area codes

• Access code (either international or national) - only necessarily dialed for international and "national" (non-local domestic) calls. The national access code is often quoted as if it were part of the telephone number. One of these access codes must be dialed from mobile phones. The most common national access code is "0", and the most common international access code "00"; in the United States and Canada, however, "1" and "011" are used, respectively.
• Country code - only necessarily dialed from phones in other countries. It is often quoted together with the international access code which must precede it in the dial string, especially in the United States and Canada (e.g. "011-XX-YYY-ZZZ-ZZZZ"). In international usage, telephone numbers are typically quoted with the country code preceded by a "+", and spaces in place of hyphens (e.g. "+XX YYY ZZZ ZZZZ"). (On GSM networks, "+" is an actual character that may be used internally as the international access code, rather than simply being a convention.)
• Area code - only necessarily dialed from outside the code area, from mobile phones, and (especially within North America) from within overlay plans. Area codes usually indicate geographical areas within one country that are covered by perhaps hundreds of telephone exchanges. It must usually be preceded in the dial string by either the national access code or the international access code and country code. Non-geographical numbers, as well as mobile telephones outside of the United States and Canada, do not strictly speaking have an area code even though they are usually written as if they do.
• Local number - must always be dialed in its entirety. The first few digits in the local number typically indicate smaller geographical areas or individual telephone exchanges. In mobile networks they indicate the (original) network provider. Callers from a number with a given area/country code usually do not need to include this particular area/country code in the number dialed, which enables shorter 'dial strings' to be used. This is an issue when the number must be keyed by hand, but where the dialing is automated (increasingly common) it is not an issue - and it is arguably better to include the full number with access codes in devices that dial automatically.

Although the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has attempted to promote common standards among nation states, numbering plans take different formats in different parts of the world. For example, the ITU recommends that member states adopt 00 as their international access code. However, as these recommendations are not binding on member states, some have not, such as the United States, Canada, and other countries and territories participating in the North American Numbering Plan.

The international numbering plan establishes country codes, that is, area codes that denote nations or groups of nations. The E.164 standard regulates country codes at the international level and sets a maximum length limit on a full international phone number. However, it is each country's responsibility to define the numbering within its own network. As a result, regional area codes may have:

• A fixed length, e.g. 3 digits in the United States and Canada; 1 digit in Australia.
• A variable length, e.g. between 2 and 5 in Germany and in Austria; between 1 and 3 in Japan; 1 or 2 in Israel.
• Or be incorporated into the subscriber's number, as is the case in many countries, such as Spain or Norway. This is known as a "closed" telephone numbering plan. In some cases a trunk code (usually 0) must still be dialed, as in Belgium, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and South Africa.

Generally the area codes determine the cost of a call. Calls within an area code and often a small group of adjacent or overlapping area codes are normally charged at a lower rate than outside the area. Special area codes are generally used for free, premium rate, mobile phone systems (in countries where the mobile phone system is caller pays) and other special rate numbers. There are however some exceptions, in some countries (e.g. Israel), calls are charged at the same rate regardless of area and in others (e.g. the UK) an area code is occasionally treated as two parts with different rates.

Open dialing plans

An open dialing plan is one in which there are different dialing arrangements for local and long distance telephone calls. This means that to call another number within the same city or area, callers need only dial the number, but for calls outside the area, an area code is required. The area code is prefixed by a trunk code (usually "0"), which is omitted when calling from outside the country. To call a number in Amsterdam in the Netherlands for example:

xxx xxxx (within Amsterdam- no area code required)
(020) xxx xxxx (outside Amsterdam)  
+31 20 xxx xxxx (outside the Netherlands)

In the United States, Canada, and other countries or territories using the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), the trunk code is '1', which is also (by coincidence) the country calling code. To call a number in San Francisco, the dialing procedure will vary:

xxx xxxx (local calls, no area code required)
1 415 xxx xxxx (outside San Francisco)
415 xxx xxxx (mobile phones within NANP)
+1 415 xxx xxxx (outside NANP)

However, in parts of North America, especially where a new area code overlays an older area code, dialing 1 + area code is now required even for local calls, which means that the NANP is now closed in certain areas and open in others. Dialing from mobile phones is different in that the trunk code is not necessary. (Most mobile phones today can be programmed to automatically prepend a frequently-called area code as a prefix, allowing calls within the desired area to be dialed by the user as seven-digit numbers, though sent by the phone as 10-digit numbers.)

