Technically, you do still need just the seven numbers if you’re calling locally. The phone system will just assume you’re calling the local area code if you don’t dial one. In my area, it’s pretty easy because the only people who don’t have the local area code (there’s only one even though it’s far from a rural area) are people who moved here and never changed their number.
Where I live now, area codes have been subdivided several times, then they went to overlays because there are just too many numbers. There are several area codes your neighbors might be, even if they have a local number.
I’m trying to always keep mine because a good 20 years ago they stopped giving it out altogether, so now it’s “rare”
Technically, you do still need just the seven numbers if you’re calling locally. The phone system will just assume you’re calling the local area code if you don’t dial one. In my area, it’s pretty easy because the only people who don’t have the local area code (there’s only one even though it’s far from a rural area) are people who moved here and never changed their number.
Where I live now, area codes have been subdivided several times, then they went to overlays because there are just too many numbers. There are several area codes your neighbors might be, even if they have a local number.
I’m trying to always keep mine because a good 20 years ago they stopped giving it out altogether, so now it’s “rare”