Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Call an international number from a mobile or landline
• Method 2 of 3: Make international calls via online services
• Method 3 of 3: Determine the cost of a call
• Tips

Whether you're traveling or a new resident of the United States, chances are you'll want to call an international number there. There are several ways to do this. Once you learn the basics about international calls from the United Station, you will be able to apply this knowledge to call a foreign number from any device.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Call an international number from a mobile or landline

1. Enter the numbers "011" on the device. First, enter the number for direct international calls from the United States. This indicates that the telephone number you will enter next is a foreign number.
   • Keep in mind that "011" is the number for international calls only in North America. If you want to make international calls from another country, you need the number for international calls for that country.
   • Sometimes you will see a "+" for a foreign phone number. If you are calling from a mobile device, you can use this "+" instead of "011". You can usually find this symbol on the same key as the number zero. You can also simply replace the plus symbol in the phone number with "011".
2. Then enter the country code. Then look up the country code for the country you are calling. This code differs from country to country, but will always consist of 1 to 3 digits.
   • For example, if you want to call a number in Australia, the country code is "61". You must first enter 011 (the number for international calls) and then 61 (country code).
   • Note that some countries have identical country codes. For example, the United States, Canada, most of the Caribbean islands, Guam and other areas belonging to the United States all have the same country code "1".
   • Some countries require an extra digit when calling a mobile device. For example, if you are calling Mexico, to call a mobile device, you must enter the number "1" after entering the country code (52).
3. Then enter the zone number if applicable. After entering the number for international calls and the country code, it is time for the area code. Usually this number is just part of the local telephone number. The zone number indicates which city or region you want to call.
   • The zone number is 1 to 3 digits long.
   • Note that smaller countries sometimes do not use zone numbers. In this case, just call the local phone number.
   • If you have not received the zone number, ask the owner of the telephone number instead of looking it up yourself. A person's current address can be different from the zone number. This is because it is possible to purchase appliances in an area with a different zone number than your own residence.
4. Then enter the remaining digits of the phone number. Enter the remaining keys of the phone number after the international call number, country code and area code. Then press the call key to start the call.
   • Note that foreign telephone numbers can contain more or less digits than the 7 digits that make up a United States number.
   • If you see a "0" before the phone number, ignore it and simply call the phone number after the zero. This "0" is a long distance access number for domestic calls in many countries, but is not used to make international calls.
   • Suppose you want to call the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam from the United States. To do this, you must first enter the number for international calls "011", then the country code "31" of the Netherlands and then the zone number "20" of Amsterdam. The remaining part of the phone number is "674 7000". So to place this call, you need to enter "011 31 674 7000".

Method 2 of 3: Make international calls via online services

1. Use Skype to call international numbers. Call international phone numbers directly through the popular Skype application. You can install this program on your computer as well as on your mobile device. You can buy credit on Skype or take out a monthly subscription.
   • Open the keypad in Skype using the key that looks like the 10 keys on a traditional telephone. Then select the country you want to call from the selection menu. The country code is automatically added, so you only have to enter the area code and the rest of the phone number. It is not necessary to enter the number for international calls.
   • If the person you are trying to call to has an account on Skype, you do not need a phone number and you can call him or her directly through the application. Just add him or her as a contact to start a free audio or video call at any time.
2. Try other services such as MagicApp or PopTox. Use other similar online services to make international calls. Use a computer with internet access or a mobile device with cellular data to make international calls using these services.
   • If you want to make calls from your computer without downloading software or apps, try services like PopTox.
   • Use mobile apps such as MagicApp and Talkatone to make free international calls. You can also use services such as Google Hangouts, Rebtel or Vonage to make international calls at cheap rates.
3. Consider an online service that doesn't require phone numbers. Ask your contact if he or she can be reached via online applications that do not require phone numbers. Many services offer free IP telephony (Voice over IP or VoIP in English).
   • Try popular services such as Google Hangouts, Viber, or Facebook Messenger. Once you are a member of these services, you can call other users on the same service for free.
   • When calling each other via an application on your computer or phone, make sure that both you and the person you are calling have a stable internet connection. Also remember that calls via your mobile device consume data, so preferably call when you are connected via WiFi.

Method 3 of 3: Determine the cost of a call

1. Determine if the international phone number is a mobile number. Find out if the international phone number you have is a landline or mobile phone number. This can affect the cost of a call from the United States. If it is a mobile device, it may be worth considering making the call in a different way.
   • International calls to mobile devices are often more expensive than calls to landlines. It therefore pays to find out the type of device of the person you want to call. If the person has both a landline and a mobile phone, calling the landline is preferred.
   • For some countries it is easy to distinguish numbers from fixed phones from mobile numbers because both types of numbers are built differently.
2. Inquire about the international calling rates from your telephone provider. Ask the provider of the phone that you will be using for international calls about the international calling rates before making the call. If you have both a landline and a mobile device, inquire about the rates for both devices. These can differ, even with the same provider.
   • If you plan to call abroad on a regular basis, it may be worth asking whether specific call bundles exist. If it concerns only one call, ask for the cost price for one international call.
   • Some telephone service providers can give you specific instructions to call an international number. When calling from a company telephone, it may also be necessary, for example, to enter "9" first to call an external number.
3. Find out more about calling plans and cards for international calls. Research the cost of calling bundles for international calls, prepaid cards and other options. If you plan to make regular calls abroad, it is important to know the exact cost.
   • Be careful with calling plans offered by your current telephone provider. These promise competitive rates per call, but often come with additional costs and high prices for exceeding your limit. Moreover, these call bundles are often only advantageous if you place at least a certain number of calls per month.
   • Consider a card for international calls or an online service for cheaper international calls. These cards are prepaid, so you only pay for them when you actually use them. Online services often offer cheap prices or are sometimes even free. Make sure you understand all fees and rules before using any service.

Tips

• Memorize the country codes you often use. Country codes may be easy to look up via Google, but it is annoying to have to look them up over and over again. There is no need to memorize all the country codes, just the ones you need on a regular basis.
• Check the time zone of the country you are calling to. Just because it is broad daylight does not mean that this is also the case in the country to which you are calling. So be sure to look up the current time of the country you are calling to avoid accidentally waking someone up.
• Find out if there are cultural practices for telephone calls in the country you are calling to. This way you avoid committing a social slip without realizing it.
• Another example: for example, if you are calling Guatemala from the United States, you must first enter the number for international calls (011), followed by the country code for Guatemala (502) and the telephone number of the person calling you. The full number will then look like this: 011-502-xxxx-xxxx