Is Hamilton the only area code available for 905ers ?

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 06, 2005 Posts: 2

Just installed Vonage (ontario) and setup a virtual line to talk to relatives in the UK and have found a (quite) major issue.

Although this service will cut my phone bills substantially - it looks as though my friends will have to add 1 to my Vonage number as it is tied to Hamilton and I live in Newmarket. I called Vonage and was piped through to the US and informed that by default Hamilton is the only number available for 905ers.

Are there any plans to add any local exchanges and will Vonage allow us to change phone number if (and when) that happens.

Does anybody know ?

Thanks in advance

Mick

Posts: 336

mickboyle wrote:

Are there any plans to add any local exchanges and will Vonage allow us to change phone number if (and when) that happens.

I had a friend who lives in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia's area code is 902. The only city available is Halifax for that area code. Prince Edward Island also shares area code 902, but there are no exchanges available at all for PEI. My friend lives in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and cannot get a local exchange to her community. She called Vonage last week, and was told that eventually they will add more cities to the area codes, but they have no idea as to when that will happen. She held off on getting the service until her area is on the list.

I live in Gatineau, Quebec, but have an Ottawa number because the 819 area code only offers service to Sherbrooke, not Gatineau. Gatineau has 72,000 people, while Ottawa has close to a million. I chose an Ottawa number because people in Ottawa can call Gatineau toll free and vice versa. I've had Vonage for almost a year and Gatineau is still not available. It appears that they are just doing major Canadian cities right now. I have not seen any availability of outskirt communities at all in Canada.

Posts: 508 · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 11:33 am Post subject:

yes, I am in the 519 and there are only 2 cities that Vonage offers service to, London and Kitchener, I am part way b/t these 2, but where I live is local to London and most ppl I know can call London locally, actually my cell has been london for years, just cuz it was local for more of my friends to call me, they couldn't call my Bell Landline but could call my Bell cell.. lol..

my wife is from Columbia SC, thats 803, there are only 2 cities avail to that area code as well, just luckily one of those is Columbia, so we were able to get a local number to her family as well.. thats our biggest reason for getting Vonage, no more LD for us or them.. Smile

Posts: 336 · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 7:11 pm Post subject:

Yes, this service works out wonderfully for you. It works out well for me too. My family is from Halifax, and I have a virtual number in Halifax. It's so fantastic to have this feature. Vonage is quite beneficial to people who call long distance a lot. Even their local service is great, but it is far more precious to those of us who have a need to call long distance. Lol

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 06, 2005 Posts: 2

Guys,

I appreciate the help/info that you have provided.

It looks as though Vonage will be beneficial to me the only drawback is that my local friends will have to call me long distance.

Oh well it looks as though I can't ditch Ma Bell just yet.

Take care.

Mick

Posts: 336 · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: Help appreciated

mickboyle wrote:

It looks as though Vonage will be beneficial to me the only drawback is that my local friends will have to call me long distance.

Maybe not, but if you sign up with Vonage now, they will not charge you a fee to switch your number to one in your own area once it becomes available.

Posts: 18 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jan 27, 2005 Posts: 18

Guys,

I had the same problem, I live in Mississauga, got 905 number but exchange is in hamilton.
I called Vonage, they suggested me to take a 416 area code. They changed my phone numbers at the same time without any charge.
So try getting a 416 number

Posts: 26 · Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 7:26 am Post subject:

I also live in Mississauga and switched from a 905 to 416 number. When I called to ask if they had a different 905 exchange he said they only had Hamilton - but didn't offer to switch me for me. Damn.

Posts: 18 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jan 27, 2005 Posts: 18

They claim that you can get a local area calling code. In your case it is not working. You need to push them that you have taken this service with the understanding that 905 should work as local call, There is no use of having a long distance area code. In my case Vonage staff told me to create a new number while I was talking to him, same time he credited my account with the same cost. So there was no charge. A friend lives on Bristol road, 905 is working as local number for him. Isn't strange.

Posts: 26 · Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 3:00 pm Post subject:

How would they have done that? The rep I spoke with was quite insistent that Hamilton was the ONLY 905 exchange.