The Idaho Public Utilities commission says you can use either (208) xxx-xxxx format to dial your cellphone starting Saturday or not -- the choice is yours. But after August 5 2017 people will be forced to dial either 9 or 10 digits to make every phone call.
Part of what is driving the adaption of the new area code is not just more individuals getting cellphones, although a family may have several among the family members. It's also that a lot of technology also takes a phone number to act properly, such as home security devices and credit card readers at stores.
"So you might have one person with six or seven numbers," said Gene Fadness, of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, "even unbeknownst to them, that they have that many numbers."
