Wireless Support

On October 7, 2007, the state of New Mexico was split into two area codes – 505 and 575. The northwest region of the state kept the current area code (505), and the southern and eastern portion of the state received a new area code (575). View the map of the New Mexico area code split.

Mandatory use of the new 575 area code begins October 5, 2008. After this date, if you do not use the correct area code, your call will not be completed and a recording will instruct you to hang up and dial again.

Local calls within your area code will continue to be dialed with 7-digit dialing; local calls from one area code to another area code will require 10-digit dialing – the area code plus the 7-digit phone number. Remember to use the new 575 area code as needed.

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An area code split happens when a single area code serving a geographic region is divided in two. One half of the region keeps the current area code and the other receives a new area code. Customers in the region receiving the new area code keep their seven-digit phone number – only their area code changes.

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The state of New Mexico is running out of telephone numbers due to growth in state residents and a combination of new technologies and increased demand for regular telephone lines in homes and offices, cellular and PCS phones, pagers, and lines used for fax machines, internet access and other uses. Plus, there’s a limit to the amount of telephone numbers in an area code that can be allocated to the telecommunications providers. As a result, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission added the 575 area code to the state to meet the demand for additional telephone numbers.

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By order of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, all phone numbers in the southern and eastern portions of the state received the new 575 area code, and those in the northwest region will keep the current 505 area code. This change applied to landline and wireless service, as well as other communications services.

The southern and eastern portions of the state include:

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  • Alamogordo
  • Carlsbad
  • Clovis
  • Deming
  • Hobbs
  • Las Cruces
  • Penasco
  • Roswell
  • Raton
  • Silver City
  • Taos

The northwestern region of the state include:

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  • Albuquerque
  • Espanola
  • Farmington
  • Gallup
  • Las Vegas
  • Santa Fe
  • Shiprock
  • most of the Navajo Nation

Review the full list of telephone number prefixes that must change to the 575 area code.

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The new 575 area code was added to the state of New Mexico on October 7, 2007. You could begin using the new area code as of that date. Mandatory use of the 575 area code begins October 5, 2008. After this date, if you do not use the correct area code, your call will not be completed and a recording will instruct you to hang up and dial again.

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The new 575 area code change was effective October 7, 2007. For nearly a year afterward, however, callers will be able to use either the new or old area code to complete their calls. This period is called a “permissive dialing” period. Starting October 5, 2008 all calls must be dialed using the correct area code or the call will not be completed.

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All calls within your area code can still be dialed with just the seven-digit telephone number. Calls between the 505 and 575 area codes will require 10-digits – the area code plus the seven-digit telephone number.

The X's represent the numbers you are dialing	If you're calling from the 575 area code
	To call 505	Dial: (505) XXX-XXXX
	To call 575	Dial: XXX-XXXX
	If you're calling from the 505 area code
	To call 505	Dial: XXX-XXXX
	To call 575	Dial: (575) XXX-XXXX

The area code change will not affect your rates, calling plan or coverage area. What is a local call will remain a local call; although you may need to dial an area code. You will also still dial just three digits to reach 911, 611, 411, and other three digit numbers that may be available in your community.

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Your seven-digit telephone number will not be affected. Your area code will change only if you are in the southern and eastern portions of the state of New Mexico.

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No. The area code change will not affect your rates, calling plan, or coverage area. What is a local call today will remain a local call; although you will need to dial the area code and the seven-digit phone number to complete a local call to a different area code.

You will still dial just three digits to reach 911, 611, 411, and other abbreviated dial numbers that may be available in your community.

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• Your seven digit telephone number.
• Your rates and coverage area.
•  What used to be a local call will remain a local call, although you may need to dial an area code.
• Dialing 911, 611, 411 and other abbreviated dial numbers that may be available in your community.

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Because the area code change is the result of normal growth in the state of New Mexico, any costs incurred for updating customer owned systems and revising printed materials will be the responsibility of the individual telephone customer.

