Oregon Public Broadcasting

Sometime next year, you may have to dial a new area code to reach someone else in Oregon.

State utility regulators confirmed Monday that the slow “soft launch” of the 458 area code will begin on July 12.

Also starting in July, 541 area codes can dial 10 digits to reach another 541 number.

But Bob Valdez with the state Public Utility Commission says you don’t have to dial 10 digits – yet.

Bob Valdez: “For some customers it's fairly complicated. If you have a big business, you may have stationery you need to change. If you have a security system, you need to talk to your folks. Say if you are running a large school district, a lot of the phone calls will have to be changed within your system. But more than anything, we’re getting the word out that the change is coming. There’s no turning back.”

On January 10th of next year, all phone calls within the 541 area code will require 10 digits.

Finally, on February 10th, the phone company will begin issuing 458 phone numbers.

The new area code is an overlay, just as the 971 area code is in Portland and northwest Oregon.

The state's continued population growth means 541 could run out of numbers by 2011.