Long Distance Options
IT Connect > Phones and Services
To Order Service or Questions: help@u.washington.edu or call 206-221-5000
UWATS Order Form: Long Distance Service and Authorization Code Request Order Form
Regional Calling Service
RCS Checker:
View all RCS prefixes: [RCS Full Listing]What is Regional Calling Service?
Regional Calling Service (RCS), the UW's exclusive local calling plan, allows people with a UW telephone (including UW Medicine) to call and be called by more places in the Puget Sound area. All communities in area codes 206, 253, and 425 are part of the RCS calling area.
- Which Numbers Can I Call with RCS?
- Outgoing Calls from UW
- CALL UW - Incoming Calls to UW
- To Call the UW Dial-in Modem Pools with RCS
What's New with RCS Outbound Calling?
The RCS outbound calling area has expanded to include area code 360 communities in the Kitsap Peninsula, Olympia area, and most of Skagit and Whatcom counties. Use the online RCS Checker to see if the number that you wish to call can be reached as a local call when you dial 9 + area code + number. The RCS calling area is now available to UW Medicine phone users.
Placing an Outgoing Call from UW
To place a toll-free call to a telephone number in the RCS calling area from a UW telephone (including UW Medicine telephones):
- Dial 9.
- Listen for the dial tone.
- Dial area code and seven-digit number.
Call UW
CALL UW Checker:
This form can be used to verify whether a number can call UW toll-free. Toll-free numbers for retrieving voice mail, accessing UW modems, and the Information Hotline are also returned by this checker. Please enter the area code and prefix from which you are calling:
View all CALL UW prefixes: [CALL UW Full Listing]What's new with RCS Inbound Calling?
CALL UW is a new feature of RCS that allows people in over 100 Western Washington communities to reach UW and UWMC telephones toll-free. In addition to the same coverage area as outbound RCS, CALL UW adds new communities that can use a local telephone number to reach UW offices, Metro UWATS, and the UW's computer modem pools.
What services are available with CALL UW?
With CALL UW, callers can dial local telephone numbers to reach:- Faculty and staff offices or the campus operator using the UW Automated Attendant.
- UW Information Hotline to hear updated messages regarding campus schedule changes during inclement weather and emergencies.
- Campus voice mail system to retrieve messages remotely.
- Metro UWATS to place long distance calls using your authorization code.
- Campus computer modem pools to check email and use the Web.
Who can use the CALL UW feature?
Anyone can use CALL UW to reach the campus operator, individuals, and offices at the UW and UWMC. This provides a convenient way for people to stay in touch with the UW without incurring long distance charges. Services such as Metro UWATS, voice mail access, and modem pools are restricted to authorized UW faculty, staff, and students.
What communities are included in the CALL UW service area?
All communities in area codes 206, 253, and 425 are included. Many communities in area code 360 are covered, including parts of Clallum, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Island, Kitsap, Lewis, Skagit, Thurston, and Whatcom counties. Visit the online CALL UW Checker for a complete listing.
Where do I find the local CALL UW telephone numbers to dial?
CALL UW telephone numbers are available on the Web at www.washington.edu/itconnect/phones/longdistance.html#calluw/ or by calling toll-free 1-866-5-CALL-UW.
What if there is no local telephone number for my community?
A toll-free telephone number and your UW Direct authorization code may be used to reach UW services if a local telephone number is not yet available. Long distance charges are billed for usage. Local access is provided where technical capability exists on a cost-effective basis. New communities will be added as local services become available.
UW Automated Attendant - Placing an incoming call to UW
To place a toll-free call to a UW telephone number (including UWMC phone numbers) from the CALL UW service areas when a long distance charge would normally apply, use UW Automated Attendant:- Dial the appropriate local CALL UW number for your
area:
Area Local RCS number Aberdeen/Grayland/Westport 360-612-5500 Bellingham/Everson 360-543-5500 Black Diamond/Enumclaw 360-615-5500 Bremerton/Kitsap 360-535-5500 Chehalis/Centralia 360-557-5500 Coupeville/Oak Harbor 360-544-5500 East King County 425-519-5500 Everett 425-262-5500 Hoodsport/Union 360-614-5500 Mt. Vernon 360-542-5800 Olympia 360-252-5500 Port Angeles/Sequim/Gardner 360-504-5500 Port Townsend 360-554-5500 Seattle 206-685-5500 Tacoma 253-552-5500
- When the RCS system answers, dial the UW number you wish to call.
