A New 669 Area Code Is Coming Soon to Santa Clara County

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., March 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents and businesses within the existing 408 area code should prepare now for the introduction of a new 669 area code later this year.

To ensure a continuing supply of new telephone numbers for the Santa Clara County area, the California Public Utilities Commission ordered an all-services overlay that will add a new 669 area code to the same geographic region as the existing 408 area code.

A six-month permissive-dialing period begins April 21. During this period, people calling any number in the 408 area code are encouraged to dial 1 plus the area code plus the seven-digit number when making all their calls.  After the permissive period ends on Oct. 20, callers must use the 1 plus the seven-digit number when making all calls.

Customers who request new service, add an additional line or, in some cases, move their service may be assigned a number in the new 669 area code, beginning Nov. 20.

Verizon has also ensured that its network recognizes and is able to seamlessly connect calls from customers of other telecommunications carriers that may issue numbers with the new 669 area code.

The most important facts that consumers and businesses need to know about the upcoming 669 area code overlay are:

• Their telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
• They will need to dial 1 plus the area code and seven-digit phone number for all calls. 
• What is a local call now will remain a local call. 
• The price of a call, the coverage area or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
• Consumers and businesses can still dial just three digits to reach 911 and 411.

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 friends, family, business associates and customers and others.

Customers should ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment or other types of equipment that are programmed with 10-digit telephone numbers recognize the new 669 area code as a valid code.  Some examples of these services and systems include life-safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, security gates, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call-forwarding settings, voice mail services and similar functions. 

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 www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/Telco/generalInfo/Area+Codes/408+Area+Code.htm or call 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966).

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.  

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SOURCE Verizon