WINNIPEG, MB - July 26, 2012 - The City of Winnipeg is reminding citizens that starting Sunday, July 29, 2012, all City phone numbers will require an area code to be dialed in addition to the regular seven-digit number.
On July 29, telecommunications providers will begin including broadcast messaging on every phone call made when an area code is not dialed. If no area code is used, the caller will hear a reminder message before the call is connected. After October 20, phone calls made without the area code will not be connected.
Two City numbers that will not require an area code to be dialed are 9-1-1 (ambulance, fire and police emergencies) and 3-1-1 (City services). These numbers are not affected by the move to 10-digit dialing.
In anticipation of the move to 10-digit dialing, the City has updated all public facing electronic and print information, as well as all City communications devices such as fax machines and cellular phones.
Citizens are reminded to update all pre-programmed or auto-dialing alarm systems, to the new 10-digit format. For more information on updating such systems to accommodate 10-digit dialing, citizens should contact their service providers.
The move to 10-digit dialing is a result of the decision by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission to assign Manitoba an additional area code. The new area code 431 will be gradually introduced starting November 3, 2012, and will co-exist with area code 204.
For more information on Manitoba’s new area code, visit: http://www.dial10.ca/en-CA/