Did you change to a "Florida" area code?

[MacScuba]

We will not be getting a landline when move to TV permanently, but is it common to change the cellphone to a 352 area code? I kinda like the old one to show where I was from.

[Bilyclub]

Kept the old one. Just changed the billing address.

[LuvtheVillages]

We will not be getting a landline when move to TV permanently, but is it common to change the cellphone to a 352 area code? I kinda like the old one to show where I was from.

Most people keep their existing number. No need to change.

And, it is very difficult to get all your contacts to update your number on their phones.

[bluedivergirl]

We kept ours. We have an elderly family member who would be distressed by a change.

Makes it easy to sort out the junk calls, too. if we don't recognize the 651 prefix number, it is junk.

[retiredguy123]

I don't see any reason to change it. One advantage to keeping the old area code is that you can recognize when a telemarketer is calling. They will usually "spoof" their number to your old code.

[Topspinmo]

We will not be getting a landline when move to TV permanently, but is it common to change the cellphone to a 352 area code? I kinda like the old one to show where I was from.


No. No need to. You’ll get more scam called with Florida area code IMO.

[New Englander]

I changed mine and wish I didn't. I get 2-3 spam text's every day.

[Stu from NYC]

We saw no reason to change numbers.

Got great price for landline but mostly spammers call

[davem4616]

we kept our existing area codes....one less thing to have to change that isn't necessary

[dewilson58]

nope

[JerryLBell]

I did because I really didn't care one way or another. Can you guess that I'm not a big user of my cell phone? My wife IS a big user of hers and didn't want to have all her friends from back in NC have to put in a new phone number for her in their cell phones, so she opted to keep her old cell number.

[coffeebean]

We kept our old number with the NJ area code. Very easy to identify spam.

[STLRAY]

I am not yet in Florida, but when I moved to a new state a few years ago I kept my old number for business reasons. The real benefit is all the robo calls spoof my old area code so I know not to pick up calls from there unless its someone I know who would come up as their name when they call.

[billethkid]

No!
Same plan from home to change to FL area code....$20 more per month....exactly the same plan.

Changing adds no value plus who cares what the area code is or from?

[retiredguy123]

The term "area code" is a misnomer. It no longer indicates where the caller is located.

[JoMar]

The term "area code" is a misnomer. It no longer indicates where the caller is located.

But it does indicate where you came from

[HeleneGB]

Most people keep their cell numbers from their previous states of residence.

[Diane F]

I kept my old one that I have had since I first got a cell phone, and from what I have seen, most people have done this too. That way you don't have to notify all your contacts of the change. We do not have a land line, but this hasn't been an issue either.

[kcrazorbackfan]

We will not be getting a landline when move to TV permanently, but is it common to change the cellphone to a 352 area code? I kinda like the old one to show where I was from.

Nope to the changeover; my wife and I have the same consecutive numbers we’ve had for a loooooong time.

[RLWooly]

We cut the cord back in our old state & won’t be getting one here either. We’ll probably just stay with our mobile numbers as they are for the foreseeable future. The way technology is these days there’s no real advantage to switching to a local area code.

[oneclickplus]

But it does indicate where you came from

Actually, NO. Anyone can get a phone number with Google Voice (or other service) in any area code whatsoever.

I run a 2nd business where I wanted a "vanity" number like 1-800-mattress. The number I wanted was not available in my local area code so I just shopped Google Voice and found it in area code 720. I don't even know where that is. Never the less, I now have:

720-cat-luvr (example only)

and that has no bearing on where I'm from.

For anyone who wants to keep their old landline / home phone when moving, you have some choices these days:

1) transfer it to a cell phone. This works but is expensive especially if you already have a cell phone
2) use a VOIP service (I use callcentric.com) and transfer your number to them.

On callcentric, I have a couple of options. I can connect an internet phone adapter to my internet service and re-establish my old phone number in the Villages or anywhere with internet service. Using this option, I took my home number with me on a vacation to Costa Rica. Was able to make and receive calls on my number while away just like being at home. T-Mobile wanted $2.00/minute to make calls from Costa Rica

If you don't need dial-tone services (no need to make a call) for your old home number but don't want to miss calls to that number, just leave it on callcentric and have the number forwarded to your cell phone. It's only $1.99/month to have my old home number on callcentric.

Final note: worried about spam calls to your old home number. Callcentric provides a fantastic spam blocking feature. You can enable a feature whereby all callers have to press a number ("press 7 to be connected") in order for the call to complete. The number-to-press changes with each call. Never the less, as you can see, robot calls can't complete this task and you get absolutely zero robocalls.

Good luck

[riley2011]

I kept my old number.

[banjobob]

The only issue we have had was friends and contacts not answering an out state number, if you are not in their phone list they think you are a scam.

