Making an international call from a cell phone is the most expensive calling option, but it's not as difficult as it sounds. Many cellular services are available for international calling.
For example, if your cell phone service provider is Verizon Wireless you'll pay 49 cents a minute to call Mexico, or $1.49 a minute to call France [source: Verizon Wireless]. Companies like Verizon do offer international calling plans that provide discounted rates for an extra monthly fee.
Similar to making international calls from a landline, you can get better rates by buying international calling cards that work with cell phones. Just dial a local access number, enter the PIN on the card and dial the number following the standard international format.
International travelers who try to use their U.S. cell phone in another country will find themselves paying extremely expensive rates, even when dialing numbers in the local country. That's because the U.S. phone is roaming on a foreign cellular network and is being charged at international roaming rates.
One way around paying international roaming charges is to buy an unlocked GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) cell phone. GSM phones are the standard in Europe, but are harder to find in the United States. Even harder to find in the United States is an unlocked GSM phone. Most American GSM phones are "locked" by the cellular service provider, meaning the phone will only work with one service like Verizon [source: The Travel Insider]. Unlocked GSM phones allow you to remove the phone's SIM card (Subscriber Information Module) and replace it with another SIM card from a different cellular provider.
There are many Web sites that offer cell-phone unlocking services. The process usually requires that you enter a special code into your phone.
What does this mean for international travelers who want to make local or international calls? If you have an unlocked GSM phone, you can buy a new SIM card for each country in which you're traveling and making calls. When you're in Germany, you can go to a local cellular store and buy a $20 SIM card and some prepaid minutes. Put the German SIM card in your phone and now you're being charged like a local subscriber without having to buy a new phone.
There are even some new international cell-phone services like MaxRoam that work like VoIP for cell phones. Here's how it works:
- You buy a special SIM card from MaxRoam and choose a phone number in the United States, France, England or Ireland for free.
- You can also pay for up to 50 more local cell-phone numbers in over 40 other countries that will call your same cell phone. That allows your international friends and colleagues to call you for cheap.
- When you dial a number and press "send" the MaxRoam system finds the cheapest way to route the call (over the Internet) and calls you back a few seconds later once a connection is made.
A service like MaxRoam is essentially an international callback service, which we'll talk about next.
FAQs
The easiest way to make an international call is to dial the + (which should be the same key as the 0), followed by the country code, and then the phone number. The + replaces the International Direct Dialing (IDD) code when you use a mobile phone to call to another country.
How can I improve my answering phone calls? ›
Here are 10 steps you can take to practice answering the phone professionally:
- Answer by the third ring. It's courteous to pick up the phone promptly to avoid making callers wait. ...
- Offer a greeting. ...
- Speak with a smile. ...
- Be clear. ...
- Avoid slang. ...
- Be positive. ...
- Ask before you put someone on hold. ...
- Take messages accurately.
Yes you can receive the international calls but their carrier will charge for the call.
Is answering international calls free? ›
Incoming international calls are treated the same as any other incoming call, they are included in your plan. If you have an unlimited plan: Any incoming calls: No fees. Any incoming messages: No fees.
Can you make international calls on WiFi for free? ›
Calling back to the US is free. Calls to any other country will be charged as per your international long distance calling plan. If you don't have one, you're charged international long distance pay-as-you-go rates.
Can I use WhatsApp to make international calls? ›
Voice calling lets you call your contacts using WhatsApp for free, even if they're in another country. Voice calling uses your phone's internet connection rather than your mobile plan's minutes.
Why do I struggle to make phone calls? ›
Do you ever need to make a phone call and silently hope that whoever you're calling doesn't answer? If yes, you might be suffering from phone anxiety. Whether you're worrying about what you'll say or how your voice sounds, phone anxiety is related to fear. In this case, the fear of making a phone call.
How can I make my call more effective? ›
Use simple and straightforward language. Give one idea or piece of information in each sentence, and try not to "ramble." Avoid slang, and don't use jargon if the other person isn't familiar with your industry. Give them the chance to respond, and ask if they would like you to clarify anything.
How can I make my phone call effective? ›
10 Tips to Better Communication Over The Phone
- Be Clear When Speaking. ...
- Choose Words Carefully. ...
- Use their Name. ...
- Active Listening.
- Keep Phone at the Right Distance.
- Don't Worry About Occasional Silence.
- Prepare Your Points. ...
- Avoid Multitasking While On Call.
People have relied on the PSTN system for international calling for many years, despite disadvantages like cost. These days, you can communicate with anyone using a computer and an internet connection through a VoIP service, eliminating the need for local phone services.
No, the caller is not notified that you're outside the country.
Who pays for incoming international calls? ›
You don't pay extra. The person calliing you from overseas is paying for the call. It would be awfully stupid for people on fido to pay more to receive international call, especially if someone does not have call display and can not tell where the call is coming from, so in conculsion, NO YOUR not charged any extra.
Does it cost money to answer international calls? ›
Originally Answered: If you get a call from an international number to your cell phone and pick it up, do you have to pay for international charges? No, unless it is a scammer, or if you call back. There are many scams out there that will charge you to call back and the scammer gets your money.
Which app is free for international call? ›
Best International Phone Call Apps in Spring 2024
| | Free international calling |
|---|
| BEST OVERALL | BEST FREE APP | |
| Google Voice | WhatsApp | NobelApp |
| $10/user/month | Free | N/A |
| Secure international calling | Personal use | Extra features |
2 more rowsMar 18, 2024
No, you won't be charged international rates if you're in the US and someone calls you while they're outside the US.
How to do an international call for free? ›
Best Apps for Free International Calls
- 1) RingCentral.
- 2) Hushed.
- 3) Vonage.
- 1) RingCentral.
- RingCentral stands out as a comprehensive communication suite, offering features such as audio and video calling, instant messaging, and seamless file sharing. ...
- 2) Hushed.
While you're in the US, you can make calls to another country using your device. If you call other countries only occasionally, you can pay a standard per-minute rate. Learn how to make an international call when you're in the US.
How do you make a call when traveling internationally? ›
When using most mobile phones, you can call the United States or another country while traveling abroad by dialing:
- The plus sign +
- The country code of the country you are calling.
- City/area code (if applicable)
- The telephone number.
+ Dialing allows you to use the plus sign (+) instead of dialing an exit code when placing calls from a GSM country to another country.
- From the Phone app on your Apple® iPhone®, touch and hold the number. on the keypad until the plus sign (+) appears.
- Enter the country code and then the phone number.
- Tap the. Call icon. .
