All Features Phone Numbers 617 area code

Where is 617 area code in the United States?

Area code 617 serves Boston and thirteen other communities including Belmont, Cambridge, and Chelsea in the US state of Massachusetts. It also partially serves the counties of Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk. 617 is one of the first area codes assigned along with the introduction of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) in 1947. In 2001, it was overlaid by area code 857 to cater to the growing population and phone usage in the region. Area codes 617 and 857 can be attached to both landline and cell phone numbers, as well as virtual phone numbers.

What are the other Massachusetts area codes?

MASSACHUSETTS AREA CODE TERRITORY
  339, 781 Norwood, Saugus, Waltham, Woburn, east central Massachusetts, and other Boston suburbs along Route 128
351, 978 Fitchburg, Peabody, and northeastern Massachusetts
413 Holyoke, Greenfield, Pittsfield, Springfield, and western Massachusetts
508, 774 Worcester, New Bedford, and southeastern Massachusetts
617, 857 Boston, Cambridge, east central Massachusetts, and close-in Boston suburbs

 

Massachusetts in one of the smallest states in the US. It ranks between Hawaii and Vermont in terms of total area. Originally, Massachusetts started out with just two area codes — 413 and 617. At present, it has nine areas codes and four overlay plans according to the NANP indicating the pace at which the state has grown. The table above is a complete list of Massachusetts area codes and the territories they serve.

How to make calls to 617 area code phone numbers

There are 3 types of dialing under the NANP:
  • Seven-digit dialing (7-digit telephone number without area code)
  • Seven-digit dialing (7-digit telephone number without area code)
  • Eleven-digit dialing or the national format (1-digit country code + 3-digit area code + 7-digit telephone number)

If you fall within the same area code, you can sometimes make a call by dialing only the seven-digit telephone number. However, since the introduction of the 857 overlay in 2001, ten digit local dialing (617 + 7-digit telephone number) has been made mandatory for 617 area code. To make long-distance calls within United States, you need to use the national format, also known as 11-digit dialing, by adding the trunk code 1 (1 + 617 + 7-digit telephone number).

What time zone does it follow?

Eastern Time is the generalized time zone for the territory served by the 617 area code. To be specific, Boston (along with the rest of Massachusetts) follows EDT or Eastern Daylight Time (GMT-4) when daylight saving time is being observed. They follow EST or Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5) during the remaining part of the year. Time zones play a key role when you are scheduling a meeting or a phone call with people who work in different parts of the world. It is even more important when you are making an unscheduled call to not just your business associates but also to your personal contacts.

Is Boston business-friendly?

Boston’s Innovation District is one of the initiatives by the city to support new businesses and startups. The District Hall provides a venue for networking events, coworking spaces, pop-up commercial areas, and shared labs. Boston is a hub for the BFSI industry and the education domain too. Despite this culture of innovation, Boston still remains to be one of the most expensive cities in the world to set up a business. In 2018, it ranked as the fifth-most expensive city to start and run finance-related businesses. However, businesses do not need to be physically present or have a local address in Boston to get a local identity. You can always buy a virtual phone number with either of the two Boston area codes and use it as your business phone number for your local clients.

Benefits of using a Boston virtual phone number

Be a virtual Bostonian

You can expand your business operations to Boston without scaling up your infrastructure or setting up an office in Massachusetts.

Cut down on cost

Why incur more charges with only international toll-free phone numbers? Spend less with a local phone number while receiving calls.

Influence perceptions

A local phone number is the easiest way to tell your user base in Boston that you care enough to establish a local presence.

Advertise better

Get featured in local directories and business listings in Austin. Make your presence felt in the local communities.

Make it easy to reach you

Your customers don’t have to spend money, making long distance calls to talk to you. It is easier and cheaper on local phone numbers.

Mask your number

You can also mask your primary business number with a phone number with 617 area code, while making outgoing calls.

How do I get a phone number with 617 area code?

You can take your pick of available 617 numbers from Freshdesk Contact Center virtual phone system. Once you sign up, you can buy more than one virtual phone number from a single area code or multiple area codes of your choice. This means you can also purchase a Boston phone number with 857 area code along with your new 617 number. On completing the purchase, you can recharge your phone credits to make or receive calls. You can even port in your existing phone numbers and continue using them on Freshdesk Contact Center.

Why use Freshdesk Contact Center for your Massachusetts phone numbers

Multi-level IVR

Allow your callers to self-service their way to the right team or person who can solve their needs. Play customized pre-recorded messages to answer FAQ or share instructions.

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Smart Escalations

Configure call routing while setting up your call center and ensure that zero calls are missed owing to unavailability of your team. Reduce the number of missed calls, voicemails and hang ups.

Business hour-based routing

Help your supervisor manage a geographically distributed phone team by setting up time-based routing rules. Ensure that calls are handled round-the clock in your call center.

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Call Recorder

Enable automatic call recording to keep track of customer conversations as well as to analyze your communication effectiveness. Record both incoming and outgoing calls.

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Voicemail

Create custom greetings depending on the call queue or the agent that the caller is intending to talk to. Allow callers to leave you a voicemail in case your agents are busy or on a holiday.

Call Monitoring & Barging

Supervise all your phone calls real-time with our live dashboard, from anywhere in the world. Barge into a call, if necessary, to increase your First Call Resolution percentage.

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