The Brief
- Starting from June 10, the 564 area code will be introduced as an overlay for Seattle’s current 206 area code to increase the availability of new telephone numbers.
- Current telephone numbers will remain unchanged, and callers will still need to use 10 digits for every local call going forward.
- Customers who are signing up for new telephone lines or services within the 206 area might be assigned a 564 prefix upon activation.
SEATTLE
–
Starting June 10, the
564 area code
will be added as an overlay to the current 206 area, which encompasses a large part of the
Seattle metro area
.
The alteration, sanctioned by the
Washington
The Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is being put into place to guarantee an ongoing availability of telephone numbers within the area.
The 206 area code presently covers urban centers such as Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Burien, Shoreline, Mercer Island, Lake Forest Park, Vashon Island, White Center, along with portions of Des Moines.
Beneath the overlay system, the introduction of the 564 area code won’t lead to replacing current 206 telephone numbers. Rather, newly issued phone numbers within this zone might be allocated with the 564 prefix. Consequently, individuals applying for fresh services or another line after June 10th might find themselves being allotted a 564-numbered phone.
The 564 area code is not new to Washington. It was introduced in 2017 as an overlay for the 360 area code, which covers areas outside the Seattle metro region. Now, it will expand to include the geographic area served by 206.
What is an area code overlay?
Dig deeper
When implementing an area code overlay, a fresh area code is introduced into the same geographical location served by an existing area code. In contrast to a split, which may necessitate changing some of the pre-existing phone numbers, an overlay maintains these original numbers intact. Thus, individuals who currently have a 206 telephone number won’t face changes requiring them to switch their digits.
Because 10-digit dialing (area code + phone number) is already mandatory for local calls in the region, no changes to dialing habits will be necessary.
How will things be different with the addition of the 564 area code overlay?
What’s next
Starting from June 10, individuals getting a fresh number within the 206 zone might get allocated the 564 area code instead. Those who reside or operate businesses in this region ought to keep these points in mind:
-
Proceed with entering 10 digits for every local call, even when calling within the same area code.
-
Ensure all devices or systems utilizing saved phone numbers are configured to automatically dial 10-digit numbers. This encompasses fax machines, quick-dial features, security systems, call-forwarding configurations, address books, and various others.
-
Examine and revise elements showing your telephone number, such as business cards, websites, email sign-offs, ID badges, checks, and promotional content, ensuring all incorporate the complete 10-digit figure.
What aspects will remain unchanged with the introduction of the 564 area code overlay?
What won’t change
Your present telephone number along with your area code won’t be altered. Additionally, the price of calls, service regions, and all features will stay unchanged.
Calls staying within the local area persist, even when made between 206 and 564 prefixes.
Calling 911, 988, along with various other three-digit service numbers like 211 or 311, will remain unaffected.
Is Seattle facing a shortage of available 206 telephone numbers?
Why you should care
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator forecasts that the 206 area code will exhaust all available phone numbers by the close of 2025.
The UTC sanctioned the overlay to ready itself for escalating demand, a result of population expansion and an upsurge in the quantity of mobile devices.
Although the
UTC
Initially expected to require an additional area code around the year 2000, conservation efforts postponed this necessity. In 2017, the 564 area code was introduced as an overlay for the 360 region. Now, expanding into the 206 zone represents the subsequent step in addressing telephone number allocation across the state.
The Source
The data in this narrative is sourced from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC).
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