- Press [#].
- Wait on the line while your call is connected.
To call the UW dial-in modem pools with Regional Calling Service CALL UW:
UW dial-in modem pool numbers for the CALL UW areas:For help with problems connecting to the UW dial-in modem pools, contact the UW Technology Service Center by sending email to help@u.washington.edu or by calling 206-221-5000.
Where can I get more information?
Please contact the UW Technology Service Center at help@u.washington.edu or call 206-221-5000. On the Web at www.washington.edu/cac/care.
UW Alternative Toll Service (UWATS)
Long Distance Service and Authorization Code Request Order Form (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)Domestic and International Long Distance Rates
The UW Technology Service Center provides long distance telephone service to campus departments and offices, as well as to the UWMC, through the UWATS long distance system. This system provides detailed call accounting to user departments, and long distance toll savings to the university.
To use UWATS from campus, you must have an unrestricted or semi-restricted telephone, as well as a UWATS authorization code. (Please note that UW operators are not able to connect UWATS or other long distance calls for people calling from restricted phones.) Use of the university's long distance system is for official UW business only.
Other long distance options made available to the university community by the UW Technology Service Center include the Regional Calling Service (RCS), Direct Dial Long Distance, and Calling Cards.
Campus & UW Medical Center UWATS
Use these UWATS dialing procedures when calling from unrestricted UW and UW Medicine telephone numbers with the following prefixes: 206-221, 206-520, 206-543, 206-598, 206-616, 206-685, 206-897, 206-934, 253-692, or 425-352.
Call a long distance number (US and Canada):
- Dial 9.
- Listen for dial tone.
- Dial 1 + area code + 7-digit number.
- Listen for staggered tone.
- Dial UWATS authorization code.
- Dial 9.
- Listen for dial tone.
- Dial 011 + country code + city code (if first digit for city code is a 0, omit the 0) + number.
NOTE: If the total of the digits to be dialed (including the 011) is less than 15 digits, press # after the number. - Listen for staggered tone.
- Dial UWATS authorization code.
- Dial 9.
- Program a single pause.
- Dial 1 + area code + 7-digit number.
- Program a single pause.
- Dial UWATS authorization code.
- Press FAX or SEND.
- Dial 9.
- Program a single pause.
- Dial 011 + country code + city code (if first digit for city code is a 0, omit the 0) + number.
NOTE: If the total of the digits to be dialed (including the 011) is less than 15 digits, press # after the number. - Program a single pause.
- Dial UWATS authorization code.
- Press FAX or SEND.
Harborview Medical Center UWATS
Use the Harborview Medical Center UWATS dialing procedures when calling from HMC phones (744 prefix).
Call a long distance number (US and Canada):
- Dial 9 .
- Listen for dial tone.
- Dial 1 + area code + 7-digit number.
- Listen for staggered tone.
- Dial UWATS authorization code.
- Dial 9 .
- Listen for dial tone.
- Dial 011 + country code + city code (if first digit for city code is a 0, omit the 0) + number.
NOTE: If the total of the digits to be dialed (including the 011) is less than 15 digits, press # after the number. - Listen for staggered tone.
- Dial UWATS authorization code.
- Dial #
- Dial 9 .
- Program a single pause.
- Dial 1 + area code + 7-digit number.
- Program a single pause.
- Dial #
- Dial UWATS authorization code.
- Press FAX or SEND.
- Dial #
- Dial 9 .
- Program a single pause.
- Dial 011 + country code + city code (if first digit for city code is a 0, omit the 0) + number.
NOTE: If the total of the digits to be dialed (including the 011) is less than 15 digits, press # after the number. - Program a single pause.
- Dial #
- Dial UWATS authorization code.
- Press FAX or SEND.
Metro UWATS
- Use Metro UWATS to place UW business calls when away from campus but within the metropolitan calling area.
- Place domestic and international calls using a touch-tone telephone.
