Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: How to make calls from a mobile or landline phone
• Method 2 of 3: How to use a prepaid card for international calls
• Method 3 of 3: How to Save on International Calls
• Tips
• Warnings

Calling to another country requires more steps than calls within a country. International calls to France are no exception. However, this is not as difficult as it sounds. You can make calls directly from your phone, using your international calling card, or using the app.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: How to make calls from a mobile or landline phone

1. 1 Dial the international access code. It includes two to four digits (depending on the country). In Russia, the exit code is 8-10 (press 8, wait for a dial tone, and press 10), and in the United States and Canada 011.
   • A list of exit codes by country can be found here.
   • If you are using a mobile phone, press "+" (this symbol is on the same key as 0). This does not work on landlines.
2. 2 Dial 33. This is the country code for France. If you enter other numbers, you are not calling France.
3. 3 Dial the area code. The area code is the first two digits of the phone number. If the first digit of the area code is 0, start with the second digit.
   • For example, in the number 01 22 33 44 55 the area code is 01. Don't dial 0 - just dial 1.
4. 4 Dial the phone number. French phone numbers are eight digits long (no two-digit area code). Typically, telephone numbers are written as five pairs of numbers with spaces between the pairs. Sometimes dashes or periods are used instead of spaces.
   • For example, to call France from Russia at 01 22 33 44 55, dial 81033122334455.

Method 2 of 3: How to use a prepaid card for international calls

1. 1 Select a card. You can buy it from a brick-and-mortar or online store. The card may cost as little as 150 rubles, but this does not mean that it is profitable to buy it. Check how much a minute of conversation with France costs. Compare prices if you have different types of cards.
   • Always read the small print.Find out if calls to mobile phones are more expensive than landlines, and whether you can call both landlines and mobile phones.
   • Check the card expiration date. If the card costs 2,000 rubles, it should not be valid for only one month.
   • In some countries, there are reusable cards that can be used to deposit money. Find out if such cards are available in your country.
2. 2 Find your PIN. It is located under a silver coating on the front or back of the card. Sometimes the PIN code is indicated on the receipt.
3. 3 Dial the number indicated on the front of the card. Listen carefully to the bot's instructions, especially if this is your first time using the map. Wait until you are offered:
   • Enter your PIN.
   • Dial the desired number (do it as described in the first section).
4. 4 Keep track of the number of minutes. Place a pen and paper near the phone. Write down the time you started the conversation and the time you hung up. Convert a span of time to minutes. Subtract these minutes from the total minutes you paid for.
   • For example, if you started a conversation at 12:00 and ended it at 13:10, the call lasted 70 minutes. If you paid in 5000 minutes, you have 4930 minutes left.

Method 3 of 3: How to Save on International Calls

1. 1 Check with your carrier. If you use a landline or mobile phone, you can save money by making frequent calls to France. Check with your carrier to see if they offer special rates for international calls (at a flat monthly rate or on a per minute basis).
2. 2 Install the app on your smartphone. Many applications, such as Skype or WhatsApp, allow you to make calls to France for little or no money. Compare how much the app costs and how much it will save you on international calls. Find an app that suits your needs - think how long you plan to talk, how often you plan to call, and whether you are calling landlines or mobiles.
3. 3 Use VoIP-service (IP-telephony). If you do not have a smartphone, you can use IP-telephony (voice communication over the Internet) to call landline and mobile phones, as well as computers. VoIP service providers such as Telfin or MultiFon can make calls to France and many other European countries much cheaper than using the regular telephone network.
4. 4 Consider video chatting. There are many video chat apps available to chat with people from France or anywhere in the world. But be sure to read the terms of service. For example, in Skype, chat is free only if your interlocutor also uses Skype, and you can only talk with one interlocutor. You have to pay for a chat with several people.
5. 5 Think about short text messages. Use them if you rarely do it. For example, if you want your friend in Paris to know that you have arrived safely in Moscow, 10 rubles for one SMS is better than 60 rubles for 1 minute of conversation.

Tips

• Most dialing codes in France start with 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 or 09.
• French cell phone codes start with 06 or 07.
• The difference between Moscow and Paris time is 1 hour, and between Far Eastern and Paris time - 8 hours. Therefore, do not forget about the time difference when you call France from different regions of Russia. There are sites on the Internet that show the current time in different cities of the world, including France.

Warnings

• Remember that a call to a mobile phone in France will cost much more than a call to a mobile phone in Russia.