay over the 918. I can imagine they would do the same thing here. I'm still getting used to not dialing 10-digits.

Hey! Things are looking up; unlike stinky ole Charlotte, you only have to dial seven numbers here!

Since 580 is nowhere close to exhausting its numbers, whats the likelihood that 405 is just trimmed back by a county or 2?

Pretty low, no one ever likes having their number change, there is a lot less push back to do an overlay. Besides the vast majority of numbers new or otherwise are in the metro, even if you clipped several of the exurbs then you are not buying much time for all the effort involved for that change.

I think the best way to slow it down is to give the lifeline companies x amount of numbers per year. Once they use them all, that's it they don't get anymore. That in itself will stop them from handing them out to anyone who wants one. The whole program needs to be re-tooled. I think a program screams it has problems when you see people selling them out of the backs of cars and in tents on street corners.

I wonder how much of an impact Google Talk and VOIP providers have on it. Of course Google is out of numbers in most cases now.

Where did you read it takes 3 years? Oklahoma Corporation Commission voted on the Tulsa overlay in January 2010 and it was active by April 2011.

The latest survey by NANPA shows an expected exhaust date of 3Q 2017. http://www.nanpa.com/pdf/NRUF/October_2013_NPA_Exhaust_Projections.pdf

I was told by US Cellular employees--probably 4 or 5 years ago--that OKC was going to be in a new area code within the year. I'm in my second contract with AT&T.

Does 10-digit dialing really present much of a problem anymore? We all have cell phones with these numbers stored (don't we all store numbers with 10-digits nowadays for when we travel?), and who remembers phone numbers anymore (my GF of two years misplaced her phone recently and panicked... what do I do, I don't know anyone's numbers, not yours, not my kids'). Also, many no longer have home phones and are cell-only. Don't remember when the last time I saw a physical yellow pages was, so when I look up a number it's on the net via my cell and I click the number (which includes the area code) and my phone dials it. Hard to think of many scenarios for most (I know there are still a few of you that are in the country and have land lines by necessity, not intending to be insensitive to that) where 10-digit dialing would be particularly problematic...

I don't see any issue with 10-digit dialing at all. I've done it before and like you said, anyone with a cell phone has the area code already stored anyways.

The last time I dialed a 7-digit number, it was from a land line...

Does 10-digit dialing really present much of a problem anymore? We all have cell phones with these numbers stored (don't we all store numbers with 10-digits nowadays for when we travel?), and who remembers phone numbers anymore (my GF of two years misplaced her phone recently and panicked... what do I do, I don't know anyone's numbers, not yours, not my kids'). Also, many no longer have home phones and are cell-only. Don't remember when the last time I saw a physical yellow pages was, so when I look up a number it's on the net via my cell and I click the number (which includes the area code) and my phone dials it. Hard to think of many scenarios for most (I know there are still a few of you that are in the country and have land lines by necessity, not intending to be insensitive to that) where 10-digit dialing would be particularly problematic...

This. I don't ever hand dial numbers unless I look something up on the internet and have to call someone. Everyone else I talk to is stored in my cell phone contacts. I guess I hand dial numbers at work too, but that requires a 10 digit number to dial out anyways so I don't really have a choice.

Haha buncha kids. I dial 7 digit numbers every day, and when dialing ten digit numbers I still do it manually more often than not, when I know the number, which I usually DO. And no, not dialing from a land line (except at the office). I haven't had a land line in nearly a decade. That said, it wouldn't bother me to switch to ten-digit.

:-P Hey now, I'm a "man", I'm 40 :-P



(if "man" and "big kid at heart" are equal)

I remember 40!

As mentioned here, this is really going to affect the land line folks. But that actually has a direct impact on all businesses. How many businesses out there do you know of that don't use a land line?

Now, the carriers can compensate for this if they want to. It's not like the old days where the intra-switching was physical and meant that there was a lot of crap going on behind the scenes to connect the area codes together. It's all electronic today, so there's very little going on....meaning there is little cost involved as well. So a carrier COULD simply say, hey we're not going to charge customers in 405 who call 580 and vice versa....or 918 to 580......imagine whatever split you want. There used to be packages that allowed customers (mostly was aimed at hose that lived near an area code's border) to purchase chunks of long distance calling at a lower rate. It was use it or lose it, but if you made at least that amount of calling a month, you saved a lot in your bill (back in the days when you had that lovely AT&T calling card you took with you around the country to make long distance calls...LOL.

That all being said, it also still really only affects those that their carriers even charge it. When I had Cox phone, I didn't pay for long distance. I have Vonage now and for sure don't pay for it. And if I was ever forced to, then out came the cell phone. So for MOST (not all), a cell phone will be the solution....just not in the business world.

