900 Area Code
Premium-rate pay-per-call services
The 900 area code is reserved for premium-rate pay-per-call services. Calls to a 900 number are billed to the caller at a premium rate set by the called party.
How 900 is used
Numbers in 900 are dialed as a full ten-digit number (1-900-NXX-XXXX) and are billed to the calling party at a premium rate set by the called party — typically per minute or as a flat fee — with charges appearing on the caller's local phone bill. Historic uses included weather, sports scores, technical support, polls, fundraising, adult chat and contest entry. The Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act of 1992 mandates up-front price announcements; many carriers now block 900 calls by default.
- Purpose
- Premium-rate pay-per-call services
- Assignee
- NANPA and individual interexchange carriers (FCC regulates rates and disclosures)
- Dialed as
- 1-900-NXX-XXXX
History
Creation: Area code 900 was installed in 1971 as the 123rd area code in service — the only area code introduced that year and the second non-geographic NPA overall after 800. It originated as a 'choke' code able to throttle huge spikes in simultaneous callers without jamming the long-distance network; the first nationally publicized use was the 'Ask President Carter' radio program in March 1977. 900 grew into the home of pay-per-call services in the 1980s and 1990s, then shrank under FCC and state consumer-protection rules that capped charges, required price disclosure and curtailed billing to children.
Mnemonics: Prior to 1995, the middle digit of area codes was restricted to 0 or 1, which do not correspond to letters on a phone's dialing pad. Because 900 contains 0 or 1, it has no mnemonic letter equivalent.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code_900.
Other special-use area codes
Same-category codes first, then the rest of the NANP special-use portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is area code 900 used for?
900 is a special-use area code in the North American Numbering Plan. The 900 area code is reserved for premium-rate pay-per-call services. Calls to a 900 number are billed to the caller at a premium rate set by the called party.
How is 900 dialed?
Numbers in 900 are dialed as a full ten-digit number (1-900-NXX-XXXX). It is a non-geographic area code, so 1-900 numbers are not tied to any city or state.
How are 900 calls billed?
Calls to a 1-900 number are billed to the caller at a premium rate set by the called party, with charges appearing on the caller's local phone bill. FCC rules require an up-front price announcement before the meter starts running, and many carriers block 900 calls by default.
Who assigns 900 numbers?
NANPA and individual interexchange carriers (FCC regulates rates and disclosures)
When did area code 900 go into service?
Area code 900 was placed into service on 1971. It was the 123rd area code in service; 2nd non-geographic area code; 1st area code used for Premium Services.