[gwenhwalker@yahoo.com]

I've had the same phone number for over 20 years.

[Domenick]

What happens if you need to call 911? Does the call go to a local dispatcher? Years ago this may have been an issue.

[B-flat]

Keep the old no need for a 352 area code.

[tvbound]

For the ease of relatives, friends and others we've accumulated numbers from over the years to contact us, we plan on keeping the same number that we've now had for decades. Especially since roaming charges, basically do not exist anymore in most places. In the early 90's, I was one of the few people who was assigned a cell phone by my company and the charges to 'check-in' while on vacation in Mexico, or even from other states, were outrageous - but no longer apply.

[yogajan]

We didn’t! Nobody pays for long distance calls anymore. Your junk calls will just come from your old state, instead of FL!

[Bill1701]

Most people keep their existing number. No need to change.

And, it is very difficult to get all your contacts to update your number on their phones.

That's exactly why I changed mine to a local number

[Girlcopper]

I changed mine and wish I didn't. I get 2-3 spam text's every day.
2-3? Serious? Thats nothing

[Mohawksin]

We ported our landline number from the North to our cell and relocated here.

[BlackhawksFan]

We will not be getting a landline when move to TV permanently, but is it common to change the cellphone to a 352 area code? I kinda like the old one to show where I was from.

No need to change it. Then everyone you know, all your creditors, doctors, etc need to be contacted to change it. It's a giant pain.

Remember in the old days when you moved and changed numbers Ma Bell used to forward calls to your new number or at least put a message saying "this number has changed, the new number is..." as far as I know cell companies do not do that.

[retiredguy123]

No need to change it. Then everyone you know, all your creditors, doctors, etc need to be contacted to change it. It's a giant pain.

Remember in the old days when you moved and changed numbers Ma Bell used to forward calls to your new number or at least put a message saying "this number has changed, the new number is..." as far as I know cell companies do not do that.
Now you have to pay a fee every month for the privilege of being able to "port" your number when you change phone providers.

[BlackhawksFan]

What happens if you need to call 911? Does the call go to a local dispatcher? Years ago this may have been an issue.

With a cell phone 9-1-1 calls go to the closest tower and get routed. VoIP calls are handled similarly both go to a public service answering point and get rerouted.

[newyorkmaya]

We will not be getting a landline when move to TV permanently, but is it common to change the cellphone to a 352 area code? I kinda like the old one to show where I was from.

I kept my 928 code. Saved me from a lot of notiications. It also heklps me identify incoming calls when the callers still use their old, local codes.

[KRM0614]

We will not be getting a landline when move to TV permanently, but is it common to change the cellphone to a 352 area code? I kinda like the old one to show where I was from.
Most people keep their old cell number ! Why would you want a landline ?

[retiredguy123]

Most people keep their old cell number ! Why would you want a landline ?
If you have a cable TV service, the digital "landline" is free or almost free, depending on the level of cable service you have. It can come in handy if you lose or break your cell phone.

[chas39]

We will not be getting a landline when move to TV permanently, but is it common to change the cellphone to a 352 area code? I kinda like the old one to show where I was from.
I had my Massachusetts area code for going on 21 years living here in Florida.

[Curtisbwp]

You can do as you wish. But if i see a number fron out of state i do not answer it.

[Bogie Shooter]

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

[WindyCityzen]

Everyone has a cell phone from their “back home” area code. Don’t fret.

[sloanst]

We will not be getting a landline when move to TV permanently, but is it common to change the cellphone to a 352 area code? I kinda like the old one to show where I was from.

About 2/3s of my friends in The Villages still have there old cell phone number. It's easy for family and friends from their previous state/city to keep in contact. I wouldn't change mine for anything.

[rugbyjohn]

Been here 10 years and kept our Jersey number. No problems at all.

[Indydealmaker]

We will not be getting a landline when move to TV permanently, but is it common to change the cellphone to a 352 area code? I kinda like the old one to show where I was from.

My wife has continued to use her Indiana cellphone number for the past 10 years. No problems.

[Kenswing]

My cell phone is connected to my business so I will keep it for a year just so I can refer any customers that didn't get the word that I was retiring to the new owners of the company.. After that I will probably change. With the 3 hour time difference getting late calls from the west coast will be a pain.

[Steve32162]

Makes it easy to sort out the junk calls, too. if we don't recognize the 651 prefix number, it is junk.
So, you now treat all of your new Florida friends with the 352 area code as "junk"? :) One reason to change is to go to a cheaper cell service. I was paying $1000/year for two cell phones when I moved here 14 years ago. Now, for the past 12 years I've been paying less than $200/year for my smart phone with Tracfone.

[OhioBuckeye]

We will not be getting a landline when move to TV permanently, but is it common to change the cellphone to a 352 area code? I kinda like the old one to show where I was from.

