because of fraud in the Caribbean.

The code would change from 809 to 441 from January 1 1996, Government announced yesterday.

It would mean hundreds of people throughout the Island getting their business cards changed.

Management and Technology Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons said the move would make life easier for Bermudians.

He explained there had been evidence of pay dodging in countries sharing the 809 code.

This had prompted North American telephone companies to clamp down on calls.

And people, therefore, had had problems in getting collect or credit card calls routed to 809 numbers. It had been virtually impossible to make a collect or credit card call to Bermuda from the Atlanta airport, for instance, said Sen. Gibbons.

Bermuda Telephone Company general manager Mr. Ernest Pacheco said: "The new code will give Bermuda a unique identity.'' Bermudians would be able to use the 441 code from April 1 next year, he explained.

There would, however, be a transition period to allow people to get used to the changes.

The new code would operate, side by side, with 809 until December 31, 1995.

But from January 1, 1996, 809 would no longer give access to the Bermuda network, said Mr. Pacheco. The changes follow approaches by Government and Telco to Bell Communications Research (Bellcore), which administers all numbers in the 18-nation North American area.

Mr. Pacheco said Bellcore welcomed the idea of a new Bermuda code -- a major reason being that 809 numbers were becoming "exhausted''.

There had been increasing demand in North America for new telephone numbers.

"We accept that people are going to have to get used to the new code and that is why there is a transition period.

"People will also have to get business cards with the 809 numbers on them changed.'' Sen. Gibbons said the new code would herald changes in Bermuda's ability to tap into new technological developments.

"This will give Bermuda its own identity.'' Sen. Gibbons said Bermudians had suffered from pay dodging outside the Island.

But sanctions placed on the 809 code following abuse by customers outside Bermuda would now be removed.

"The downside is that people will have to change the numbers on their stationery, which is one of the reasons we are giving as much notice as possible.

"However, I'm sure most people will understand that there are a great many more advantages than disadvantages to having our own code.'' Beginning next week, Bermudians will be able to dial 1-800 numbers directly to the United States.