Area codes 616, 810, 906 and 989 have new phone-dialing rules starting Oct. 24

This map from the MPSC shows which areas will be affected by the change requiring callers to dial 10 digits for all calls.
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Some Michiganders will be required to use area codes when dialing local phone numbers starting Sunday, Oct. 24.

The change only applies to people with the area codes 616, 810, 906 or 989 – all others can continue dialing seven digits for local calls.

The the requirement is part of the rollout for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline code. Starting July 16, 2022, anybody in the United States can dial “988″ and reach the lifeline. All area codes that have an active phone number with “988″ as the middle three digits will change to 10-digit dialing to accommodate.

Michigan has been encouraging people in these area codes to start dialing with 10 digits since April. But seven-digit local calls still work in Michigan until the change becomes official Sunday.

For now, people can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).

Callers in other area codes can continue dialing seven digits for local calls because those area codes don’t have any active phone numbers that start with “988.”

The 616 area code is in the Grand Rapids area, 810 includes Flint and Port Huron, 989 encompasses much of the Thumb and northeast lower Michigan and 906 encompasses the Upper Peninsula.

The change doesn’t impact the price of calls. A local call still counts as a local call, regardless of how many digits are dialed, per the Michigan Public Service Commission.

The Public Service Commission encourages people in those area codes to check devices and systems that may need to be reprogrammed with full, 10-digit numbers – like speed dialers, fax machines, safety systems, medical monitoring devices and more.

“Be sure to check your website, personal and business stationery, advertising materials, personal and business checks, contact information, personal or pet ID tags and other such items to ensure the area code is included,” the MPSC news release said.

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