Telmex USA New Mexican Area Codes.
October 6, 2001
Telmex USA announced at the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles, California, that area codes will change throughout Mexico on Nov. 17, 2001 under government regulations by the Federal Telecommunications Commission (COFETEL).
The purpose of the changes, Mexican authorities said, is to increase the telephone number capacity for telecommunications services in the country over approximately the next 40 years.
In order to inform the public about the changes, particularly those who frequently call Mexico, Telmex has developed various tools which help explain the new area codes (Claves LADA) and dialing method for placing calls to Mexico.
Currently, a recorded message (in Spanish and English) about the area code changes is played during randomly selected calls to Mexico which are received on the TELMEX network. The message also suggests that the caller check with friends, relatives and work or business associates they are calling in Mexico to obtain the new area codes. Once the message is over, the call will automatically be connected. Callers will not incur any additional charges for the airtime consumed while listening to the message.
In addition, before Nov. 17, callers can speak to bilingual TELMEX operators to inquire about specific area codes by dialing (011) 52 56-57-58-59. This is a regular toll call. No additional fees are charged for this service.
Starting on Nov. 17, the recordings will be heard on all calls to Mexico that are dialed without the new area code and received on the Telmex network. Also, after Nov. 17, the number to call for information will be: (52) 55-56-57-58-59.
Furthermore, information about the new area codes and their impact on international calls made to Mexico has been sent to all Telmex clients in Mexico as part of a vast information campaign developed by Telmex for its clients. The campaign includes: help numbers within Mexico (020 and 01-800-123-22-23, a long distance toll-free call); the company’s web page, www.telmex.com; calls from operators to Telmex clients; a TV, radio and print campaign that will start the first week of November; and the publication, on Nov. 16 and 17, in national and statewide newspapers of all the new area codes in Mexico.
