Making international calls can be confusing when you take into consideration the dialing codes and foreign numbers. Occasionally, mobile phones require different country codes, further complicating the process. With a bit of research and a knowledge of the codes you need to gather, however, placing an international call to a mobile phone can be done easily.
Instructions
1. Clarify the phone number. When someone gives you the phone number for an international mobile phone, she may not be considering the other country codes you will need to dial. Some countries have one area code that comes before mobile numbers and another before land lines. To locate the correct codes, visit the Country Calling Codes website (link in Resources section below) and enter your calling location and destination country. If you need a special code for a mobile phone, it will be displayed.
2. Dial 011. When dialing internationally from the United States and Canada, you must always dial 011 and then the mobile number you are calling. You should do this regardless of the number you are calling.
3. Add the country code, area code and phone number. Once you've dialed 011, add the international country code. Some countries may use area codes, which may come in varying lengths. Italian area codes are two to four digits, for example, and Guatemala does not use them at all.
4. Be aware of rates. Often, rates to call international mobile phones are higher than calls to land lines, even if they are in the same country. Calls to mobile phones in Guatemala, for example, can cost up to 10 cents more than calls to land lines, and may be even higher depending on your phone service provider. To avoid an unpleasant surprise on your phone bill, call your phone company first to get rate information.
5. Look online. When in doubt, use a website like howtocallabroad.com. When you visit this website, you can choose the country you are calling from and the country you wish to call. It will then present you with a page that shows you the instructions on call mobiles and land lines in that country.
Tags: land lines, mobile phones, phone number, your phone, area code, area codes