As San Antonio celebrates 'San Antonio Day,' on 2-10, the day that matches our area code, big changes are looming in how we use the phone in Bexar County, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Later this year, some San Antonians will begin celebrating 'San Antonio Day' in July, because next month the Public Utility Commission of Texas begins the process of adding the 7-2-6 area code to the region.
And, unlike back in 1989, when San Antonio was removed from the 5-1-2 area code, and later, when the region was divided again with the addition of 8-3-0, the new area code will not be based on geography.
Spokesman Terry Hadley says the 7-2-6 area code will be added to new phones which are acquired by local residents later this year, what's called an 'overlay.’
'"If you are getting a new number, getting new phone service, you have the option, beginning in October, of getting a 7-2-6 area code number," he said.
He says the explosion of mobile phones and other telephone related devices has led to a shortage of new numbers that can include 2-1-0. He says if you're wedded to the city's historic area code, you can ask to see if your phone provider has any available, from people, for example, who turn in old phones.
The addition of the 'overlay' means that, starting next month, local residents should start getting used to dialing ten digits to make local calls.
"It's a six month period where it’s not mandatory, but you will have that option of switching to the ten digit local dialing," he said.
Starting March 23, you will no longer get that annoying 'modem sound' in your phone if you dial 1-210- and then the local number.
Hadley says for most cell phone customers, it will simply be a matter of reprogramming the numbers for your contacts to include 1-210. But for people who have land lines and businesses which use PBX systems, it will take some getting used to, which is why the PUC is establishing the six month 'phase in.’
Then, starting in October, all local calls must include the area code, because the person next door may have 7-2-6 and you have 2-1-0, and the system needs to know which one you mean.
"Then we will have in the 2-1-0 what is called 'mandatory ten digit local dialing,' where you need to call the area code along with the local phone number," Hadley said.
This shouldn't be difficult for mobile phone customers. Many people who moved here from other places, for example, still have out city area codes on their phones, so many of us have numbers programmed already with the area codes.
But today is the final 'San Antonio Day' ever when 2-1-0 will be the city's only area code. Starting next year, 7-2-6 will be everywhere!
WOAI PHOTO