PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Phone users in the Delaware Valley will need to get used to starting their phone calls by dialing three new digits.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission said that they will assign the new 835 area code in the same area of southeastern Pennsylvania which currently uses the 610 and 484 codes.
That area includes Chester County, Delaware County, and a part of Montgomery County, along with Berks, Lehigh and Northampton Counties.
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator said that by early 2023, all available phone numbers in the 484 and 610 area codes will be taken up, which leads to the need for a new area code.
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The PUC says that no 835 numbers will be assigned until all numbers using 610 and 484 will be exhausted.
Callers who live in that area already must dial 10-digit numbers, as they have since 1999, so there will be no changes to how people dial their phones.
However, the PUC suggests following these tips when the 835 area code is implemented:
- Check devices to verify that area codes are included with all stored numbers.
- Continue to program/save/store phone numbers to all devices using the full 10-digit telephone number.
- Verify that all services and equipment – such as automatic dialers, life-safety & medical alert systems, alarm/security systems and security gates, call-forwarding settings, and voicemail services – recognize the new area code as a valid phone number.
