Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
212 On Some Cellphones
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 12, 2004
Modified Mar 6, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 12, 2004
Modified Mar 6, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Sweet Fancy Moses: It seems that there are some 212 area code phone numbers available for your cellphone! Cingular Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint and Nextel have a "small number" of 212 numbers for their customers. Verizon and AT&T don't have any (why doesn't that surprise us?), but one AT&T rep told the Post, "A 212 area code for a cell phone? That's gold!" The Post puts things into sharp relief, as Cingular customers who could get 212 numbers include those in NJ and notes that there are many Manhattan residents with 646 area codes. Bill Stern from NeuStar, the company that is the clearinghouse for all phone numbers, says, "It's interesting, the sociology of these numbers. To many people, the numbers say something about you - they carry a certain status."
The city's cell phone survey that looks at problem areas and service providers. And to bring things full circle, the Seinfeld episode, The Maid, where 646 is discussed.
Tagged
cell phone
manhattan
News: NYC
nj
people
seinfeld
the post
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Person found dead with stab wounds in Queens building, NYPD says
Police hadn't yet named and suspects or identified the victim Friday.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 6, 2026 at 8:34 p.m. ET
Amtrak's Penn Station plan could funnel taxpayer money to new venue for James Dolan
The federal government's plan to rebuild Penn Station would require the purchase of a theater attached to the west side of Madison Square Garden.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
Amtrak's Penn Station plan could funnel taxpayer money to new venue for James Dolan
The federal government's plan to rebuild Penn Station would require the purchase of a theater attached to the west side of Madison Square Garden.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Intoxicated Queens driver killed baby after running stop sign, indictment says
By
Giulia Heyward
Man arrested in NYC on accusations of sexual assault, rape on Cape Cod, officials said
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Service upgrade coming to On The Way: An hour-long radio show on all things NYC transit
By
Stephen Nessen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .