When calling internationally from the US, one can terminate the number with
the # button. This causes the calling packet to be forwarded immediately,
without a timeout to see if all digits have been dialed. My local phone book
(Pacific Bell) says that, after dialing an international number, one should
allow 45 seconds for the ringing to begin. This is unduly pessimistic; the
ringing starts immediately if one uses the # button; otherwise, it usually
starts within about 10 s.
Regarding a continental prefix, 1 is only for U.S., Canada and the
Caribbean. 5 is for Latin America as a whole (including Mexico and the
Central American countries). After the 1, the system expects the standard 10
digits.
You didn't mention 7, which is of course the country code for Russia. 9 is
for Asia (excluding Southeast Asia and Russia) and is usually the first
digit of a 3-digit code (with India [91] and Iran [98] being exceptions).
Some of the Southeast Asian countries (e.g., China, Taiwan, Korea) use 8;
others (e.g., Singapore, Malaysia) use the Pacific area's 6.
Bill Potts, CMS
San Jose, CA
http://metric1.org [SI Navigator]
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
> Behalf Of Tom Wade VMS Systems
> Sent: January 03, 2001 07:40
> To: U.S. Metric Association
> Subject: [USMA:10189] Re: NANP FAQ
>
>
> >Just to summarize, 10 digits within a country and 13 digits outside.
>
> This may be true in France, but is not through for all of Europe.
> For example, Ireland:
>
> Firstly, area codes vary in length. In Dublin, the area code is 1, so
> calling Dublin from Cork would be 01 + local number. In Cork, the area
> code is 21, so calling the other way would be 021 + local number. Mobile
> phones are 87 or 86 depending on the provider, and other area codes may
> have as many as 3 digits (Enfield 405). Local numbers in most of the
> larger areas are now 7 digit, whereas some of the smaller areas have
> 6 or even 5 (if they haven't been upgraded). Typically, the larger
> areas with the 7 digit codes have shorter area codes. From my phone
> directory which lists sample area codes in other European countries,
> it would suggest that fixed length area codes are the exception rather
> than the rule in the EU.
>
> This is also the way with country codes. They are not all the same
> length either. The US and Canada (together with several small islands)
> share a single one-digit country code (1). Countries with 2 digit
> country codes include France (33), UK (44) and Germany (49). Examples
> of those with 3 are Ireland (353), Finland (358) and Israel (972).
>
> I had heard that the 1st country digit places the continent, 1 for
> North America, 2 for Africa, 3 & 4 for Europe, 5 for South America,
> 6 for Pacific etc.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------
> Tom Wade, EuroKom | E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (all domain mailers).
> Dale House | X400:
> g=tom;s=wade;o=eurokom;p=eurokom;a=eirmail400;c=ie
> 30, Dale Road | Tel: +353 (1) 278-7878
> Stillorgan | Fax: +353 (1) 278-7879
> Co Dublin | Disclaimer: This is not a disclaimer
> Ireland | Tip: "Friends don't let friends do Unix !"
>
>
