Most people know how to dial the seven-digit number when making a call. You may need to dial the area code in certain areas for a successful call. It can seem like an extra step, making it confusing to many. Why is it necessary to dial the area code for some cell phone companies?
There are several reasons why this is the case. We can understand why cell phone carriers require us to dial the area code and how it affects our communication by looking at the reasons.
An area code is a combination of three numbers that can be used to identify a particular geographic area. Each area code in the United States represents a specific state, region, or city. Area codes are only sometimes used in all countries.
The first three digits of a number in Australia or New Zealand identify the exchange, similar to the area code in the U.S.
Nearly every US phone number has an area code. Because people travel more, it is necessary to distinguish between long-distance and local calls. Long-distance calls used to be charged at a higher price than local calls. However, local calls are sometimes cheaper than long-distance ones. Because most cell phone companies require you to dial the area code,
Cell phone companies may require you to dial the area code for various reasons.
This prevents you from paying long-distance fees. You might accidentally dial long-distance numbers if you’re in an area that allows you to make a local call. Most people need to realize this error because they intended to create a local phone call. Cell phone companies can prevent long-distance charges by asking for the area code.
This helps you distinguish between long-distance and local calls. It is essential to know the difference between local and long-distance calls.
This reduces the chance of fraud. Scammers use numbers that aren’t local to defraud people of their money. Cell phone companies can lower the possibility of fraud by asking for the area code.
There are many ways that the area code requirement can impact our lives.
It can be seen if we’re used to long-distance calling. If we are used to calling local numbers, we might accidentally dial a long-distance number. Most people will not notice long-distance charges and will be able to see the differences in their bills.
This can cause delays in our calling process. Calls may take longer because we need to dial the area code. This is incredibly frustrating when we are in a hurry.
It can be frustrating when traveling or calling family members in other places. We can only call them back if we call their numbers by dialing the area codes.
Although the area code requirement may seem confusing to many, it is easy to understand once you know why cell phone companies require that you dial the area code. It won’t take long for most people to get used to it. It’s important to dial the area codes when calling other countries while you travel.