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Please contact the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission:

• Website 
• Phone: (888) 427-5772
• In Writing:
  • New Mexico Public Regulation Commission
    1120 Paseo De Peralta
    PO Box 1269
    Santa Fe, NM 87501

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Verizon Wireless will be changing the area code for affected customers in July 2008 -- the day after their July bill date. You can find your bill date at the top of your remittance coupon on your monthly bill statement, or log in to My Verizon. Once we’ve completed the update, you will receive the following text message the next morning:

“FREE Msg from VZW: Due to mandated area code split, your area code changed to 575. Update your phone today by dialing *228 & select Option 1. It’s a free call.”

After you receive this text message, you will need to dial *228, select Option 1 and then follow the instructions to complete the area code update process. It’s important to update your phone as soon as possible to ensure no interruption to your service once the mandatory dialing period begins Oct. 5, 2008.

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The area code change date is the day Verizon Wireless will change your area code from 505 to 575 in our systems. It is also the day on which you will need update your phone, or other device, with the new 575 area code.

Your area code change date is the day after your July 2008 bill date. For example, if your bill date is July 1, your area code change date is July 2. You can find your bill date at the top of the remittance coupon on your monthly bill statement. Or, log in to My Verizon. 

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You will receive a text message the morning after your area code change. Please follow the instructions below to update your phone after you receive this message.

1. Dial *228 + SEND from your phone.
2. Listen to the prompts and press 1 to update (program) your phone.
3. Please wait for the confirmation. This will take 1-2 minutes.
4. Press END and enjoy your service.

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You will receive the same message that will be sent to wireless phones, however, you will see the message in your VZ Access Manager software. You will know you have a message when you see the envelope icon next to the battery indicator within your VZ Access Manager screen.

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On the morning of your area code change date you will see a message in your VZ Access Manager software. You will know you have a message when you see the envelope icon next to the battery indicator within the VZ Access Manager screen. Please follow the instructions below to update your Wireless Internet Card/USB Modem after you receive this message.

1. Open the VZAccess Manager program.
2. Select Options from the top menu bar.
3. Select Activation. 
4. Please wait for the confirmation. This will take 1-2 minutes.

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If you subscribe to any features with a monthly subscription such as a Messaging bundle, Wireless Phone Protection, VZ Navigator, etc., you may see two monthly subscription charges – your July and August service charge – on your August 2008 bill. Your July 2008 bill statement did not include any monthly feature or data product subscription charges for any line of service on your account that changed to the 575 area code in July. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. You may contact us at (888) 490-6635 with any questions.

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No. While our goal is to make the transition to the new area code as seamless as possible, not all of the Verizon Wireless products and services can be automatically updated with your new area code. These include services offered by other service providers like text and email alerts, email, instant messaging, as well as products which require specific software such as Wireless Sync. In addition, if you’ve restricted access to specific content on V CAST Music, V CAST Video, or have completely blocked use of features, your preferences may be lost during the area code change. You will need to log in to My Verizon and reset the content blocking to your preferred settings for any phone number on your account whose area code changed.

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Yes. Due to the area code change you may need to re-subscribe to any text or email alert services. These include any weather alerts, stock market updates, sports team scores, etc.

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Yes. You should not lose any contacts on your handset or on the Backup Assistant website. However, we suggest you backup your contacts before your area code changes in July.

You will also receive an alert on your phone indicating that your mobile number has changed (this will arrive after you update your phone by dialing *228 SEND). This is a Backup Assistant generated alert that will prompt you to either update your account or set up Backup Assistant again as a new user with the new 575 area code and your seven-digit phone number. We suggest selecting “yes” to update your account. This will update your service with your new area code along with the companion website. You should not lose any contacts. If your handset has an older version of the Backup Assistant software, you may need to manually update Backup Assistant with your new area code.

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Check to find out if you’re using an older version of Backup Assistant. This link will take you to a list of phone models. If your phone is on the list, you’re using an old version and should update your phone number by following the steps outlined in #5 below.

