True, but 905 isn't technically the Toronto area. It's the places outside of the city, including Brampton, Mississauga, Vaughan et. al. The new 942 is meant for Toronto, although I'm sure you can get it even if you live outside the city. 

Radiowiz wrote:

This is total BS!!! Why is it, dialing 416 by mistake, instead of 647 OFTEN leads to "number not in service", before even getting to 437?  
It's good to know that the former TTC timeline exchange (539 plus 4 digits) is now going to better use as fax numbers...but there are still tons of those 4 digit combinations not in service currently. 

416 should be revisited before introducing a new area code. 
 

I feel they'd rather free up a range of 100,000 numbers instead of chunks of 10,000 here and there by activating those open numbers within 416. And as mentioned, once the number is stored in your phone, it becomes a non-issue. Very few people still have a landline phone that requires manual dialing.

RadioActive wrote:

True, but 905 isn't technically the Toronto area. It's the places outside of the city, including Brampton, Mississauga, Vaughan et. al. The new 942 is meant for Toronto, although I'm sure you can get it even if you live outside the city. 

All those areas were 416 at one time. The 416/905 split was what delineated Toronto from the GTA. 905 has also been split a few times itself.

Last edited by Binson Echorec (April 22, 2025 12:15 pm)

Binson Echorec wrote:

Radiowiz wrote:

This is total BS!!! Why is it, dialing 416 by mistake, instead of 647 OFTEN leads to "number not in service", before even getting to 437?  
It's good to know that the former TTC timeline exchange (539 plus 4 digits) is now going to better use as fax numbers...but there are still tons of those 4 digit combinations not in service currently. 

416 should be revisited before introducing a new area code. 
 

I feel they'd rather free up a range of 100,000 numbers instead of chunks of 10,000 here and there by activating those open numbers within 416. And as mentioned, once the number is stored in your phone, it becomes a non-issue. Very few people still have a landline phone that requires manual dialing.

RadioActive wrote:

True, but 905 isn't technically the Toronto area. It's the places outside of the city, including Brampton, Mississauga, Vaughan et. al. The new 942 is meant for Toronto, although I'm sure you can get it even if you live outside the city. 

All those areas were 416 at one time. The 416/905 split was what delineated Toronto from the GTA. 905 has also been split a few times itself.

Yep.

Also, it’s best practice to “rest” numbers for a while in between assignments to clear listings, wrong numbers, etc.

torontostan wrote:

eladb wrote:

I don't know even one person with a 437 area code. They've already run out of those?

Binson Echorec wrote:

All those areas were 416 at one time. The 416/905 split was what delineated Toronto from the GTA. 905 has also been split a few times itself.

That is correct. I live in Vaughan. My home phone's area code is 905 now, but was originally a 416 area code. 905 has been split with 289 and I believe 365 as well. 

A lot of non-callable cell network devices (tablets, connected cars....) also require a number 

Now there's a good strong point. Too many sources needing a number today. 
However, there are still too many numbers available for use.
I do agree with a comment above that 100,000 numbers are needed immediately, vs ten thousand, however, that still does not explain why one can not have a 416 number if they request it.
(especially a specific number if it is available for use) 

 

torontostan wrote:

Radiowiz wrote:

Now there's a good strong point. Too many sources needing a number today. 
However, there are still too many numbers available for use.
I do agree with a comment above that 100,000 numbers are needed immediately, vs ten thousand, however, that still does not explain why one can not have a 416 number if they request it.
(especially a specific number if it is available for use) 

 

A lot of numbers are not available intentionally. If you give up a number, especially post-paid, it is quarantined for months. 416 infrastructure is also much older, so for instance many 416 exchanges are specific to particular buildings, areas, businesses, etc. 416-203 is for the Canadian Forces at Fort York, 416-205 for CBC, 416-341 for SkyDome, 416-808 for Police, and so on... many many more examples of where whole 10,000 number exchanges can't be used because of their intended purpose from the start. Much easier to start a new area code than fix this. 

416 870 and 872 are also intend to be reserved for radio stations and ticketmaster.
Good point, but I am not aware of any 647 numbers...unless a request was made to keep the 647 alternate to any of the above 416 exchanges open or restricted to fax numbers to best avoid people dialing a wrong number... 

I don't program every restaurant and every business into my Smart phone, so I wish people would stop saying that nobody dials a number anymore. 
I also much prefer to use #31# before the number I am dialing sometimes, which can only be done manually, and not preprogrammed.
If you press the preprogrammed number, your name and number comes up on their end.
(#31# is the new *67, blocking my name and number)

I'm sure they're in the extreme minority, but I know of two people who don't own a smart phone. One has a flip phone for texts and (horror of horrors!) to make phone calls, but no Internet. He works from home, so always has his computer nearby if he wants to jump on the web. 

I'll give him this - his bill with Telus is only $100 for the entire year, something I'm betting most of us could never say. 

The other is too similar to me - he hates Bell & Rogers, and won't give them his business. And he doesn't care much for Telus, either. So no cell phone at all, smart or otherwise. And believe it or not, he's perfectly happy. 

My point is that while exceedingly rare (and I'm sure what will be the object of extreme derision and/or pity here) he's one of the few with a landline and nothing else. Yet somehow his life goes on as normal. For whatever that's worth. I've asked him repeatedly about this and he says he doesn't want one and he's absolutely fine with his decision. Not sure I could do that, but I have to respect his resolve, especially in this day and age. 

Jeeez.. I remember when 10 digit dialing raised it's ugly head.. what a pain!!! LOL

This story outlines the history of Ontario's area codes and how we got to this ever-expanding point. I'd completely forgotten about 289, which is yet another local three digits in the 905 area. 

RadioActive wrote:

This story outlines the history of Ontario's area codes and how we got to this ever-expanding point. I'd completely forgotten about 289, which is yet another local three digits in the 905 area. 

"Special numbers such as 211, 311, 411, 611, 911 and 988 will still be dialed using only three digits"

For the exceptions,
They forgot to include any 310 number. (often used for businesses)
310 does not require dialing an area code and it is a 7 digit number. 310 plus 4 more digits.

Easily Amused wrote:

Does that mean the 'Prince of Love's' Dial-a-Date is getting a new number? 🤔

900 is still restricted, but thanks for reminding me of another example of an exchange that is reserved.
1-416-976 (and 4 digits) is restricted to extra billing services, with rates set by the business that put the number out there.
 

There is now an area code in northern Ontario of 249. It may be related to cell phone only, but I don't know for sure. My brother got a phone service via Eastlink last month with the 249 area code, and I have seen it on some commercial vehicles also. I heard yesterday, CBC Radio in Sudbury's Talk Back number is also a 249 area code. 

Last edited by mic'em (April 24, 2025 6:45 am)

mace wrote:

624 was assigned to the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area in 2023.

They should put a "25" in front of that. Then it would be "25 or 6-24" - and award it to Chicago!