Open and closed dialing plan should not be confused with open and closed numbering plans. A closed numbering plan, such as found in North America, features fixed length area codes and local numbers. An open numbering plan, as found in assorted countries that have not yet standardized, features variance in length of area code or local number, or both. Closed dialing plans are rare where numbering plans are open.

Closed dialing plans

A closed numbering plan is one in which the subscriber's number is a standard length, and a closed dialing plan is one in which the subscriber's number is used for all calls, even in the same area. This has traditionally been the case in small countries and territories where area codes have not been required. However, there has been a trend in many countries towards making all numbers a standard length, and incorporating the area code into the subscriber's number. This usually makes the use of a trunk code obsolete. For example, to call Oslo in Norway before 1992, one would dial:

xxx xxx              (within Oslo - no area code required)
(02) xxx xxx         (within Norway - outside Oslo)
+47 2 xxx xxx        (outside Norway)

After 1992, this changed to a closed eight-digit numbering plan, eg:

22xx xxxx     (within Norway - including Oslo)   
+47 22xx xxxx (outside Norway)

In other countries, such as France, Belgium, Switzerland, and South Africa, the trunk code is retained for domestic calls, whether local or national, eg:

Paris 01 xxxx xxxx (outside France +33 1 xxxx xxxx)
Brussels 02 xxx xxxx (outside Belgium +32 2 xxx xxxx)
Geneva 022 xxx xxxx  (outside Switzerland +41 22 xxx xxxx) 
Cape Town 021 xxx xxxx (outside South Africa +27 21 xxx xxxx)

While the use of full national dialing is less user-friendly than only using a local number without the area code, the increased use of mobile phones, which require full national dialing and can store numbers, means that this is of decreasing importance. It also makes easier to display numbers in the international format, as no trunk code is required- hence a number in Prague Czech Republic can now be displayed as:

+420 2 xxxx xxxx formerly:
02 xxxx xxxx  (inside Czech Republic) 
+420 2 xxxx xxxx (outside Czech Republic)

Numbering plans by country

Argentina

Main article: Argentine telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 54
International Call Prefix: 00

Australia

Main article: Australian telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 61
International Call Prefix: 0011

Telephone numbers in Australia consist of a single-digit area code (prefixed with an 0 when dialing within Australia) and eight-digit local numbers, the first four of which generally specify the exchange, and the final four a line at that exchange. (Most exchanges though have several four-digit exchange codes.) Within Australia, the area code is only required to call from one area code to another.

Australia is divided geographically into a small number of large area codes, some of which cover more than one state and territory. Prior to the introduction of eight-digit numbers in the early to mid-1990s, telephone numbers were seven digits in the major capital cities, with a single-digit area code, and six digits in other areas with a two-digit area code. There were more than sixty such codes by 1990, with numbers running out, thus spurring the reorganisation.

Following reorganisation of the numbering plan between 1996 and 1998, the following numbering ranges are now used:

01  Domestic number nation-wide, e.g. 1800, 1900, 1300, data services
02  New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
03  Victoria and Tasmania
04  Mobile phone services (National numbers)
05  "Follow me" services (National numbers)
07  Queensland
08  Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia (including
    Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands).

National numbers have no geographic significance. Other numbers relate to a particular telephone service area.

However, allowances are made for regional variations; sometimes the codes do not strictly follow state borders. For example, Broken Hill in New South Wales uses the 08 area code, due to its closer proximity to Adelaide than the state capital Sydney, and the Broken Hill area's inclusion in the Australian Central Standard Time zone. The previous area code for Broken Hill was (080). Other examples include towns in Southern New South Wales close to the border with Victoria that use the 03 (Victoria and Tasmania) prefix, including: Hay, Balranald, Wentworth and Deniliquin).

Austria

Main article: Area codes in Austria

Country Code: 43
International Call Prefix: 00

There are no standard lengths for either area codes or subscribers' numbers in Austria, meaning that some subscribers' numbers may be as short as three digits. Larger towns have shorter area codes permitting longer subscriber numbers in that area. Some examples:

112    general emergency call
122    fire
133    police
140    mountain rescue
144    medical emergency
118    directory assistance services
01     Wien/Vienna
0316   Graz
0463   Klagenfurt
050x   virtual private network (VPN)
0512   Innsbruck
0662   Salzburg
065x   cell phones
066x   cell phones
067x   cell phones
068x   cell phones
069x   cell phones
069x   cell phones
069x   cell phones
0718   internet dial-up numbers
0720   location independent landline numbers VoIP
0732   Linz
0780   national subscriber numbers
0800   national free call
00800  internationel free call
0804   internet dial-up numbers
08xx   service numbers
09xx   premium rate

