You've probably noticed that many international phone numbers begin with a plus sign. Here's an example: +44 700 000 0000. Some of you may know that 44 is UK's country code, but what does the plus sign in front of the country code mean?
The plus sign vs international prefix (a.k.a. IDD or exit code)
The sequence required to dial a foreign number is: International prefix - Country code - National subscriber number. The plus sign before the country code means "add the international prefix" of the country you are dialing from. So, using the example above, if you were dialing from the US you would replace the plus sign with 011, while, if dialing from one of the numerous countries using international prefix 00, you would instead have 00 44 700 000 0000.
Here's a list of international prefixes.
Can I actually dial the plus sign?
With the advancement in technology and growing popularity of cellular phones you can now simply enter the plus sign before the country code. Cell phone devices allow it and wireless networks automatically acknowledge the international call. In this case you no longer have to enter the international prefix. The big advantage with using the plus sign is that you don't have to add a different international prefix for each country you are dialing from.
Long pressing 0 (zero) will dial + on most wireless devices.
A recap
If you see an international number that has a plus sign before the country code you either dial + or replace it with your country's international prefix.
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FAQs
The + indicates the country code. The international access code is the 011 you dial from the US and Canada to call overseas. For example, if it is a number in Germany, it would read +49 (0)30 295 7890. The (0) is dialled in-country only. If you're calling from the States, you'd dial 011-49-30-295-7890.
What does plus mean for international calls? ›
International format for telephone numbers
The international format uses a plus sign '+' to represent the international prefix, followed by a country code ('61' for Australia). For landline numbers: start with a plus sign '+' and add the country code ('61' for Australia) add the area code without the '0'
What does +1 mean on international call? ›
Each country has its own unique code. For example, the country code for the United States is +1. So if someone wanted to call you in the United States from another country, they would simply type +1 and then your phone number, also including your area code.
Is +1 the same as 011? ›
Is +1 the same as 011? Yes, +1 is the same as 011 when you are making an international call from within the United States.
What is international calling plus? ›
Vodacom has launched a new product called International Calling Plus which allows customers to call 118 countries from 89c per minute on per second billing.
What is +1 international code for? ›
1 – United States, including United States territories: 1 (340) – United States Virgin Islands. 1 (670) – Northern Mariana Islands. 1 (671) – Guam.
What does +1 do when calling? ›
The USA country code for phone numbers is +1. This code must be included when dialing US phone numbers from abroad. It lets the phone network know that the call is being made to the USA. After the country code, the next three digits of the US phone number are the area code.
What is the symbol for international call? ›
Dial your country's exit code (US = 011 , list of exit codes) which replaces the plus sign (+) commonly used in international numbers.
What is global calling plus? ›
Global Calling Plus
Unlimited calls to landlines and mobiles in 40+ destinations. $15/mo per line. To add this plan, text 'Plus' to 4004 or. sign in
Why is +1 calling me? ›
+1 indicates call originated from North America. Rest of the missing numbers indicate either the caller has hidden his / her identity or it is a scam / phishing call.
To call a phone in another country, dial 011, and then the code for the country you are calling, the area or city code, and the phone number. For example, if you are trying to call someone in Brazil (country code 55), in the city of Rio de Janeiro (city code 21), you would dial 011 - 55 - 21 - XXXX-XXXX.
Is +1 always US? ›
Just as within a country there are codes for a particular city or area, there are also international codes to direct your call to a different country. In this case the '1' is the code for North America - including Canada and the Carribean as well as the US.
What does a +1 on a number mean? ›
While +1, The “1” means you are dialling to the USA, “1” is the country code for the USA in the context of the global phone system.
Is +1 also 001? ›
“1″ is the shared country code for the United States, Canada and a handful of small islands near North America. Dialing “00” plus “1” is the way that most Europeans have to dial the phone to call the US, Canada or those islands, so an incoming call from one of those places will often appear as “001…”
Why do phone numbers have a plus sign? ›
As the international call prefix varies by country/region, the plus (+) sign is used to represent the international call prefix. Many mobile phones allow the plus (+) sign to be used instead of entering the appropriate international call prefix. Calling a domestic number might also require a trunk prefix, typically 0.
What does +44 mean in phone numbers? ›
The +44 is the international dialling code for the UK. It replaces the leading 0 on UK phone numbers when dialled from another country. 07 numbers are mobile numbers, ie not restricted to a geographical area, as 020 (london), 027 (Cardiff) or 01663 (Newport) are.
What does +1 mean for a phone number? ›
Dialing +1 enables callers throughout the world to place a call within the North American Numbering Plan. As mentioned, the + sign is simply a replacement for the exit code. The North American Numbering Plan (NANP) serves 20 countries and territories, including: The United States of America and its territories. Canada.
What countries use +1 for phone numbers? ›
The entities that are within the North American Numbering Plan – the United States and its possessions, Canada, Bermuda, and several Caribbean nations — share the international "country" code 1, with each state (or parts of states), province, territory, or island nation given its own three-digit "area code".
