What you need to know about international calls
Dialing another country used to be a hassle. You had to find a calling card, make sure you were on the right plan, and hope that your connection was good. With modern technology, though, phoning abroad is easier than ever. Here are the basics you need to know about international calling.
International calls add much to your monthly phone bill
If you're like most people, you don't think much about your phone bill. You make a few calls, send a few texts and that's it. The cost of those calls and texts is just something that's automatically deducted from your account every month. But what if you made all of your calls and texts internationally? You might be surprised by the enormous roaming fees.
Not all calling plans allow phoning abroad
Not every provider offers the same service when it comes to international communication. In addition, their plans vary and depend on which countries you are going to dial and how long you are going to talk. The final amount of money you have to pay will also depend on these factors. Hence, if you call UK and then, for example, China, you will end up with completely different charges.
VoIP services are perfect for dialing another country
VoIP is a technology that allows using the internet to make phone calls. Apps working with such a technology are perfect for phoning abroad since they offer low rates and no contracts. You can also use your current phone number to make an international call online, so there's no need to get a new number just for dialing another country. Plus, with VoIP you don't have to worry about roaming charges - you can use the service anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection.
Dialing Canada from the US
There are several ways to phone Canada from the United States. You can use an international calling card, which requires you to enter a special code before dialing a Canadian number. You can use your cellphone carrier's international calling plan. Or you can try a service like Whoosh or Skype, which allow their users to dial Canada for free.
First, let's examine a traditional method that requires entering long queues of digits and a bit of attention.
How much does it usually cost?
If you decide to phone using an international calling plan from a traditional US provider, like Verizon or AT&T, their plans typically charge around $0.49 per minute. You can lower this fee to $0.09 per minute, though you may have to pay an additional monthly fee of $5-$15.
How to set up a call?
Since Canada is a NANP (North American Numbering Plan) country, meaning it has the same country code as other NANP countries - "1", the process of dialing this country is quite easy.
To reach your destination, simply follow these steps:
- Dial the country code “1”.
- Add a proper area code (3 digits).
- Enter the phone number.
The result should look like: 1 + XXX + XXXXXXX.
Tips for calling Canada
Add extra digits when dialing mobile phones
If you're going to phone a mobile number, the procedure will be slightly different:
1) First, the exit code, which is "011".
2) Then, the country code - "1".
3) And finish with a mobile number containing 7 digits.
Be careful with area codes
Before you dial the desired number, double-check that you have entered the correct area code. In fact, there are 40 area codes in Canada, which you can find below.
Canadian area codes
|
Alberta |
403, 587, 780, 825 |
|
British Columbia |
236, 778, 250, 604 |
|
Manitoba |
204, 431 |
|
New Brunswick |
506 |
|
Newfoundland |
709 |
|
Northwest Territories |
867 |
|
Nova Scotia |
902, 782 |
|
Nunavut |
867 |
|
Ontario |
437, 249, 343, 416, 519, 647, 905, 365, 548, 705, 226, 289, 613, 807 |
|
Prince Edward Island |
902, 782 |
|
Quebec |
514, 581, 819, 438, 418, 450, 367, 579, 873 |
|
Saskatchewan |
306, 639 |
|
Yukon |
867 |
How to call the United States from Canada
In case you need to phone from Canada to the US, our team has also prepared a short guide for you. But first, check out some facts you should be aware of when phoning the US.
Things to bear in mind
- Canada and the USA are members of NANP, meaning they both have the same country code - “1”.
- Although international communication requires entering country exit codes, dialing the US works similarly to a local call. So there’s no need to enter such a code.
- The USA is divided into 291 regions, each with its own area code. Hence, before dialing a number, make sure you know the code of the place where you phone. The most popular are:
|
Atlanta, GA |
404 |
|
Chicago, IL |
312 |
|
Houston, TX |
713 |
|
Las Vegas, NV |
702 |
|
Los Angeles, CA |
310 |
|
Miami, FL |
305 |
|
New York City, NY |
212 |
|
Orange County, CA |
949 |
|
San Francisco, CA |
415 |
|
Washington, DC |
202 |
How to start a call
To phone an American number, follow this procedure:
For landlines:
1) Enter "1" (for NANP countries).
2) Add a proper area code.
3) Finish with the desired phone number.
For mobiles:
1) Start with "011".
2) Then, add "1".
3) End with a 10-number mobile number.
You see - nothing challenging. Just another international call!
Why not choose a better option?
Calling Canada from the US or vice versa transforms into a trouble-free process with specialized international calling apps for online communication. Some of the most popular apps are Zoom, Telegram, Skype, WeChat, and Viber.
But today, let’s meet a unique solution for online meetings of outstanding quality - Whoosh!
What's Whoosh?
Whoosh is a brand-new video meeting app that provides a powerful alternative to traditional international calls. With our online video meetings, you can engage with colleagues and clients from around the world in a fun, free, and easy-to-use way. What's more, our intuitive platform makes it simple for you to get started without complicated downloads. In just a few seconds, you can gather all your distant relatives, friends, or partners in a virtual room and enjoy a hassle-free conversation powered by AI.
Its key features include:
- Unlimited calls in Full-HD quality to anyone in the world
- 24-hour video conferences included in a free plan
- AI-powered software with innovative presenter tools, touch-up features, and audio stream splitting
- Impressive sound quality with background noise muting
- Mementos - short meeting recaps with transcripts
- Easy dialing without entering additional digits
- Quick join using a meeting link or ID
- 100% secure virtual gatherings
Our modern world grants us every opportunity to make communication easier and more convenient, connecting people from faraway places within just one app. So if you’ve been meaning to have a chat with foreign partners or keep in touch with relatives that live in another country, it’s just the right time to download Whoosh and finally call ‘em!