Brazil

Main article: Brazilian telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 55
International Call Prefix: 00 xx

In Brazil, long distance and international dialing requires the use of carrier selection codes, after the trunk code or international access code. The places where these codes are inserted are shown here by "xx" Some of these codes are:

• 15 for Telefónica
• 21 for Embratel
• 23 for Intelig
• 31 for Telemar

Area codes are distributed geographically (See List of Brazilian area codes for a list). National dialing is prefixed with 0 (the trunk code) followed by the carrier code (see above) then the area code and the number. For example, to call Rio de Janeiro from another city in Brazil, one would dial the trunk code '0', a two-digit code, the area code '21' and the subscriber's number. Consequently, a Rio de Janeiro number would be displayed in Brazil as

0xx21 nnnn nnnn.

A few areas use nnn-nnnn in lieu of nnnn nnnn, such as Natal (the area code for that state is '84', in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, in northeastern Brazil. However, this practice will be phased out in 2006.

Mobile phone numbers are within the normal area codes but prefixed with the digit '7', '8' or '9'. They generally have eight digits (including the 7/8/9). Exceptions exist in Brasilia.

Bulgaria

Country Code: 359
International Call Prefix: 00 xx

Bulgaria applies an open dialing plan, similar to those of Germany and Austria. Area codes are only dialed when necessary (dialing the same area with the area code is billed as if the call was to another area). Area codes are prepended a trunk code of '0'.

Area codes vary in length, from 1 to 5 digits. Subscriber number lengths vary accordingly, from 7 digits down to 3 digits; the sum of both lengths is limited to 8 digits.

For a very long time, the state-owned Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC) had been holding a monopoly on fixed telephone networks. However, it ended when a special law was adopted, BTC was privatized in 2004 and competing operators appeared.

Larger areas, such as Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, are subdivided to zones. Although one cannot further reduce the number of dialed digits, the number itself shows which zone it is located in (e.g. in Sofia, numbers starting with 2, 82, 92 are located in the Western suburbs, with 7, 87, 97 - in the Eastern suburbs, with 98 - in the central area, etc.).

In the recent decade there is an intensive process of replacing the old analog switchers with modern digital ones. In areas where both analog and digital switchers are operating, a subscriber number shows by its first digit if it is connected to an analog or a digital switch. In some areas it is even possible to guess if a subscriber number was changed from analog to digital during its existence or was subscribed as digital initially (e.g. in Blagoevgrad a number starting with 88 was subscribed as digital, and a number starting with a single 8 was analog before).

The first digit also shows if a particular subscriber number is operated by BTC or another operator.

The area codes are always cited with the trunk code. However, within the area, or when the Sofia code of 02 can be guessed from the context, it is omitted.

The area codes of the main cities are:

02 Sofia (digital: 7D, first digit 8, 9: BTC operated, 4: Spectrum Net operated; analog: 6D)
0301 Smolian
032 Plovdiv (digital: 6D, first digit 6, 9: BTC, 5: Spectrum Net; analog: 6D)
034 Pazardjik
0361 Kurdjali
038 Haskovo
042 Stara Zagora
044 Sliven
046 Yambol
052 Varna (digital: 6D, first digit 6; analog: 6D)
054 Shoumen
0550 All towns and villages south of Burgas, incl. Sozopol, Ahtopol, Tsarevo, Primorsko, Kiten)
056 Burgas (digital: 6D, first digit 8; analog: 5D)
058 Dobrich
0601 Turgovishte
062 Veliko Turnovo
064 Pleven
066 Gabrovo
068 Lovech
0701 Dupnitsa (digital: 5D, first digit 5; analog: 5D)
073 Blagoevgrad (digital: 6D, first digit 8; analog: 5D)
076 Pernik (digital: 6D, first digit 6; analog: 5D)
078 Kyustendil (digital: 6D, first digit 5; analog: 5D)
082 Rouse
084 Razgrad
086 Silistra
092 Vratsa
094 Vidin
096 Montana
0973 Kozloduy (digital: 5D, first digit 8; analog: 4D; NPP Kozloduy: 7)

The other area codes are 3 digits or longer. They show by themselves the geographical region of the area, e.g. codes starting with 031 or 033 are located around the city of Plovdiv.

