Should I get a local area code? (cell phone)

Perpetual

I moved to California a couple of years ago, but kept my old number. Needless to say, I still have the old area code.

Question is, does this have any disadvantages as far as who I am able to call/receive calls from, or my cell phone bill?

I have AT&T.

Improvolone

I thought my area code my have worked against me trying to get a job, but I can't prove this.

MichaelLC

So your old number is for/in a different state?

While it shouldn't matter to anyone, as pretty much every plan (mobile or POTS) is national, I'd probably change it if you plan on staying in CA. The reason is that too many people in CA will likely get it wrong, since it's unexpected. I get enough trouble with my '773' number in the suburbs here (847/224).

Alternatively you can get a Google Voice number, and just give that out.

Tomanta

I haven't changed my cell# since I moved back to Texas from Illinois years ago. Charges for long distance are getting rarer, so that doesn't matter. I agree with Improvolone that it might impact job searches (but since I have a decent job now and if I change companies it will be elsewhere, that doesn't worry me now). I even have the confusing situation where my ph# area code is 309 and the area code here is 903, yet I have not had any problems as long as I make sure to point that out.

So I guess the question is, do you have a lot of people that know your current number? If so I'd probably just keep it and get a local Google voice number.

developerjoe

I kept my phone number and in my experience it is usually less of a hassle then starting over with a new one. I don't believe I've ever had a negative side effect related to it.

Khavall

Area codes are becoming an increasing nature of phone numbers. I have maybe 2 of 150+ numbers in my phone that are in my area code. Phone numbers are just becoming 10-digit affairs instead of 7-digit

Pure Din

Could you get a Google voice of the local area code to forward to your cell, and then keep your old phone number as well? I set that up to get a local area code number here, but I've never used it so I don't know if it actually works.

slackersupreme

I've only had one issue with a cell phone area code that didn't match that of my home: Comcast (at least I think it was Comcast; may have been another util) apparently routes customer service calls based off the caller's area code. It was pretty frustrating when I had to call about a bill and they kept saying they had no record of my account despite me reading the account number directly from the top of my bill. Took a while to realize the reason for the confusion.

Improvolone

Ah, right, and emergency numbers also ge routed based on area code. If you ever have to call 911 or something though the first thing you do is tell them where you are.

Perpetual

Improvolone wrote: »

Ah, right, and emergency numbers also ge routed based on area code. If you ever have to call 911 or something though the first thing you do is tell them where you are.

Thanks, I did not know that. I hope I never have to use this information, but it's good to know.

CrystalMethodist

Improvolone wrote: »

Ah, right, and emergency numbers also ge routed based on area code. If you ever have to call 911 or something though the first thing you do is tell them where you are.

Uh... I'm pretty sure that's a completely separate system that uses the cell towers to route your calls

Robman

Improvolone wrote: »

Ah, right, and emergency numbers also ge routed based on area code. If you ever have to call 911 or something though the first thing you do is tell them where you are.

What? No.

Besides, I have E911 so they get my GPS loc. when I dial.

I have a Hali number that I've kept for years, through Ottawa and now in BC. I mostly text people, and the $0.25/min takes a while to become significant with my very rare calling record.

Tomanta

CrystalMethodist wrote: »

Improvolone wrote: »

Ah, right, and emergency numbers also ge routed based on area code. If you ever have to call 911 or something though the first thing you do is tell them where you are.

Uh... I'm pretty sure that's a completely separate system that uses the cell towers to route your calls

Yes, this. It is still a great idea to start with what city/state you are calling from (because you don't know for sure where the call was routed) but it is definitely not based on area code.

Felix

There are probably some companies that you might call that route calls to local offices based on your area code. Also, this may not apply to you, but companies calling you with automated systems may call at an inappropriate time if your area code is in a different time zone than where you live.