Prepare at home what you can't adjust across borders

[PILGRIMSPLAZA]

Years ago my pilgrim friend and I checked our cell phones at home and got a perfect connection there. In Spain it didn't work. Everey time I tried to phone him I got a Spaniard on the line who got angrier and angrier. I didn't understand what was wrong. We had to communicate via his wife in Holland. Later I learned that I should have adjusted something at home before crossing the border but I still don't know what that is. Anyone? Thank you!

 

[SYates]

The one thing that comes immediately to my mind (as you got a Spaniard on the line when you tried to phone your friend) is that you need to dial the correct country prefix of the phone before dialing the number. It is a bit confusing but if the phone you are calling "is" Dutch, you need to first dial the Dutch prefix and then the number as the phone doesn't "know" where it is and, without the country prefix, might well share a number (as it has happened to you) with a Spanish phone. Hope that helps, SY

 

[Albertinho]

Years ago my pilgrim friend and I checked our cell phones at home and got a perfect connection there. In Spain it didn't work. Everey time I tried to phone him I got a Spaniard on the line who got angrier and angrier. I didn't understand what was wrong. We had to communicate via his wife in Holland. Later I learned that I should have adjusted something at home before crossing the border but I still don't know what that is. Anyone? Thank you!

So dialing with your Dutch "mobieltje" to a Spanish phonenumber use the countrycode of Spain 0034, followed by the phonenumber. Take care if you do, keep away the 0 (zero) of a regio's code. *
If you do not do so , your Dutch "mobieltje" which is programmed to dial a Dutch phonenumber 0031 as being the national countrycode of the Netherlands, will dial the same number but connects it with the same local number in the country you are at that moment.
That's why, as a retired international salesman,I allways have put in all my phonenumbers with their countrycodes in my phone's addressbook. No mistakes though !
*)
So if you convert your Den Haag code ( 070 ) it becomes 003170 and the local number f.ex. 1234567. Better converting the number is starting with a + (plus). Than the countrycode, than the region code and local number. So +31 70 1234567. In some countries the 00 does not exist so better to program your "mobieltje "with + 31 for NL and +34 for Spain etc. If you travel abroad a lot of course

Bom caminho

 

[PILGRIMSPLAZA]

Hy Sy,
It sure helps! At least now I understand what [not] happened. Thank you very much! What a wonderful forum! Geert

 

[PILGRIMSPLAZA]

Thank you very much, Albertinho! Christal clear! Just replace the first 0 [zero] of the local Dutch 10-digit number by +31. Easy! This gives me the courage to ask another non-whizz-kid question...

 

[jmcarp]

...So if you convert your Den Haag code ( 070 ) it becomes 003170 and the local number f.ex. 1234567. Better converting the number is starting with a + (plus). Than the countrycode, than the region code and local number. So +31 70 1234567. In some countries the 00 does not exist so better to program your "mobieltje "with + 31 for NL and +34 for Spain etc. If you travel abroad a lot of course

Good advice. Just a reminder about the + symbol since some folks may not how to punch it in: hold down the 0 (zero) key for a moment and it changes to the "+" symbol on the screen our dialing window of the phone. This only works on cell/mobile phones. It is my understanding that the + sign automatically activates the outgoing international dialing code for whatever country you're in.

Jim

 

[Bajaracer]

I enter all my numbers with a +1(area code) and number (for USA) in my iPhone, that way, I can be anywhere around the world and call direct.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_country_calling_codes

 

[Albertinho]

You're welcome !
Buen camiño

 

[PILGRIMSPLAZA]

I enter all my numbers with a +1(area code) and number (for USA) in my iPhone, that way, I can be anywhere around the world and call direct.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_country_calling_codes

Thank you, Bajaracer! But, does this mean that my original question: "Prepare at home what you can't adjust across borders" is not relevant? Is there no problem [anymore]? Can anything in any phone be adjusted across any border?

 

[SYates]

Yes, provided your phone contract allows for international roaming and you are willing to pay the costs of it. SY

Thank you, Bajaracer! But, does this mean that my original question: "Prepare at home what you can't adjust across borders" is not relevant? Is there no problem [anymore]? Can anything in any phone be adjusted across any border?

 

[PILGRIMSPLAZA]

Yes, provided your phone contract allows for international roaming and you are willing to pay the costs of it. SY

I read terrible stories about youngsters getting huge bills after forgetting to undo the roaming function.

 

[SYates]

Yes, depending how much you use your phone and for what it might be better to buy a local SIM card for it. Search this forum here, plenty of threads about SIM cards already there. SY

 

[PILGRIMSPLAZA]

Yes, depending how much you use your phone and for what it might be better to buy a local SIM card for it. Search this forum here, plenty of threads about SIM cards already there. SY

Thank you, SY! I guess this ends the discussion leaving me a lot wiser and a little sadder. Geert

 

[PILGRIMSPLAZA]

Thank you, SY! I guess this ends the discussion leaving me a lot wiser and a little sadder. Geert

 

[SYates]

Why? You just need an unlocked phone and a cheap local SIM card ...
SY

 

[PILGRIMSPLAZA]

Why? You just need an unlocked phone and a cheap local SIM card ...
SY

Thank you, SY, I'll come back later. Bye for now. Best, Geert

 

[HalfDomeOrBust]

Thank you, SY! I guess this ends the discussion leaving me a lot wiser and a little sadder. Geert

Not to fret over it. SY is right.. Unlock cell and get a SIM.....There will be much harder things to deal with then your phone....Like Snorers and those dang dreaded Buggies....