Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Whether you are an American traveling abroad or a UK resident wanting to call someone in the United States, we need to know the options and procedures in place to call from one country to another. Learn how to call from anywhere in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) to anywhere in the United States. You can choose to call by landline, mobile phones brought from the United States, UK mobile phones or online services.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Call the US from a traditional phone

1. 

   First, dial “00” on the phone. Dial the UK international calling code (00) on the phone. This code shows that the number you are about to call is outside the UK.
   • If this is a mobile number, you may need to press the "+" on your keyboard instead of "00".

2. 

   
   
   Dial the country code "1". After 00, press 1 on the phone keypad. This is the country code for the United States, which indicates that you are about to call a US phone number.
   • In case this phone number (starting with 1, area code, finally seven numbers) is recorded by you online, in phone book or given by someone else, you do not need to dial another number. "1" more. For example, you would dial 00-1 - (###) - ### - ####, not 00-1-1 - (###) - ### - ####.

3. 

   
   
   Dial the area code in the United States. After entering the international calling code (00) and country code (1), you need to dial the US area code you want to call.
   • US area codes always have three numbers and are usually written in parentheses before seven phone numbers, such as: (###) - ### - ####.
   • US toll-free numbers with area codes are replaced with one of the following: 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844. However, toll-free numbers will still be charged for outside calls The United States, and in fact, cannot always be called. Instead, you can call the company's alternative standard phone number.
   • Note: a person's area code does not always represent their actual geographic location in the United States, as this person may have moved but kept the old phone number, or they purchased a phone in the other areas where you live.

4. 

   
   
   Dial the remaining seven numbers. After the international calling code (00), the country code (1) and the three area code numbers are the remaining seven digits of the US phone number. After entering all this information, you can press the call button to dial out.
   • All US phone numbers have a total of ten numbers, including three area codes and the remaining seven with the following structure: (###) - ### - ####.
   • Note: you should not add any special characters like "#", "-", "(", or ")" even if they appear in the article example or anywhere. The recipient's phone number is listed.
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Method 2 of 3: Use an online service or app

1. 

   Use Skype for voice or video calls. Try using the popular Skype service to make voice or video calls to anyone in any country, as long as they have Skype installed on their phone or computer. You can also call regular phone numbers for a very small fee, regardless of whether the number is associated with your Skype account or not.
   • Download Skype for free for your smartphone, tablet or computer to start calling your Skype account right away without charge. If you want to use Skype to call regular US numbers, buy a Skype Credit to pay for your call, or choose to subscribe to a monthly savings plan if you need to call frequently.
   • You need to make sure your computer or phone is connecting to the high-speed Internet when calling Skype, because the picture and sound quality will be better and more realistic if the connection is stable.
   • Note: if you use the Skype mobile app on a phone or tablet that is not connected to Wi-Fi, you will need to pay data charges. Talk to your SIM / phone card provider about these fees, or buy a data plan with large to unlimited capacity if you use these applications frequently without an Internet connection.

2. 

   Try other calling apps. Use another service that offers voice / video calling like Google Hangouts, Viber or WhatsApp. Similar to Skype, calls through these services are free to users and only cost a small fee if you call regular mobile or landline numbers.
   • Use these services on your computer or through free apps for phones or tablets. Note: if your phone is not connected to Wi-Fi, you will have to pay data charges for the call using the mobile app.
   • These calling services have slightly different features, so give it a try to see which app works best for you. Or we can make a selection based on which US contact criteria will or are using so you can call them for free.

3. 

   Check service before using. You need to load contacts, phone numbers or credits (if needed) into a calling service or app before you use it to call the United States from the UK. Get familiar with the call process, picture quality, sound, and any other features for you to get to grips with without a hitch.
   • If possible, give it a call before you leave for the UK to get used to everything. It's important that your Internet connection is stable and that you use the same device to connect when you go abroad.
   • Have good microphones and headphones for calls from the UK, especially if you're calling with an old computer that doesn't have a built-in microphone / speaker, or if you want hands-free chat.
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Method 3 of 3: Choose how to call

1. 

   Bring your mobile phone to the UK. If you are in the US and traveling to the UK bring an unlocked phone that supports SIM cards from another carrier. A SIM card is a microchip containing information that you can purchase from a mobile operator while abroad.
   • The device you bring with you to the UK must be an unlocked GSM (global mobile technology used in most countries around the world), which means this handset is not limited when it is available. Use with other providers. AT&T and T-Mobile usually offer unlocked GSM phones.
   • Find a UK mobile carrier that offers a SIM card suitable for your phone. Most cell phones use standard size SIM cards, but iPhones and some smartphones today use special size nano or micro SIM cards.
   • You can subscribe to international calling plans through your UK carrier, but be aware that these services are often very expensive.
   • Whether you choose an international calling plan or buy a SIM card, you will need to call your US service provider to change or suspend service and answer all your questions before coming to the UK.

2. 

   Buy mobile phones in UK. Choose to buy a mobile phone in the UK if you cannot or do not want to bring a phone from the United States as it is often simpler and cheaper. Buy an inexpensive phone for short-term use in the UK, along with a prepaid SIM card for making international calls.
   • Determine the price of the plan to make sure you know the cost of international calls. Check mobile data charges on your smartphone if you plan to call through Internet applications.
   • Most postpaid SIM cards for mobile phones in the UK are available for a few minutes of prepaid calling, after using up you can recharge on your phone or go to your carrier's kiosk for assistance.
   • Major phone networks in the UK are Vodafone, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile, O2 and Orange. Stores like Car Phone Warehouse and Phones4U sell phones from many different carriers at very affordable prices.

3. 

   Call from landlines. You can call the US from UK landlines if you wish. Ask your ground line service provider about international calling rates, or buy a calling card to save on calling charges to the United States.
   • Buy international calling cards from UK department stores, post offices or phone shops to save money if you frequently have to call overseas. International calling cards can generally be used on landlines or mobile phones.
   • To use an international calling card, normally you will have to dial the access number located on the back of the card, then a unique PIN, and finally the phone number you want to call.
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Advice

• Keep this in mind when dialing: The United States is divided into six time zones. While in the UK, the maximum time gap can be 11 hours if you call Hawaii, or just 5 hours if you call New York. Remember to check the time difference so that you can call the recipient at a reasonable time, or during business hours if it's a business call.
• In some cases, international texting can be a convenient and affordable option if it is not necessary to communicate by voice.

Warning

• Limit international calls by hotel phone because they often add an extra fee to the rate, even if it is a free call if you are making from another phone, you should check with the hotel party in advance about the rates fees if planning to use the phone in the room.