New 667 Area Code Coming Soon to the Eastern Maryland Region

BALTIMORE, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents and businesses within the existing 410 and 443 area codes serving the eastern Maryland region should prepare for the introduction of a new area code.

Beginning Saturday (March 24), customers who request new service, add an additional line or, in some cases, move their service, may be assigned a number in the new 667 area code.

To ensure a continuing supply of new telephone numbers for the state, the Maryland Public Service Commission ordered 667 to be a new area code "overlay" covering the same geographic area that the 410 and 443 area codes serve.

Numbers currently in the 410 and 443 area codes will not change, and a local call will remain a local call.  The new 667 area code will not be assigned until all phone numbers within the existing area codes have been depleted.

"Since more people than ever before are using cellular phones, fax machines, computer modems and other telecommunications devices, we soon will use up all of the telephone numbers in the 410 and 443 area codes," said Karen I. Campbell, Verizon's vice president of government affairs – Mid-Atlantic region.  "So a new area code will be added in Maryland."

Campbell said Verizon has ensured that its network will recognize and will be able to seamlessly connect calls from customers of other telecommunications carriers that may issue numbers with the new 667 area code.

The most important facts that residence and business customers need to know about the upcoming 667 area code overlay are:

• Their telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
• They will continue to dial the area code plus the seven-digit telephone number for all local calls and a 1 plus the area code and seven-digit telephone number for all long-distance calls. 
• Calls between the 667, 410 and 443 area codes that are now local calls will remain so.
• The price of a call, the coverage area and other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
• Consumers and businesses will still dial just three digits to reach 911.
• If 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 or 811 are currently available in a particular community, consumers and businesses will still dial these codes with just three digits.

Verizon subscribers should continue to identify their telephone number as a 10-digit number (area code plus seven-digit telephone number), and include the area code when giving the number to their family, friends, business associates, customers and others.

To further assist in the transition, Verizon is urging customers to ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment and other types of equipment that are programmed with 1 plus 10-digit telephone numbers recognize the new 667 area code as a valid area code. 

Some examples are life-safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, security gates, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call-forwarding settings and voice mail services.  Business owners and others should check their business stationery, advertising materials, personal checks and personal or pet ID tags to ensure the area code is included in their telephone number.  

For more information, visit http://www22.verizon.com/multimedia/areacodes/maryland/maryland.aspx or call 1-800-VERIZON (837-4966).

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with nearly 108 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 194,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news.  To receive news releases by email, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon

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