Your finger will do a little more work when dialing a phone number — even when calling your next-door neighbor — when mandatory 10-digit dialing goes in effect on April 3.

With the introduction of the new 762 area code last year, 10-digit dialing actually began in September 2005 and affects callers in Murray and Whitfield counties (along with residents in the Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Cornelia, LaGrange, Rome and Toccoa areas). Georgia now has seven area codes.

All customers who currently have a phone number with a 706 area code will keep the 706 area code. There will be no change in your existing rates, calling areas, plans or telephone number. The new 762 area code will be issued to new telephone numbers beginning May 16.

The addition of the new area code is a numbers game, according to the state’s Public Service Commission. When the pool of available numbers drops too low, a new area code is needed. Also, competing local phone companies need phone numbers to serve their customers.

And consider all the way telephone numbers are being used in today’s technological world: multiple phone lines, modems, pagers, fax machines, wireless phones and some alarm systems.

The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) determines the need for and the timing of area code relief. Then, the PSC decides which method (overlay or geographical split) will be used to implement the new area code. The PSC has a transition period for customer notification and education to help avoid confusion when dialing a new number.

Since 2000, the PSC has mandated number conservation measures to delay the assignment of a new area code, including requiring 1,000 number block assignments and reassigning unused exchanges.

The NANPA in 2001 called for a new area code in the 706 service area but the PSC at that time mandated number conservation measures that have extended the life of 706 area code numbers.

The new area code for the 706 area code is an overlay, meaning the new area code has the same geographic boundary as the existing area code.

Existing phone numbers and local calling areas don’t change, but 10-digit local dialing becomes necessary. When the 706 area code numbers are used up, new number assignments will be made in the new overlay area code. The NANPA predicts that at the current usage rate, the 706 area code will run out of numbers by mid-year.

Here are some tips from the PSC for dealing with 10-digit dialing:

n An area code is part of your telephone number, rather than an extension of it. Remember to give it to people asking for your number.

n Don’t forget to verify area codes of friends and family.

n Just add 10-digit telephone numbers to the list of multi-digit numbers, like your driver’s license and Social Security number, that you already have memorized.

n If possible, program phones to automatically dial 10-digit numbers if you think you’ll have trouble remembering the full number.