Area code 700

Area code 700 of the North American Numbering Plan is reserved for carrier-specific number assignments to special services or destinations. It was introduced in 1983 in anticipation of the introduction of long distance competition in the US.

The area code was intended for presubscribing telephone numbers to particular interexchange carriers. Numbers in this area code are exclusive to the specific carrier, so the destination of a given number in 700 may be different for each carrier. Almost all of the early '700-offerings have faded into history, due to a combination of confusion, blocking of calls to them by many businesses worried about high-charge phone calls, and many alternative services.

The number 700-555-4141 is provided by all carriers who implement the area code. It plays a recording identifying the carrier handling long distance and international calls. While this does not work with most cellular and VOIP systems this identification may help traditional land line consumers who have been slammed into a new carrier.