Phone Numbers in Minnesota: Formats and Dialing Rules
Quick Reference
- Country: United States (Minnesota)
- Country Code: +1
- International Prefix: 011
- National Prefix: 1
Overview
This comprehensive guide offers a detailed look at Minnesota's telephone numbering plan, including number structures, dialing procedures, and number portability. It's an essential resource for telecom professionals, developers, and systems administrators.
Number Formats
General Number Structure
- Country Code: +1 (United States)
- Area Code: 3 digits (e.g., 612)
- Subscriber Number: 7 digits (e.g., 123-4567)
- Full Number: 10 digits (e.g., 612-123-4567)
Area Codes in Minnesota
Area Code | Coverage Area | Type |
---|---|---|
612 | Minneapolis and surrounding areas | Geographic |
651 | St. Paul and eastern metro | Geographic |
763 | Northwest suburbs of Minneapolis | Geographic |
952 | Southwest suburbs of Minneapolis | Geographic |
218 | Northern Minnesota | Geographic |
320 | Central Minnesota | Geographic |
507 | Southern Minnesota | Geographic |
924 | Southern Minnesota (from July 2024) | Geographic |
Number Formats by Type
Type | Format | Example |
---|---|---|
Local Calls | XXX-XXXX | 123-4567 |
Long Distance | 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX | 1-612-123-4567 |
Toll-Free | 1-800/888/877/866/855/844-XXX-XXXX | 1-800-123-4567 |
Premium Rate | 1-900-XXX-XXXX | 1-900-123-4567 |
Emergency | 911 | 911 |
Special Services | 211 , 311 , 511 , 711 , 811 , 988 | 211, 311, 511, 711, 811, 988 |
Regular Expressions for Validation
- General Number (10 digits):
^[2-9]\d{2}-\d{3}-\d{4}$
- Long Distance (11 digits):
^1-[2-9]\d{2}-\d{3}-\d{4}$
- Toll-Free:
^1-(800|888|877|866|855|844)-\d{3}-\d{4}$
- Premium Rate:
^1-900-\d{3}-\d{4}$
- Emergency:
^911$
Dialing Procedures
Domestic Calls
- Local Calls: Dial the 7-digit subscriber number (e.g., 123-4567) within the same area code.
- Long Distance Calls: Dial 1 + area code + 7-digit number (e.g., 1-612-123-4567).
- Toll-Free Calls: Dial 1 + toll-free code (e.g., 1-800-123-4567).
- Premium Rate Calls: Dial 1 + 900 + 7-digit number (e.g., 1-900-123-4567).
International Calls
- Outgoing: Dial the international access code (011), followed by the country code, area code (if applicable), and the subscriber number.
- Example: To call a number in the UK:
011-44-20-7123-4567
.
- Example: To call a number in the UK:
- Incoming: Dial +1 followed by the area code and subscriber number.
- Example: +1-612-123-4567.
Number Portability
Minnesota supports number portability, allowing users to retain their phone numbers when switching service providers. This feature has been available since 2003 for both mobile and fixed-line numbers.
Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges
Operator | Common Prefixes (Area Code + Prefix) |
---|---|
AT&T | Varies by area code |
Verizon | Varies by area code |
T-Mobile | Varies by area code |
US Cellular | Varies by area code |
CenturyLink | Varies by area code |
Regulatory Body
The regulatory body responsible for telecommunications in Minnesota is the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). For the most up-to-date information, visit their official website.
Recent or Upcoming Changes to the Numbering Plan
Introduction of Area Code 924
- Permissive Dialing: Begins January 30, 2024. Users can dial either 7 or 10 digits for local calls.
- Mandatory 10-Digit Dialing: Begins July 30, 2024. All local calls must be dialed using 10 digits.
- New Assignments: From August 30, 2024, new telephone lines may be assigned numbers with the 924 area code.
Technical Considerations
ITU-T Standards
Minnesota's phone numbering system adheres to the ITU-T E.164 standard, which defines the format for international public telecommunication numbering.
Number Allocation and Management
The North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) is responsible for the allocation and management of phone numbers in Minnesota. NANPA ensures that numbering resources are used efficiently and meet the needs of the telecommunications industry.
Special Cases
- Golden Numbers: There are no specific regulations for golden numbers in Minnesota.
- Number Blocking: Certain prefixes, such as those used for premium-rate services (e.g., 900 numbers), may be blocked by some service providers.
For the most up-to-date information on telecommunications regulations and numbering plans in Minnesota, please consult the official website of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC).