Learn About the Rhode Island Area Code Directory

The original plan of the area code system was developed by AT&T and Bell Laboratories. The concept was developed in the 1940s and implemented in 1947. Known as the North American Numbering Plan, the area code system came into effect in the US and Canada. The chief aim of the numbering plan was to systematize the telecommunications network of the area.

The area codes were initially known as numbering plan areas. The US and Canadian states were given one or more area codes depending on certain factors like the population density of the state and the demand for telephone numbers in the specific area. Rhode Island, the smallest state in the USA, was assigned a single area code according to the plan.

Area Code 401

The state of Rhode Island was assigned area code 401 as per the original numbering plan. No modifications were made to this arrangement and no splits or overlays were done. The area code 401 serves the whole state since then. The land area of Rhode Island is only 1,045 square miles. The population of the state is 1,069,725 (as per the census of 2002).

The Rhode Island Area Code Directory details are discussed below.

Rhode Island Area Code Directory Details

All the 5 counties of Rhode Island are served by the area code 401. The counties are Bristol, Providence, Kent, Washington and Newport. There are 68 cities within the area code 401. Some of these are Providence, Adamsville, Barrington, Albion, Bristol, Burrillville, Central Falls, Jamestown, Coventry, Glendale, Cranston, Cumberland, Glocester, East Providence, Johnston, Lincoln, Middletown, Exeter, Forestdale, Fiskeville, Foster, Greenville, Narragansett, Newport, Pawtucket, Rockville, Portsmouth, Smithfield, Valley Falls, Warren, West Greenwich, Warwick, Riverside, Westerly, Woonsocket, Ashaway, Block Island, Bradford, Carolina, Central Falls, Charlestown, Little Compton, Chepachet, Hopkinton, Clayville, East Greenwich, Greene, Harrisville, North Kingstown, Wakefield, North Providence, Wood River Junction, Saunderstown, Manville, North Smithfield, Oakland, Shannock, Kingston, Hope Valley, Mapleville, Peace Dale, West Warwick and Prudence Island.

There are 545 telephone exchanges operating under the area code 401. Some of these are 205, 415, 558, 675, 757, 951, 293, 534, 846, 481, 262 and so on. The first three digits of every telephone number is the area code. If you want to dial a Rhode Island telephone number from out of state you need to dial 401 before the number. If you are placing a call from inside the same area code you need not dial the area code.

There are a number of telecommunications companies operating in the state of Rhode Island. Some of the major telecom companies of the state are Broadview Networks, Vision Telecom, PAETEC, CloseCall America, Advanced Telecom, Matrix Business Technologies and Cox. These telecom companies offer landline and cellular services as well as cable and Internet services.

The Rhode Island telecom companies offer plans and deals that are suitable for all. Whether it is a residential connection or a commercial one, there are plans and deals that cater to all sorts of requirements. Moreover the various plans are available at different charges. You could compare the features and charges before choosing the services of a particular telecom company.