If They think that They are going to take away my telephone number area code prefix, They need to know that they will have to pry my 405 out of my cold, dead fingers. (i know you are tired, 405 . . . nearly exhausted . . . yet . . . i promise what i just typed . . . unless they change you overnight . . . . =)

5827

Haha buncha kids. I dial 7 digit numbers every day, and when dialing ten digit numbers I still do it manually more often than not, when I know the number, which I usually DO. And no, not dialing from a land line (except at the office). I haven't had a land line in nearly a decade. That said, it wouldn't bother me to switch to ten-digit.

Not to mention that you could dial only 4 numbers in your cellphone and if it's a smartphone then it'll pull up that contact automatically and you can press it to fill in the whole number to dial it or you do an automated voice dial which is a prevalent feature of the iPhone, Android, or any hands-free feature on automobiles.

Why, when I was a kid, we had to walk to school, in the snow, uphill, both ways, and when we dialed numbers, we moved our fingers around the circular dial. None of this punching in the number and saying you dialed it. No sir. Bunch of do-nothings kids nowdays ask their so-called smart phone to call someone.

Now get offa my lawn!

Area codes are so 1900's. Sprint will let me get any area code I want up to 3 times every 30 days. They are now meaningless.

Change your area code on sprint.com (http://support.sprint.com/support/article/Change_your_area_code_on_sprintcom/f42ed4f2-f573-48b8-8be0-45714efa443f)

Why, when I was a kid, we had to walk to school, in the snow, uphill, both ways, and when we dialed numbers, we moved our fingers around the circular dial. None of this punching in the number and saying you dialed it. No sir. Bunch of do-nothings kids nowdays ask their so-called smart phone to call someone.

Now get offa my lawn!

Noob, most people old enough to have walked to school, in the snow, uphill, both ways didn't even individual numbers but party lines and had operators do their routing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CVbku6nxhU

I just checked the NANPA web site and they are now showing 2021, 4th Quarter for area code 405 to run out of numbers. I wonder how long in advance before we hear something about overlaying a new area code. That is just over two years.

was probably dumb to include all of central Oklahoma for one area code. They could have easily made 405 just the OKC metro area and put the rest of central into 580,

which is what I hope they do this time or drop 405 to JUST Oklahoma City or maybe Oklahoma City + County and the rest of Central Oklahoma a new code. I really hope they don't do an overlay for the same area. ...

was probably dumb to include all of central Oklahoma for one area code. They could have easily made 405 just the OKC metro area and put the rest of central into 580,

which is what I hope they do this time or drop 405 to JUST Oklahoma City or maybe Oklahoma City + County and the rest of Central Oklahoma a new code. I really hope they don't do an overlay for the same area. ...

The first time I remember hearing about 405's pending exhaust was back in December 2000. At the time, NANPA projected the exhaust to happen in the 4th quarter of 2002. From at least that time, though, the relief method chosen was an overlay. IIRC, the last split performed anywhere was in 2007 with the creation of area code 575 in New Mexico.

It looks like it is really going to happen this time. I am not sure why they are saying that we'll be saying goodbye to the 405 area code.

https://www.theadanews.com/news/local_news/area-code-nearing-exhaustion/article_a74a4ea9-6a5d-5b43-94de-32d72489e19a.html

I'm really surprised it took this long.

Of course, for two and a half decades I lived in a place with scores of area codes. I never lived and worked in the same area code in those 25 years.

Makes me want to go watch the Simpsons episode where they split the down with two different area codes... lol. classic

The overlay plan does sound like the best approach, or at least the approach with the least amount of disruption for current numbers. The article didn't exactly say this, but I assume the new 539 code is also using a similar overlay?

The overlay plan does sound like the best approach, or at least the approach with the least amount of disruption for current numbers. The article didn't exactly say this, but I assume the new 539 code is also using a similar overlay?

Yes. 539 covers the same area that 918 covers, so 10-digit dialing is mandatory in that area.

Many years ago, I found a website that listed all possible area codes with their status. That site had 539, 572, and 578 as "reserved for future use in Oklahoma". Since 539 obviously worked out, it would appear that either 572 or 578 will be the overlay code for 405.

I'm really surprised it took this long.

Of course, for two and a half decades I lived in a place with scores of area codes. I never lived and worked in the same area code in those 25 years.

I suspect it took so long because residential landline use has plummeted.

I suspect it took so long because residential landline use has plummeted.

Yes, but the cel phone explosion still needs an area code.

Anyone know how 918 got exhausted before 405?

Anyone know how 918 got exhausted before 405?

405 had better hydration and training techniques

Ive been through this process twice. Its really pretty easy except for the elderly. When l came back to OKC and DIDN'T have to enter an area code was the weird part.

Some one said that land lines are plummeting. Humm, I was thinking about dropping my cell phone and just keeping my home phone. Any pay phones around for people who don't have cell phones? Also are there people without home phones and cell phones? We did not have a phone when I was in high school.