International calls can be paid viatelephone card (aka phone card, calling card). These populartelecommunications products allow users to initiate an international call from almost anywhere in the world. These cards typically offer rates lower than most traditionallong-distance products and services, and can be used vialandline,cellular phone,PBX, and some VoIP services, as well as from some airports and hotels.
In theUnited Kingdom, there are various ways to make an international call.[3] For users with access to alandline:
It can be made directly by dialling thecountry code together with the destination phone number. This is the most expensive way to call internationally, unless a special arrangement is made with thetelephone operator. For example, withBT there is an option to add an international add-on to a standard calling plan.[4]
Dial-around access numbers allow a landline user to call an 08 or 09 number to connect to a service that routes usingLCR rather than direct routes. This allows the call to be carried cheaper as the user is getting "around" the expensive direct routing method.[5]
It can also be made with the use of atelephone card.[6] This way, international calls are made by first dialling to a local access telephone number and providing thePIN before dialling thecountry code together with the destination phone number. Some companies provide business solutions and accounts for businesses that are making high volumes of international calls.[7]
Formobile phone users, the choices used to be very limited but it is no longer the case asmobile phone network operators roll out new pricing models and innovation incall routing developed. There are now numerous ways for a mobile phone user to call internationally:
It can be made directly by dialling thecountry code together with the destination phone number. This is the most expensive way to call internationally.
It can be made by adding an add-on to an existing mobile phone tariff. A number ofmobile phone network operators are offering add-ons for making discounted international calls.[8] Somemobile phone network operators describe their add-ons as giving 'unlimited' minutes for making international calls. However, the officialFair Usage Policy tends to limit the maximum allowable talk time at 3,000 minutes per month.
It can be made with the use of atelephone card, as described above. Telephone cards are typically sold innewsagents or can be purchased from the user's mobile phone usingreverse SMS billing[9]
It can be made through acall-forwarding service that allows mobile phone users to associate an international phone number with alandline number within theUnited Kingdom. Users would dial alandline number and the call is then forwarded internationally. This allows mobile phone users to take advantage of their free minutes when accessing the service. Since the provider identifies its users by theirCaller ID's, there is no need to provide aPIN when accessing the service.
It can be made by first dialling avoice short code, which tends to be operated by a company other than themobile phone network operator, before entering thecountry code together with the destination phone number.
It can also be made with the use ofVoIP applications onsmart phones. Such applications includeSkype,Google Voice, and others. Some applications allow users to make free international calls, which are paid by sponsors. These applications make use of theWi-Fi or3G connection on the phones to make calls. Alternatively, calls can also be routed by accessing a server through a local or regional phone number.
ALocal Dialling Disparity exists where the originating number and the foreign number are on the same network, usually amobile telephone provider with operations in multiple countries. A less expensive call path is available by routing within the localMobile Switching Center without going out to the globalGMSC to itsHLR. Both users are on the same network, so the international call remains within that company's network.
^C.C.I.T.T. IInd Plenary Assembly (1960-12-08).Red Book Volume IIbis; Recommendation E.29: Numbering of Subscribers' Lines in Automatic and Semi-Automatic International Working. New Delhi: ITU. p. 38.
^C.C.I.T.T. IIIrd Plenary Assembly (1964-05-25).Blue Book Volume II; Recommendation E.29: Numbering for International Working. Geneva: ITU. p. 98.
