BUSINESS MEMO: NO PROBLEM IN CHANGEOVER

The changeover for telephone callers in eastern Missouri using the new 573 prefix instead of the long-established 314 went well, says Southwestern Bell Telephone.

The final changeover a week ago followed a six-month trial period.

There were no major problems or complaints. Everything was fairly smooth, according to telephone company spokesman Tom Pagano.

Starting July 8, when the company's equipment was changed over, callers had to use the 573 prefix for virtually any long-distance call in eastern Missouri and parts of central Missouri outside the St. Louis metropolitan area, where numbers retain the 314 prefix.

During the six-month transition period, callers could dial 314 or 573 to reach parties served by the new code. On Monday, callers who did not dial the 573 prefix were told by a recording to "please hang up and dial again" with the correct code.