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You will need to manually update your phone number if you are using a phone with an older version of Backup Assistant software. Please update your Backup Assistant software after you dial *228 to update your handset on your area code change date (the day after your July bill date). Here’s how:

1. Go to the Get It Now Menu on your handset.
2. Click on Get Going (or Tools on the Go) and select Backup Assistant.
3. Once you see the Backup Assistant screen, select on OK.
4. You will see a screen that shows a record of backups. Select Options.
5. Once you see the menu appear, select About. 
6. You will see a Backup Assistant version number on your screen. While on this screen press *73738# -- You WILL NOT see any typing on the screen. 
7. Once this is complete, the application will close and you will be back on the “Get Going” (or “Tools on the Go”) screen.
8. Re-launch the Backup Assistant program by following steps 1 - 3 above. You will be prompted to create a NEW account.
9. Enter a new PIN when prompted and press OK. 
10. Please follow the instructions for saving your contacts to the new account (re-sync). 
11. Once complete, we suggest verifying that your contacts have been successfully saved on the Backup Assistant website.

IMPORTANT: If you attempt to update your Backup Assistant software before your area code changes, you will receive “Error” messages at the time of your scheduled update with the automated sync process and/or may experience problems accessing the Backup Assistant website.

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All customers who subscribe to Backup Assistant service will receive an alert indicating that your mobile number has changed. This alert will prompt you to either update your Backup Assistant account, or set up Backup Assistant again as a new user. We suggest selecting “yes” to update your account. This will update your Backup Assistant service with your new area code along with the companion website. You should not lose any contacts.

Important Note: This alert is different than the text message that will be sent the morning of your area code change date. This alert will arrive after you dialed *228 to update your handset with the 575 area code.

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Your service should not change, but you will need to manually update your Wireless Sync software with the new area code at least 24 hours after your area code is updated in July. You will receive a text message the day after your area code changes to remind you to update your Wireless Sync Email service.

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Please follow the instructions below to update your Wireless Sync Email service. It’s important to wait at least 24 hours after your area code change date in July before completing the update. If you attempt to update Wireless Sync earlier, your email will not synchronize correctly. Note: If you use Wireless Sync Email service with a corporate email account (e.g., services set-up on a server like Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Notes, Novell GroupWise), you do not need to update your settings and should not experience any email service/synchronization delays during the area code change.

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View step-by-step instructions for updating your Wireless Sync PC Monitor service.

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VZ Navigator service should not be affected by the area code change. To ensure you do not lose any saved locations on your phone, we recommend you synchronize your saved locations to the VZNavigator website immediately after you update your phone with your new area code.

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Following are the steps for synchronizing your “Saved Locations” from your phone to the VZNaviagtor website. We recommend you synchronize your saved locations on your area code change date (day after your July bill date), immediately after you update your handset by dialing *228 and selecting Option 1. This should ensure you do not lose any saved locations or favorites in your My Places folder.

Steps to synchronize “Saved Locations” from your handset to the VZNavigator website.

1. Update your phone by dialing *228 + SEND and select Option 1.
2. Once you receive the confirmation that your handset was updated, press END. 
3. Next, launch VZ Navigator service and select My Places.
4. Select the last option Sync with Web to synchronize with the website.

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Yes. If you’ve restricted access to certain services and/or content for products such as V CAST Music, V CAST Video or Mobile Web 2.0, you will need to log in to My Verizon and reset the content blocking to your preferred settings for any phone number on your account whose area code changed.

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Yes, however, the “Galleries” (a.k.a. PIX Place) site will not be accessible for 24 hours after your area code change date in July.

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If you do not subscribe to Wireless Sync Email you may be prompted to enter your password when using your email service for the first time after your area code changes in July. Be sure to contact your email service provider (e.g., Yahoo!®, Google™, Hotmail®, etc.) to ensure they have the correct area code listed for your wireless phone number.

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You will not lose any distribution lists you may have on your phone. If you use instant messaging, or if you’re a member of any text or email distribution lists, be sure to contact your service provider with your new area code.

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Prepay customers can replenish their prepay phones in the same manner as before the area code change. Just remember to use the new 575 area code with your seven-digit phone number.

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