Encountering a phone number with “+1 (205)” might lead you to believe it’s a specific country code. However, this isn’t quite right. This exclusive article explains the breakdown of this phone number format and how to identify the true location.
+1 (205) country code
Breaking Down the Code: +1 and (205)
- +1: This is the country code for the United States of America. Every phone number in the US starts with +1, followed by a ten-digit phone number.
- (205): This is the area code, a three-digit code specific to a region within a country. In this case, (205) is the area code for western and central Alabama, including major cities like Birmingham and Tuscaloosa.
Why Not a Country Code?
Since the +1 prefix already signifies the United States, the (205) area code further narrows down the location to a specific region within the US. Therefore, +1 (205) itself doesn’t function as a separate country code.
Making Sense of International Phone Numbers
Here’s a simplified way to understand international phone numbers:
- Country Code + Area Code + Local Phone Number:This is the typical format for calling phone numbers outside your country.
- +1: Reserved for the United States.
- Area Code: Specific to a region within a country (except for the US and Canada, which have a country code and then an area code).
Looking Up the Mystery Number
If you’re unsure about the location of a phone number with a +1 (205) prefix, you can easily search online using the following format:
- (205) + remaining digits of the phone number
Search engines or online phone number directories will reveal the city or region associated with the area code, helping you identify the general location of the caller.
Remember: The +1 is the key giveaway that the phone number belongs to the United States. The (205) area code provides more specific details about the region within the US.
So, next time you see a +1 (205) phone number, you’ll know it’s a call from somewhere in western or central Alabama, USA!
