dailing an american number?

[dragon]

If i wanted to call a company in a America that has their number displayed as

1-800-COMPANYNAME how would I go about it

is the IDD code for the USA 001?

Do you press the number on the keypad of the phone that corresponds to that letter?

e.g for the example above 001180026672696263

Why do American companies put letters instead of their phonenumber

[punky]

Basically, you have to drop the first 1 in the number as that's the long-distance carrier code for dialing internally in the US.

You dial 00 to go international, then you add a 1 which is the country code, then you drop the first number 1, so you'd dial 00 1 800 123 4567

Be aware 1-800 numbers are toll free numbers so they either won't allow international calls or they will charge you at the normal rate

[PeteTheMusicGuy]

Should be able to call the toll free number but you will be charged rather higher than the normal rate

[punky]

Originally Posted by PeteTheMusicGuy

Should be able to call the toll free number but you will be charged rather higher than the normal rate

Not according to the automated voice that warns you... It just reconnects you to their geographic number normally.

[JohnHorb]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_keypad

[dragon]

Originally Posted by PeteTheMusicGuy

Should be able to call the toll free number but you will be charged rather higher than the normal rate

I'd use VOIP its 1.2p/min same as most other destinations

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by dragon

If i wanted to call a company in a America that has their number displayed as

1-800-COMPANYNAME how would I go about it

is the IDD code for the USA 001?

Do you press the number on the keypad of the phone that corresponds to that letter?

e.g for the example above 001180026672696263

Why do American companies put letters instead of their phonenumber

Because it is easier to remember?
1 800 CALL DHL is easier to remember than 1 800 225 5345
1 866 4 ZIPCAR is again easier than 1 866 494 7227
Some get a bit tenuous and IMHO no easier to remember
1 888 662 HSBC is no easier than 1 888 662 4722

What's easyjets phone number (I know they encourage on line but their planes used to have it in 30 ft letters on the side of the plane - still remember it?) or say BA.
I can tell you JetBlue is 1800JETBLUE and BA is 1800AIRWAYS, don't need to look either up, I just know the number.

When you dial an 8nn number you will get a message along the lines of
'the toll free number you have dialed is not free of charge outside the US please hang up if you do not wish to be charged for this call'

The cost will be the same as any other US call.

[BexTech]

Originally Posted by punky

Not according to the automated voice that warns you... It just reconnects you to their geographic number normally.

Call 18866, 1899 and 18185 usually lets you dial them, just you get charged.

---------- Post added at 04:31 ---------- Previous post was at 04:30 ----------

Originally Posted by dragon

I'd use VOIP its 1.2p/min same as most other destinations

For USA Toll Free numbers I use FWD VoIP as it's free.

[Ben B]

USA toll free numbers don't cost anything on Skype either

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Originally Posted by dragon

Why do American companies put letters instead of their phonenumber

Easier to remember a name than a number

[BexTech]

Originally Posted by ben_b

USA toll free numbers don't cost anything on Skype either

Ah, never liked the over-priced proprietary Skype service myself.

[m419]

Yeah Skype and Vonage far too expensive, especially when you call UK Mobiles!!!

In fact there is actually no point in taking out these services anymore as traditional phone companies are lowering the cost of bundles.

[dragon]

Don't call it anymore, Used to rent a server at burstnet, don't anymore.