312 … No, that’s not right.
773 … Nope, not it either.
872. Perfect.
Wait, huh? 872? Yep. It’s Chicago’s newest area code and it might be coming to a phone near you starting in November.
It’s been almost 13 years since 773 went into service for Chicago’s north, western and southern neighborhoods and in July that area code reached “exhaust” status — meaning prefixes are starting to fill up.
But don’t panic about a perceived loss of status. Chicago residents will still be able to get a 312 or 773 number “for the foreseeable future” when signing up for new cell phone service or adding a residential line, Illinois Commerce Commission spokesman Brian Sterling said. But the 872 area code also will become available for those same purposes.
What else do you need to know?
EXTRA DIGITS: Starting Nov. 7, when the 872 area code goes into effect, all callers in the city will need to dial the full 11-digit number to complete any Chicago call. Right now, for example, a call from a 312 number to a 312 number goes through as a seven-digit number.
COST: Remains the same
FAMILY MATTERS: The addition of 872 brings the number of Chicago region area codes to 10: 312, 773, 872, 708, 630, 815, 847, 224, 779 and 331.
OVERLAY VS. SPLIT: There’s a big difference. An overlay means a new code is added to a geographic area with an existing code. This allows consumers to keep their current numbers, so the 872 area code is only for new numbers, such as a second residential line or new cell phone service. Three overlays already exist in Illinois: the 630/331 in the western suburbs, 847/224 in the north and northwest suburbs, and 815/779 for northern Illinois communities. The overlay prevents regulators from needing to split an area code, as they did for 708 in January and August 1996, and for 312 in October 1996. It was the split of the 312 area code that spurred the creation of 773.
