Overview
North American phone numbers follow a pattern based on geographic areas, becoming more detailed as they go. This article aims to clarify the structure of North American phone numbers.
Who uses this feature
Administrators, office employees and Customer Service Representatives (CSRs)
Applies to all business types
Things to know
In North American phone numbers, the first and middle three digits always represent a specific geographic area.
ServiceTitan cannot change what city the middle three numbers are designated to.
While 10DLC numbers (also called local numbers) are tied to specific locations and have an NPA (number plan area), toll-free numbers are not tied to any particular geographic area and do not have a traditional NPA.
North American numbers explained
North American phone numbers are structured around geographic areas. Even with technological advancements, these divisions are required by law. Every phone number consists of three parts - The NPA, NXX, and the Branch Line.
NPA (number plan area): NPA, commonly called the area code, is the largest subdivision of numbering plans for management in the US determined by regulation.
NXX: NXX, the second set of 3 digits in a phone number, determines the exchange, also called the rate center, it belongs to. In the past, this would have been manually operated with people switching plugs from one port to another.
Branch Line: The Branch Line or Station is the actual number assigned to you or the device. In the past, this was a hard-wired terminal.
Note: Without a central government repository, numbers are distributed to local providers in large blocks. Availability in certain locations may be limited, as specific NXX combinations might be assigned to other carriers. While we can check based on area code or location, we cannot assure the availability of requested numbers.