Area code 256
Area code 256 is a telephone numbering plan code in the state of Alabama created on March 23, 1998. In response to the pressure for the addition of more telephone numbers, Alabama added more area codes, splitting the original area code 205, and thereby giving rise to area code 256. Even though the split was commissioned in March, 1998, it was not effective until September of the same year in order to allow people time to reprogram electronics such as computers, cell phones, pagers and fax machines. Use of the 205 area code continued till then.
The service range of area code 256 covers north and north east Alabama and includes the metropolitan areas of Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area (Huntsville Metropolitan Area and Decatur Metropolitan Area separately), The Shoals, Gadsden Metropolitan Area and Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Area.
In March 2009, the Alabama Public Service Commission announced that the new overlay area code of 938 would be added on top of the current 256 area code sometime in 2011. As a result, 10-digit dialing will be implemented for all numbers in the area by June 2010. This timing roughly coincides with the end of the originally projected 12-year "life span" of the original 256 area code.
The important cities of Albertville, Anniston, Arab, Athens, Boaz, Decatur, Florence, Gadsden, Guntersville, Huntsville, Madison and Scottsboro fall under the service area of area code 256.
Areas under code 256 are serviced by a wide array of telephone service providers, including Level 3 Communications, Deltacom, BellSouth Mobility, PowerTel Birmingham Licenses, TCG Midsouth, New Cingular, Sprint Spectrum, Lousiana Unwired, Metrocall, Sharp Communications Inc, RCC Holdings, and many others. All of these providers are committed to quality service, offering a number of tariff schemes for the customers to choose from according to their requirement.
In addition to landline, the service providers also offer cellular connectivity, and dial up and broadband Internet. Some of these also provide premium Wi Fi service. Many have ties with satellite TV networks like Dish, and provide Cable TV services as well. Most importantly, all these service providers have interesting "package" deals that combine two or more services for a price less than what it would have taken for the customers to take subscriptions of each service separately.
Worthy of specific mention in the field of Internet Service Providers of Area Code 256 are companies like Qwest.net (Qwest DSL), Verizon DSL, Toast.net, Broadband National, PeoplePC Online, Copper.net, TotalUSA, GlobalNet Telecom Inc, and Internet Central, which are ever coming up with new attractive plans and tariff schemes addressing a wide array of customers for them to choose from. Each providing high quality connections, great service, and low prices, the service providers have a multitude of access numbers to select from according to the customers' requirement.
With provision for additional facilities like voicemail, caller identification service and many more, it is evident that the service providers of the regions under Area Code 256 keep customer satisfaction as their highest priority, and compete with each other for achieving the same.