"It's totally like a networking thing."
There was a time when only phreaks had memorized the area codes. And back then, there were far fewer codes to know. "I'm totally from Richmond."
Like, totally. "Give me a C, give me a U, give me a T ... TAX CUT!" Samantha Test, 27, is the proud owner of the Cadillac of area codes, San Francisco's 415. It has enormous cachet. Ms. Test says she just "feels more like a 415 than a 202."
Of course, this has been years in the making. KRAMER: It's a whole different world downtown-- different Gap, different Tower Records, and she's a 646.
ELAINE: What? What is that?
JERRY: That's the new area code. They've run out of 212s, so all the new numbers are 646.
ELAINE: I was a 718 when I first moved here. I cried every night. ... PHONE MAN: All right, miss Benes, all finished. Here's your new number.
ELAINE: Ahem. 646? What is this?
PHONE MAN: That's your new area code.
ELAINE: I thought 646 was just for new numbers.
PHONE MAN: This is a new number.
ELAINE: No, no, no, no. It's not a new number. It's--it's--it's just a changed number. See? It's not different. It's the same, just...changed.
PHONE MAN: Look, I work for the phone company. I've had a lot of experience with semantics, so don't try to lure me into some maze of circular logic. ... Elaine and a man are talking. MAN: You're probably one of those women who doesn't like to give out her number.
ELAINE: No, I'm not. Here you go.
MAN: 646?
ELAINE: It's a new area code.
MAN: What area? New Jersey?
ELAINE: No, no. It's right here in the city. It's the same as 212. They just multiplied it by 3, and then they added one to the middle number. It's the same.
MAN: Do I have to dial a one first? Elaine nods and the man crumples up her number.
Ah, Area Codes ... | 
