When using a land line phone, why does it matter that you put in the area code?

actuallay metro areas served by multiple area codes are required to dial the 10 digit phone number for a local call now.. in NYC served by 212 (manhattan) 718(brooklyn, staten island, bronx, queens), 917 (cell), 347 (cell, voip, manhattan land line), 646 (cell) when i dial within the same areacode i do not dial the 1 first, it prevents accidental longdistance.. (calling 716 instead of 718) only works with landlines tho, cause cells dont ever care if you put the 1 or not.. your call should be able to go thru if you dialed the whole number, but back in the day thats how it was, if you were within an areacode you were to only dial the 7 digit number.. it would depend upon how the calls from that specific local carrier are handled at the central office's switch...

it depends how local phone company sets up dialing rules. sometimes you dont have to dial anything, but some times you have to dial area code, and sometimes 1 in front.

..its like somebody who lives in the same house has to go out and knock the door just to talk to any other people in the same house .

Joe and Doneit are right it all has to do with how a call is routed in the central office. Uselly most are set up to reconize that it a local number and it will automatically drop the area code and route the call. Just sounds like someone doesn't want to add that programin or they were told not to. We just had to change it were I work we had it set up were you could do 4 digit dialing but just recently had to change it to 7 digit dialing, cause the higer ups said so. All the digits do is just tell the Central Office were to rooute the call, first number is usually a certain geographic area, the next is the prefix( this Number routes it to a specifc central office) the next set routes it to the customer. Check out this site it breaks it down to the prefix and tells you what numbers are assigned to what telephone company. www.nanpa.com

That's a good question, you would think that the call would just go through. But it must happen to you a lot from what it sounds like. I guess you'll have to ask from now on!

In some places, you can (or even have to) enter the area code prior to making even a local call. It really depends on the software used by the telephone system. It certainly could be configured as you suggest.

it is due to the telephone switch at the central office for your area. It will not route out then back a call. probably a older technology set.