| State | Washington |
|---|---|
| Timezone | Pacific (PT) |
| Is Area Code 206 Toll Free? | No |
| Major Cities | Seattle |
It is important to keep note of certain unfamiliar area codes that might be calling. While this might be a cause for alarm, the more you know about it would ease your worries. If ever you should receive a call from area code 206, know that this caller could be coming from Washington. To give a short overview, area code 206 services the state of Washington, largely Seattle and its suburbs such as Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and other nearby areas. For more information and to have some questions addressed, read below.
Where did area code 206 come from?
Area code 206 which services Washington was originally one of the crea codes assigned in 1947 but on January 1, 1957 area code 509 was assigned to eastern Washington. It stayed in configuration for 38 years in spite of the boom in the usage of telephones that came to Washington for the second half of the 20th century. The 90s nearly saw the exhaustion of 206 due to the rise of mobile phones, pagers and fax machines largely in more urban, business-savvy areas, even more so as some parts of southern Washington, the old 206, was now part of the Portland LATA (Local access and transport area). This meant that the 503 code in Portland weren’t available.
On the 15th of January 1995, old 206 area codes outside of Seattle/Tacoma were split into area code 360. Several complaints within Seattle would lead to being transferred back into 206 area code after the split. Due to the vast usage of mobile phones and pagers, a three way split of the 206 area code ensued. Area Code 253 belonged to the southern portion which included Tacoma and area code 425 belonged to the northern portion.
What time zone does area code 206 follow?
Area code 206 adheres to the Pacific timezone or the America/Los_Angeles timezone. Places that follow this timezone subtract 8 hours from the UTC or the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-8:00). During the summertime when daylight saving time is being observed, the time is advanced by an hour (UTC-7:00).
It is important to note the timezones before making a call to anyone from area code 206 to avoid any untoward or unpleasant incidences such as making a phone call in the middle of the night. That is one situation we don’t want to be in!
What places does area code 206 service?
Area code 206 services pretty much a sizeable portion of the Washington area namely:
- Bainbridge Island
- Burien
- Des Moines
- Mercier Island
- Seattle
- Shoreline
- White Center
Is area code 206 toll free? How do I make a call?
No, area code 206 isn’t toll free. Technology nowadays makes it easier for people to pick and customize their own phone numbers, so if you’re to sign up for your own 206 number, go to an online phone service provider.
Recently, calls in Washington have had some changes in dialling procedures. Those areas that formerly used 7 digits now have 10 digits. To call from a 206 area, dial in 206 and the 10 digit number.
Why having a 206 number is essential for your business
Getting your own area code 206 number for a relatively reasonable cost would be greatly beneficial for your craft. This would be seen as practical and convenient, not to mention cost friendly on your potential customers’ end as they could easily reach your establishment without having to worry about additional costs since local calls are free.
Washington’s is home to suburbs and metropolitan cities, an urban landscape where businesses thrive, making it all the more necessary to be within reach and accessible to a large group of people.
