Find any 617- phone number in Massachusetts
The 617 area code is currently used for telephone numbers in the downtown and inner suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts. It is part of the North American Numbering Plan, a system that was adopted by the public service commissions of the United States and Canada for the purpose of facilitating telephone dialing among the two countries. It works by assigning each phone number a three-digit code, called an area code, which identifies the general geographic area from which the call originates or terminates.
In the case of 617, this code was created in 1947 as part of the original North American Numbering Plan. It originally covered all of eastern Massachusetts, including much of Massachusetts outside of the Boston area. However, over time additional area codes have been created to account for population growth, and today 617 serves primarily Boston and its inner suburbs. Businesses and individuals within this region enjoy the convenience of a single area code, while those outside experience the same convenience by being able to dial the 617 area code directly.