BELL CANADA PROMOTES NEW MONTREAL AREA CODE
By Adnews Staff
Bell Canada, which is adding a new area code in the Montreal region in June, launched a campaign this week to inform its customers about the change and ease their transition. The area code in Montreal and neighboring islands Bizard, Perrot, des Soeurs, Notre-Dame and Sainte-Helene will change from 514 to 450. The campaign uses print, radio, TV and bill inserts created by Cossette Communication-Marketing of Montreal. There is also a Web site and a toll-free information line. The 514 area code's new territory has been made as small as possible so no more changes will be necessary before 2015. The introduction of the 450 area code, which affects one-third of the telephone numbers within the 514 area code, will not change local and long-distance calling areas or telephone numbers. Bell Canada says that by the year 2000, 37% of North America's current area codes will have reached saturation point. Dividing up area code territories was first done in Southern Ontario in 1993, when the 905 area code was added. The other area code in the area is 416. Earlier this year, the 250 area code added to the Vancouver area, which previously only had the 604 area code.