Communication for Scholars

Postal Service and Post Office locations

For information about the U.S. Postal Service and locations in Springfield, please visit their website.

Telephone service

For telephone service installation visit AT&T Missouri, call the toll-free number (1-800-464-7928), or visit their website from any public phone, Monday through Friday to arrange for service. Mediacom also provides telephone service.

All telephone numbers in the U.S. have seven digits (example: 836-1000).

There is a three-digit "area code" number that indicates the section of the U.S. where the telephone is located. The area code for Springfield is 417. In addition, for long distance calls, you must dial a 1 before the area code and then the phone number (example: 1-417-836-1000). If using a 900 number, there is usually a fee to use these numbers.

A telephone numbers with the area code 800 or 866 are usually toll-free numbers (free of charge if dialed anywhere in the U.S.).

Cell phones

Many cell phone carriers require that a person have a social security number in order to get a cell phone. However, there are cell phone options for you. Please contact the cell phone provider directly for the options available to you.

There are several cell phone providers in the area:

• Cingular
• Sprint
• Alltel
• T-Mobile

These companies offer two different types of services, contract plans and pay-as-you-go plans. Typically contract plans are for a minimum of two years. If you will not be in the US for at least two years we suggest the second option. Pay-as-you-go plans or "Go-Phones" are pre-paid plans without a long term contract. Contact your preferred cell phone provider for more information.