Remember that “011” is the prefix for only the North American Numbering Plan. If you are placing a call from a country other than the U. S. , you will need to find the IDD for that country. Sometimes international phone numbers will be listed with a “+” symbol before the digits of the phone number. If you are dialing from a cell phone, you can use the “+” symbol (typically found on the same key as the “0”) in place of “011. ” Or just replace the “+” with “011” if you wish. [1] X Research source
As an example, if you were calling a phone number in Australia, the country code is “61. ” So, you would dial 011 (IDD number) then 61 (country code). Note that some countries share a country code. For instance, the United States, Canada, most of the Caribbean, Guam, and other U. S. territories all share the country code “1. ”[2] X Research source There may also be a number added to the country code if the given country has a different method for calling a mobile phone rather than a landline. For instance, in Mexico, you must dial “1” after the country code (“52”) to reach a mobile phone number. [3] X Trustworthy Source Federal Communications Commission Independent U. S. government agency responsible for regulating radio, television, and satellite, and phone communications Go to source
The city/area code can be a number between 1-3 digits long. [4] X Research source Note that smaller countries may not use city or area codes at all, in which case you will dial whatever phone number is given. Note that if a city/area code is not given to you, you should ask for it from the individual that holds the phone number rather than look it up based on location. Someone’s current address or home city may not be the same as their area code, because a phone can be purchased in a different area code than where it is used.
Note that a phone number from another country may have more or fewer digits than the standard 7 numbers in a domestic U. S. phone number. If a “0” is given before the phone number you are meant to call, omit this and dial the following phone number. The zero is a “trunk code” meant for domestic calls within many countries, but is not used for placing international calls. [5] X Research source For a complete example, say you are calling the British Museum in London, England in the United Kingdom. To call from the U. S. , you use the IDD number “011. ” The country code for the UK is “44,” and the area code for London is “20. ” The rest of the phone number is “7323 8299. ” So, in total, you would dial 011 44 20 7323 8299 to place your call to the museum.
Open the dialpad in your Skype app using the button that looks like the 10 keys on a traditional phone dialpad. Then select the country you are calling to from the dropdown menu. The country code will automatically be added, so you need only press or type in the rest of the phone number with area code. There is no need to use an IDD number. If the person you are trying to call has a Skype account, you can skip dialing a phone number altogether and call him or her for free. Just add him or her as a contact to start a free audio or video call at any time.
Try out services like PopTox if you want to make calls from a computer browser without having to download any software or app. Use mobile apps like MagicApp and Talkatone to place international calls for free. [7] X Research source Or, try a service like Google Hangouts, Rebtel, or Vonage to make calls at affordable rates. [8] X Research source
Try out popular services like Google Hangouts, Viber, or Facebook Messenger. These apps simply require you to join the service in order to call other users of the service for free. [9] X Research source Make sure both you and the person you are calling are connected to a reliable internet connection before placing a call through an application on your computer or phone. Data rates still apply for using any app on your mobile device unless connected to WiFi.
International calls to cell or mobile phones are often charged at higher rates than those to fixed or landline phones. You may want to determine what type of phone it is you are calling beforehand, and dial a landline phone if you have the option to. [10] X Trustworthy Source Federal Communications Commission Independent U. S. government agency responsible for regulating radio, television, and satellite, and phone communications Go to source Some countries have a standard way to distinguish whether a given phone number is for a landline or a mobile phone, typically through the number or numbers that it starts with.
If you plan to make calls abroad frequently, talk to the provider about their international calling plans. Otherwise, inquire about the one-time rates you would be charged to place a single call to another country. Some phone service providers may give you other specific instructions for dialing an international number. You should also remember that when dialing from any internal business line, you may need to dial “9” to reach any external line.
Be wary of international calling plans from your current phone service provider. While these may advertise competitive rates per call, there are often additional fees or overage charges, and the package may only be cost-effective if you plan to make a certain number of calls per month. [11] X Trustworthy Source Federal Communications Commission Independent U. S. government agency responsible for regulating radio, television, and satellite, and phone communications Go to source Consider an international calling card or online service for an option that is typically less expensive than calling plans for cell phones or landlines. Calling cards are prepaid, so you pay only for what you use. Internet-based services may be free or have other flexible pricing options. With any service, you should make sure you understand all of the charges and policies.
