Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 2/11/2011 (3255 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Start those index-finger exercises.

Ten-digit dialing is coming to Manitoba on Dec. 1 and a new area code for Manitoba will soon follow.

Glenn Pilley, director of the Canadian Numbering Administration, said Canadians elsewhere already dial 10 digits for local calling and by early 2013 almost everyone will be doing so.

"By early 2013, we're going to have at least 90 per cent of people in Canada dialing 10 digits and within a couple of years after that, it'll be 95 per cent," Pilley said.

Manitoba has been assigned a new area code, 431, which will be assigned to new subscribers, mostly cellphone owners, by November 2012.

The changeover to 10-digit dialing becomes official July 29, 2012.

There will be a transition period where seven-digit calling will be accepted but callers will hear a pre-recorded message before the call is connected reminding them of the need to dial 10 digits.

By Nov. 3, 2012, only 10-digit dialing will be accepted in Manitoba.

Pilley said Manitobans have a lot of work to do to get ready for the change and an industry association is encouraging people to start doing so by Dec. 1.

The 204 area code has to be added to all automatic dialing systems and speed-dialing on landline phones and cellphones, other wireless devices that use data sticks to connect to the Internet and a host of other telecommunications devices.

Pilley said most of the MTS dialing network has been upgraded for 10-digit dialing and the remainder should be finished by the end of the month.

The switch to 10-digit dialing will not affect charges for local calling, he said.

"Everything that is a local call now will remain a local call with 10-digit dialing," Pilley said.

The new 431 area code will not be assigned to any specific geographic area or region of the province, he said, adding when providers run out of inventory of existing telephone numbers using the 204 area code, they will start new numbers with the 431 prefix.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca