Update: Wireless service switches to 585

n November of last year a new 585 area code for Rochester and the surrounding areas was issued. The new area code is used for all telephone services, including cellular phones and pagers.

For wireless service, the switchover will occur in two phases: "permissive dialing phase" through November 14, 2004, and "mandatory dialing phase" that begins November 15, 2004. During the initial permissive phase, numbers previously served by the 716 area code can be reached by dialing 585 or 716.

Listed below are changeover details for approved wireless service providers.

• New Cingular Wireless customers who activated service on or after November 15, 2001, will continue to receive the 716 area code. After November 14, 2004, all Cingular wireless phone numbers will change to the new area code.

• For Sprint PCS customers, all new customers who activated service on or after November 15, 2001, will receive mobile numbers with the new 585 area code. All existing 716 mobile numbers for Sprint PCS customers will convert to the new 585 area code by August 15, 2002. Customers will be notified in advance of the exact date.

• For Verizon customers, conversion to 585 will begin after November 14, 2004. However all new accounts activated on or after November 15, 2001, will receive the 585 area code, and customers who request hardware upgrades will also be required to convert to 585.

Both Cingular Wireless and Sprint PCS expect to be able to remotely program all digital phones with the new area code. Customers with analog equipment will be required to visit a service location either at the University or at a local provider's location to conduct the changeover to 585.

For more details on the area code change and effects on cellular service, call the ITS call center at x5-2000, the telecommunications help desk at x4-4357, or e-mail its.telecomhelp@rochester.edu.

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