- Access numbers for your local dialing area.
Metro UWATS access numbers for your local dialing area:
- Aberdeen/Grayland/Westport - 360-612-5510
- Bellingham/Everson - 360-543-5510
- Black Diamond/Enumclaw - 360-615-5510
- Bremerton/Kitsap - 360-535-5510
- Chehalis/Centralia - 360-557-5510
- Coupeville/Oak Harbor - 360-544-5510
- East King County - 425-519-5510
- Everett - 425-262-5510
- Hoodsport/Union - 360-614-5510
- Mt. Vernon - 360-542-5810
- Olympia - 360-252-5510
- Port Angeles/Sequim/Gardner - 360-504-5510
- Port Townsend - 360-554-5510
- Seattle - 206-685-5510
- Tacoma - 253-552-5510
Place a domestic call using a touch-tone telephone:
- Enter your local access number.
- Listen for dial tone.
- Enter 1 + area code + 7-digit number.
- After the staggered dial tone, enter your UWATS authorization code.
Place an international call using a touch-tone telephone:
- Enter your local access number.
- Listen for dial tone.
- Enter 011 + country code + city code + 7-digit number.
- After the staggered dial tone, enter your UWATS authorization code.
Calling Cards
The UW Technology Service Center provides UW users with Qwest worldcard calling cards.
Use of Qwest worldcard calling cards is for official University business only.
Use a calling card to make long distance calls from locations outside the metropolitan
calling area to locations outside the state of Washington.
NOTE: For information
about making calls or accessing the Internet from international locations, please
call the UW Technology Service Center at 206-221-5000.
To place a call using a Qwest worldcard calling card::
- Dial 1 800-860-4444
- Enter your card number and PIN after the greeting
- For domestic calls, dial the area code and phone number
- For U.S. to internation calls, dial 011+ country code + city code + phone number
- For instructions on how to place calls from outside the U.S., please refer to the dialing guide.
Time saving Tips:
- To delete your last entry, press *
- To place you next call, press and hold # for two seconds
- Press 0 to reach an operator at any time
Qwest worldcard customer service: 1 877-375-4448
Because not all countries are listed in the dialing guide and access numbers are subjet to change, please call Qwest worldcard customer service at 1 877-375-4448, or visit www.qwest.com before leaving the U.S. to verify access numbers.
For dialing assistance, or to report a lost or stolen calling card, please contact:
- During business hours: UW Technology Service Center at 206-221-5000 or 1-800-543-4711.
- After hours: Washington State Department of Information Services (DIS) at 1-800-562-2215.
Direct Dial Long Distance
Direct Dial Long Distance service is one of several long distance calling services provided to the UW community by UW Technology. Other long distance calling options include the University of Washington Alternative Toll Service (UWATS) and the Regional Calling Service (RCS).
To use Direct Dial Long Distance, you must be calling from an unrestricted or semi-restricted UW telephone. Please note that University operators are not able to place long distance calls for people calling from restricted telephones.
To call a long distance number (US and Canada):
- Press [9].
- Listen for dial tone.
- Dial 1 + Area Code + Number.
To call an international number:
- Dial 9.
- Listen for dial tone.
- Dial 011 + Country Code + City Code (omit 0 if first digit) + Number.
- Press [#].
- Dial 9.
- Listen for dial tone.
- Dial 1 + 800, 888, 877, 866, or 855 + Number.
To place a collect or third number call:
- Dial 9.
- Listen for dial tone.
- Dial 0 + Area Code + Number.
- Wait for an operator to answer.
- Dial 9.
- Listen for dial tone.
- Dial 0 + Area Code + Number.
- Listen for progress tone.
- Dial calling card number.
UW Direct
Use UW Direct to call back to the state of
Washington when away from the local calling area.
Calls may be placed from anywhere in the U.S. or
Canada.
To place a call using a touch-tone telephone:
- Enter 1-888-685-5510.
- Enter 1 + Area Code + Telephone Number
- After beep enter your UW Direct authorization code.
To place a call using a modem:
Enter 1-888-685-5599,,,,[9-digit UW Direct Code]
Note: depending on the location, the number of commas may need to be modified.

