10-digit Dialing in Windows

A common complaint about Windows 95 was that it offered no support for the growing number of North American cities where local numbers must be dialed with the area code and no "1" prefix for long distance. This is known as 10-digit dialing.

Windows 98 and Window NT 4.0 (starting with Service Pack 4) support 10-digit dialing, at least in North America. To set it up:

1. In Control Panel, run the Telephony applet.
2. On the Dialing Properties dialog box, click Area Code Rules. (This button will be active only if the dialing location is in the U.S., Canada or one of the Caribbean countries using 1 for the country code.)
3. On the Area Code Rules dialog box, if you need to use 10-digit dialing within your own area code, check Always dial the area code (10-digit dialing).
4. If some numbers in your area code need to be dialed as long distance, click the New button under When calling within my area code to add the three-digit exchange prefixes for those numbers to the list for Dial 1 for numbers with the following prefixes.
5. If other area codes are local to you and should not be dialed as long distance, click the New button under When calling to other area codes to add those area codes to the list for Do not dial 1 for the numbers with the following area codes.
6. Click OK until you return to Control Panel.