Regional Calling for Southern California ****!

Guest

Why are the Regional Calling Areas for Southern California so small? That should definitely be expanded, as it is in Northern California.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 07, 2003 Posts: 3

I agree with this statement. The problem with Vonage's So Cal plan is that it assumes that area code to area code calls are normally toll. Anything is further from the truth.

In California, a local call is considered any rate center that is 12 miles or less from the calling party's rate center.

I used to live in the Northridge (818) rate center. In addition to the exchanges in the 818 area code that I was local to Simi Valley in (805), Newhall in (661) and Santa Monica in (310).

A reasonable "regional" plan would be is to make the entire "Los Angeles Extended Area" (as defined in the tariffs) a single calling area. This means all of area codes 213, 310, 323, 562, 626 and 818 area codes. In addition, those area codes that are close to the boundaries of other area codes with known local calling routes should be able to call those area codes:

562 should also allow calling to 714
626 should also allow calling to 909
818 should also allow calling to 661 and 805

Outside the LAEA:
714 and 949 should be in the same calling area

Posts: 37 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 02, 2003 Posts: 37

I totally agree. I wonder if there are any regulatory reasons for this or they just don't feel they have to be that competitive.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 07, 2003 Posts: 3

I think it's just a lack of knowledge of the Los Angeles Extended Area by the Vonage brass.

The problem with Area Code only local calling areas is that some area codes are substantially large while others are smaller.

Take a look at (760) in Southern California. This area code spans all the way from Mammoth Lakes to Oceanside and spans over 3 LATA's while you have area codes like 213 which covers a very small (geographically) portion of Los Angeles. A call from Little Tokyo to Hollywood is considered an "out of region" call (213 to 323) while a call from Mammoth Lakes to Oceanside (several hundred miles) is considered "in region".

I commend Vonage for having a lot of numbers in a lot of rate centers in Southern Ca (especially in the 760 area code) but they need to do a better job in determining what is considered a regional/local call. They need to have equal calling areas or something more reasonable. This could mean splitting up the big area codes like 760.

Instead of thinking like area codes, they should think like rate center locations. For example:

SAN DIEGO AREA:
(All rate centers in 619, 858 and 760 San Diego County)
Allows calling within 619, 858 and all 760 exchanges in the San Diego LATA.

PALM SPRINGS/IMPERIAL (There are no Vonage numbers here yet):
(All rate centers in 760 in the Palm Springs LATA as well as all 760 exchanges in Imperial County).
Allows calling within the entire 760 and 909 area codes.

HIGH DESERT REGION
(Includes all 760 and 661 exchanges that are in the Los Angeles LATA [except the Santa Clarita exchange]. Also includes the 661 Bakersfield exchanges of Mojave, Edwards, Rosamond and Tehachapi.):
Allows calling to all 760 exchanges in the Palm Springs and Los Angeles LATAs. Also allows calling to 661 exchanges in the Los Angeles LATA plus the Bakersfield LATA exchanges of Rosamond, Mojave, Edwards and Tehachapi. In addition, 661 customers can dial the entire 661 area code.

LOS ANGELES EXTENDED AREA
(Includes all 213, 310, 323, 562, 626 and 818 area. Also includes Santa Clarita exchange in 661.)
Allows calling to all 213, 310, 323, 562, 626 and 818 exchanges as well as 661 Santa Clarita numbers. In addition, 818 customers can also call the Simi Valley, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Conejo exchanges in 805. 562 customers can also call 714. 626 can also call 909.

ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE
(Includes all 714, 959 and 909 area codes)
Allows calling to all 714, 959 and 909. 714 can also call 562. 909 can also call 626 and 760 exchanges in the Palm Springs LATA.

CENTRAL COAST
(Includes 805 exchanges)
Allows calling to all 805 numbers. In addition, 805 customers in Simi Valley, Newbury Park, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks and Conejo exchanges can call 818.

BAKERSFIELD
(Includes all 661 exchanges in the Bakersfield LATA except those south of the Tehachapis (Mojave, Rosamond, Edwards and Tehachapi):
Can call all 661 numbers.

That's how I would do it.

Posts: 37 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 02, 2003 Posts: 37

I was suspecting it was the lack of knowledge but I think they did the same thing in New Jersey - where they are based. 201-973 are not local, for example. (And if they really want to do this in NY, they can do a NY Metro which includes NYC plus Long Island, CT, NJ, Dutchess/Westchester/Orange counties...)

I guess some of us are thinking in terms of cell phone home area. The question is does Vonage think itself as a competitor of cell phones or traditional phones.

Guest

i live in maryland, and i can call 410 and 443 area codes local...but on my local calls with Verizon, some 410 and 443 #'s were long distance, and some 301's were local... some of my neighbors have 301 area codes...on my street, and it's long distance