Boston at a glance
| Metro area | Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA-NH |
|---|---|
| Area codes | 617 and 857 (Boston, Cambridge and Somerville), 781 and 339 (inner suburbs), 978 and 351 (North Shore and Merrimack Valley), 508 and 774 (South Shore and MetroWest), 603 (Southern New Hampshire) |
| Business districts | Back Bay and Downtown, the Seaport, Cambridge and Somerville, Dorchester and South Boston, the North Shore, Southern New Hampshire |
| Time zone | Eastern Time |
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA-NH is one of the 25 largest U.S. metro areas in the Census Bureau's population estimates.
Small business in the Boston area
Greater Boston's small businesses include contractors, plumbers and electricians working century-old triple-deckers, restaurants in the North End and Seaport, dental and medical practices, and professional and life-science services around Cambridge. The metro reaches into Southern New Hampshire, and both states require all-party consent to record.
Where Ava helps Boston businesses
- Triple-decker and old-house repairs. Trades can have Ava capture the address, unit and problem, flagging emergencies by your rules.
- North End and Seaport restaurants. Restaurants can send rush-hour calls to Ava for reservation and pickup requests.
- Practices and professional offices. Offices can have Ava handle overflow scheduling and intake, with no advice given.
An example call
Dorchester Electric Co. (example) · Ava, AI receptionist
The power's out on our floor of the triple-decker
I'm sorry. I'm the company's AI assistant, and this call may be recorded. Are the other floors out too?
Recording calls in the Boston area
Massachusetts (G.L. c. 272, § 99) and New Hampshire (RSA 570-A:2) both require all-party consent to record. If your setup records calls, Ava announces it at the start. Read more on the state pages for Massachusetts, New Hampshire.
Ava always says she's an AI. If your setup records calls, the script we draft adds a short recording notice to her greeting, and you approve the wording.
Sources
- Justia 50-state recording survey (reviewed Sept. 2024)
- Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272, § 99 (Massachusetts Legislature)
- RSA 570-A:2 (New Hampshire General Court)
- 18 U.S.C. § 2511
- Census Bureau metro population estimates
General information, not legal advice. Checked November 3, 2026; laws change.