Area code 908

Where area code 908 is

Area code 908 is a geographic area code in New Jersey, in service since November 1, 1990, according to the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA). It is not part of an overlay, so every number in its territory starts with 908. It is in the Eastern time zone. The places with the most assigned exchanges include Elizabeth, Somerville, Plainfield, Cranford, and Summit. By population, its largest named places are Lakewood, Elizabeth, Toms River, Middletown, and New Brunswick.

Where 908 numbers are local

908 holds 13% of the 5,628 central office codes assigned in New Jersey, the 5th most of the state's 10 codes. 37 Census places could be matched to rate centers with 908 exchanges; the most populous are Lakewood (142,000), Elizabeth (140,000), Toms River (99,873), and Middletown (66,940). Each place page lists the exact prefixes and carriers for that town.

Ten-digit and seven-digit dialing in 908

According to NANPA's dialing-plan data, local calls within 908 are dialed as ten digits (area code plus number) and toll calls as ten digits (area code plus number). Because local calls need the area code, business cards, signage and website copy should always show the full ten-digit number. NANPA's dialing-plan note for this code reads: "1+10 digit permissible at service provider discretion."

Who holds 908 exchanges

46 carriers hold the 722 central office codes assigned in 908. Verizon New Jersey, INC. has the most, with 143 (20%). 519 of the codes (72%) are pooled, meaning the code holder shares blocks of 1,000 numbers with other carriers instead of using all 10,000 itself. The code holder is not necessarily the carrier serving a given number today, since numbers can be ported between providers.

Local calling areas in 908

NANPA assigns each central office code to a rate center, the local calling area that decides whether a call is local or toll. 908 has codes in 48 rate centers. Rate center names in the file are abbreviations; where one matches a Census place, the table links to that city's local-number page.

Number supply in 908

An area code has 800 possible central office codes that start with 2 through 9, a few of which are reserved (such as N11 service codes and 555). 722 are assigned in 908, 90% of 800. 71 were assigned in 2020 or later.

Getting a 908 number for your business

For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.

Porting a number you already use in area code 908 is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.

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