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Area codes are an integral part of the telecommunications network. Each region is assigned a particular area code which serves as a kind of identity for that particular region. It is difficult to imagine a telecommunication system without area codes, as everything would go haywire. The initiative to develop a comprehensive area code system was taken up by Bell Laboratories and AT&T. The groundwork for the project was laid in 1940 and it was called the North American Numbering Plan or NANP. It took around seven years to complete the first phase of the project and the area codes came into operation since 1947.

Area code 231 is the designated code for Michigan. The area code came into being a decade ago in June 1999. The region that was assigned to this area code was earlier a part of area code 616. The pressure on area code 616 demanded the creation of a new code. A geographical split, following the approval of the Michigan Public Service Commission, meant that a sizable section of the numbers under area code 616 was now transferred to the newly formed area code 231. Earlier area code 616 covered a large part of western Michigan. After the formation of area code 231, the northern part of this section came under it.

Area code 231 covers 26 counties, 139 cities and 465 exchanges. The counties covered by this area code include Cheboygan, Antrim, Mecosta, Oceana, Grand Traverse, Kent, Muskegon, Baraga, Emmet, Wexford, Lake, Missaukee, Clare, Leelanau, Ottawa, Kalkaska, Benzie, Manistee, Mason, Roscommon, Montcalm, Mackinac, Charlevoix, , Otsego, Newaygo and Osceola.

Some of the cities covered by area code 231 include Traverse City, Cadillac, Ludington, Big Rapids, Petoskey, Big Rapids, Arcadia, Luther, Bitely, Alden, Scottville, Pierson, Eastlake, Afton, Thompsonville, Ravenna, Kingsley, Mayfield, Kent City, Morley, Spring Lake, Wolverine, Suttons Bay, Maple City, Morley, Muskegon, Bois Blanc Island, Copemish, Fremont, Brethren, Fruitport, Kalkaska and Grant.

In United States and Canada the first three digits of the phone number indicate the area code. The next three numbers represent the exchange code. The remaining four digits is the number of the user.

There are various service providers who offer telecommunication services for area code 231. They offer both home phone and cellular services. Some of them even offer Internet services. Some of the major service providers who serve this part of Michigan include AllTel Communications, Verizon North Incorporation, Cellco Partnership DBA Verizon Wireless, AT&T Local, Sprint Spectrum, Centennial Michiana License Co, Telnet Worldwide, Arch Wireless Holdings, Michigan Bell Tel Co, Dobson Cellular Systems, Lucre, CenturyTel Wireless, Daystarr, Acd Telecom, Kaleva Tel Co, American Messaging, Ace Tel Co, KMC Telecom V Inc, Brook Fiber Communications and Nextel Communications. Most of these service providers offer their services at affordable rates. There are various calling plans for the users and they can choose the one that suits their needs. You can make a search on the Internet for a comprehensive list of the cities and towns covered by each of these service providers.