I just about bet you if you tell them if I can keep the same area code I’ll take your services, if not I’ll try another service. Don’t let them convince you that nobody else will do it either because they won’t want to lose a customer! It works because I’ve done it twice.

[USACAT6]

Keep the old one. It will work fine. Been here 5 years with my original 585 number and have had no issues.

[retiredguy123]

I just about bet you if you tell them if I can keep the same area code I’ll take your services, if not I’ll try another service. Don’t let them convince you that nobody else will do it either because they won’t want to lose a customer! It works because I’ve done it twice.
The phone provider doesn't have a choice. It's Federal law that you have the right to keep your phone number. It is called "porting" the number to another provider.

[yankygrl]

The phone provider doesn't have a choice. It's Federal law that you have the right to keep your phone number. It is called "porting" the number to another provider.
You don’t have to change NOR do you need to change providers. I’ve had the same cell number since I first got one and have lived in 6 different states.

[Villages Kahuna]

We’re Florida residents now.

[Bogie Shooter]

Amazing 50 replies.............................

[Stu from NYC]

Amazing 50 replies.............................

OK lets make it 51:bigbow:

[Pbthrockm@msn.com]

Kept out of state cell number because all family and prior contacts have it. Many of our friends here have done the same.

[rogerk]

We will not be getting a landline when move to TV permanently, but is it common to change the cellphone to a 352 area code? I kinda like the old one to show where I was from.
It doesn't matter your area code or number as long as the Fire Department and first responders can find you. When you get here check with the Public Safety Department for their advice!

[024engine]

Then keep the old one!

[Red Rose]

I changed mine when I got a new cell phone. Have had no problems and like having the correct area code now.

[davephan]

We're going to keep our Minnesota cellphone numbers, since they are "clean" and easy to remember telephone numbers, not junky hard to remember telephone numbers. We also plan to add phone numbers with the local Florida area code. It's easy to do that, and it is free. You simply add a Google Voice app to your iPhone. Then you can forward the Google Voice number with the Florida area code to your original cellphone number. You can also make outgoing calls with Google Voice if you want the party you are calling to see a Florida area code number calling them. You can probably do the same with an Android cell phone.

If you have an iPhone, and you don't want junk calls, simply go to "settings", "phone", set "Silence Unknown Callers" to "on". To silence junk texts, go to "settings", "messages", turn on "Filter Unknown Senders". Those two things will stop the junk calls and junk texts. However, numbers that are unknown to you are then forced to leave messages. You can then add those unknown numbers to your contract list, and then those numbers can "ring through" and they can text you.Those are easy and quick steps that will put an end to the junk calls and junk texts, if you have an iPhone. There might be a method to silence junk calls and junk texts with an Android cell phone. Or, you can upgrade to an iPhone, which is clearly superior to an Android cell phone.

[manaboutown]

Nope

[davephan]

If you have a cable TV service, the digital "landline" is free or almost free, depending on the level of cable service you have. It can come in handy if you lose or break your cell phone.

I intended to use my free Google Voice line, with my Obihai box, which was a one time cost to interface the free Google Voice service with the telephone sets. But due to the Comcast package I was in with cable TV, Internet, and cable landline, it would actually have been more expensive to drop the cable landline out of the package. I ended up using the Google Voice and Obihai box to connect to my printer for a separate, free, FAX line.

One huge downside of the cable landline is all the junk telemarketing calls that pour through! We got about 4 to 5 junk calls per day. We bought a Digitone Call Blocker, and programmed the call blocker for the telephone numbers that normally call us. As a result, all the junk calls then stopped cold. The junk callers still try to call, but the telephone sets do not ring. They only ring with the programmed numbers that are allowed to ring the telephone sets. All others can only leave voicemail. Junk callers almost never leave voicemail. When a new number that you want to ring leaves a voicemail, you simply add that number, so it can ring though in the future.

You don't have to live with the annoyance of hearing the telephone ring, and it's an annoying junk telemarked calling you. You can put a permanent end to the annoyance in your life! It's not that expensive or hard to do. Then junk telemarketers can never ring your landline again!

DIGITONE ProSeries Blocker - Block Any RoboCall Name or Number (https://digitone.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA5bz-BRD-ARIsABjT4ng-yIuOUSKOTJj4EVW0SjX2UY_RZ22TFVdsHdUEeV1zH3OEvjEFNs oaAlALEALw_wcB)

Here's the Obihai device that interfaces the free Google Voice line to your telephone sets, a one time cost.

https://www.amazon.com/Obihai-OBi200-Adapter-Support-Service/dp/B07FCS1NGM/ref=asc_df_B07FCS1NGM/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241895556407&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11635809425055703885&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9012287&hvtargid=pla-597257382428&psc=1