Central Texas is about to get a second area code 737 to go along with its traditional 512 area code.Source:
Existing telephone customers will be able to keep their numbers, but as of June 2013, everyone would have to dial 10 digits to make a local call, according to a plan unveiled Wednesday by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
The change reflects Central Texas' fast-growing population and the explosion in multiple phones, particularly cellphones, for Austin-area households.
Only 7.92 million phone numbers can be assigned in any given area code, according to the utility commission, because prefixes beginning with zero or 1 are not used. Special numbers, such as 411 or 911, also are not used as area codes.
The 737 area code would be given to new customers, beginning in July 2013, just months before the last 512 numbers are expected to be assigned.
After that overlap period ends, a 512 number would only be available if a customer had relinquished a phone number and it was reassigned to someone else.
http://www.statesman.com/news/busine...e-737-1/nRnST/