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Published on 07/28/1997 All articles from this issue

New 650 area code starting in Los Altos area beginning Saturday

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Town Crier Staff Report

Get ready to order new stationery and new business cards because the phone company is changing your 415 area code to 650 beginning this Saturday.

While you're at it, prepare to reprogram cellular phones, fax machines and the modem on the computer.

The new 650 area code will include all phone lines from South San Francisco through the Peninsula to Los Altos and Mountain View.

The change will affect 2.5 million telephone numbers.

Phones in the 415 area code affected will gradually change over a six-month period. Callers can continue to use the 415 area code, but the phone company prefers using the 650 number immediately.

At the end of the six-month changeover, when you dial area code 415, a recording will remind you of the area code change and the need to make a note of it.

The new area code is necessary because of increased use of cellular phones and fax machines.

More than 200 prefixes on the Peninsula will be affected by the change.

In the past three years, 1,333 new telephone prefixes have been created in California and another 1,700 are expected to be added this year.

According to Pacific Telephone (now SBC Communications), three new area codes will be added in Northern California.

By the end of the year, Sacramento will receive a new area code when the 510 area code splits, and the San Jose area code 408 will split next year.

Some of the local Los Altos and Mountain View prefix numbers using area code 650 instead of 415 are: 857, 917, 940, 941, 948, 949, 960, 961, 964, 965, 966, 967 and 985.

Those in Los Altos with a 408 area code will remain in that area code, according to Pacific Telephone officials.