Another major change will occur on May 2, when four new overlay area codes-857, 339, 351 and 774-will be given to
phone customers requesting new lines. With the new system, neighbors living side by side could have different area codes.
The four new codes give Massachusetts nine total area codes, up from only three-617, 508, and 413-which served the entire state until the 978 and 781 regions were created in 1998.
The changes should not greatly affect Harvard students, who will still be able to dial five digits for numbers within the University.