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There is no difference between mobile and land line numbers in North America. There's no national "mobile only" prefix (like in many EU countries), and no "your
by TheRealPomax 5y ago
There is no difference between mobile and land line numbers in North America. There's no national "mobile only" prefix (like in many EU countries), and no "your number changes if you move to a new location": phone numbers are owned by carriers, and you get whatever number your local carrier branch was allocated (which will have the local area code). That's it, the idea that "area codes" are actually location indicators is basically an anachronism from the land line days.
If someone has a mobile phone, which is everyone, and that phone has a Toronto number because they bought the phone plan when they lived in Toronto, then they move to Vancouver, they get to keep their number as long as they stay with their carrier. If you then look at that number and go "the area code is Toronto, 8am is an acceptable time to call that number", now you're calling someone at 5am.
Area codes in North America, by and large, only tells you which city the carrier's branch was located when the phone plan got set up. Canada and the US are huge countries made of mostly empty space with pockets of life spaced far, far apart, and people move from pocket to pocket all the time.
- syrrim 5y ago>phone numbers are owned by carriers >they get to keep their number as long as they stay with their carrier. You can move phone numbers between carriers.
- vel0city 5y agoI was about to say, since 2003 in the US wireless number portability is required. You as a consumer have a right to port your number from one carrier to another, they're only supposed to be able to charge fees related to their costs which is usually $0. https://www.fcc.gov/general/wireless-local-number-portability-wlnp https://www.fcc.gov/general/wireless-local-number-portabilit...
- TheRealPomax 5y agoThere's more than just the US in North America =)
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- sunshineforever 5y agoNow with services such as TextNow, when you sign up for the number they simply let you choose whatever area code you'd like.
- ohyeshedid 5y agoFWIW, Cell carriers will do this as well. They don't require you to take a local number when signing up for service.