Non-geographical codes:

0700 (+5D) Universal number
0800 (+5D) Green number (toll free)
0900 (+5D) Value added services
048 (+6D) NMT mobile network (Mobikom)
087 (+7D) GSM mobile network (VivaTel)
088 (+7D) GSM mobile network (MobilTel, offers also UMTS services)
089 (+7D) GSM mobile network (Globul)

Until 20.07.2003 GSM mobile networks used 6D subscriber numbers in accordance with the limit of 8 digits for a full numbers. With the increase of subscribers, all (except Vivatel, which started operations in 2006) acquired new access codes. On 20.07.2003 Mobiltel used three codes (087, 088, 089) and Globul used two (098 and 099). When these limits were also to be overwhelmed, 7-digit subscriber numbers and single access codes per operator were introduced. Mobikom had gone through a similar change in mid-90's (from 0799+5D to 048+6D)

Dialing to a mobile network requires the access code together with the '0'. Dialing from a mobile network requires either an area or access code with the trunk, or international format (0YYYXXXXXX or +359YYYXXXXXX). The latter becomes a normal practice, since most people use the phone book of their headsets, more people use their phones in roaming and all four operators show the caller ID in international format.

China (PRC)

The Hong Kong and Macau special administrative regions have their own separate country codes and telephone numbering plans.

Main article: China telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 86
International Call Prefix: 00

Colombia

Main article: Colombian telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 57
International Call Prefix: 00

Cyprus

Main article: Numbering plan of Cyprus

Country Code: 357

Czech Republic

Country Code: 420

Following the break-up of Czechoslovakia in 1993, the successor states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, continued to share the 42 country code, until 1997, with the Czech Republic adopting 420 and Slovakia adopting 421.

On September 22, 2002, the Czech Republic adopted a closed numbering plan, with nine-digit numbers used for local and national calls, and the dropping of the trunk code 0.

Before the change, the following arrangements would have been made for calls to Brno:

Local call:          xxxx xxxx
National call:      (05) xxxx xxxx
International call: +420 5 xxxx xxxx 

After the change, the dialing arrangements for calls to Brno were as follows:

Within Czech Republic:  5xx xxx xxx
Outside Czech Republic: +420 5xx xxx xxx 

In the case of mobile numbers, which had to be dialed in full, the only change was that the 0 was no longer used:

Within Czech Republic:  602 xxx xxx 
Outside Czech Republic: +420 602 xxx xxx

Denmark

Country Code: 45
International Call Prefix: 00

Denmark uses, in the main, an eight digit numbering plan, with no area codes. Details of the numbering plan may be found (in English) at Denmark's National IT and Telecom Agency at http://itst.dk/.

International prefix: 0
Emergency Services:   112
Other 3 digit short codes are reserved
Carrier Select codes: 10xx
Service numbers (such as directory enquiries): 18xx
Carrier select codes for data: 16xxx

Reserved for a national or standard european prefix: 01-xx-xx-xx to 09-xx-xx-xx
A mixture of Mobile and ISDN: 2x-xx-xx-xx - 79-xx-xx-xx, 81-xx-xx-xx - 89-xx-xx-xx, 96-xx-xx-xx - 99-xx-xx-xx
Freephone: 80-1x-xx-xx - 80-9x-xx-xx
Premium Rate: 90-1x-xx-xx - 90-9x-xx-xx

East Timor

Country Code: 670

Until September 1999, East Timor formed part of the Indonesian numbering plan, using the Country Code +62, followed by area codes for the two largest cities, Dili (390) and Baucau (399). Following the violence in the wake of Indonesia's departure from the territory, most of the telecommunications infrastructure was destroyed, and Telkom Indonesia withdrew its services from East Timor.

A new country code +670 was allocated to East Timor, but international access often remains severely limited. A complicating factor is the fact that 670 was previously used by the Northern Marianas, with many carriers not aware that the code is now used by East Timor. (The Northern Marianas, now part of the North American Numbering Plan, use the code 1 and the area code 670.)

East Timor now has a closed numbering plan; all subscribers' numbers are seven digits.

Telephone numbering in East Timor is as follows:

Mobile: 72X-YYYY 
Service Numbers: 721-XXXX
Fixed: 32X-YYYY (numbering range in Dili)  
Government Departments: 333-YYYY 
Ambulance Service: 110
Fire Dept: 115
Emergency: 112
International access code: 00

Ecuador

Country Code: 593

Mobile: 9
Azuay: 7
Bolivar: 3
Cañar: 7
Carchi: 6
Chimborazo: 3
Cotopaxi: 3
El Oro: 7
Esmeraldas: 6
Galapagos: 5
Guayas: 6
Imbabura: 6
Loja: 7
Los Rios: 5
Manabi: 5
Morona Santiago: 7
Napo: 6
Orellana: 6
Pastaza: 3
Pichincha: 2
Sucumbios: 6
Tungurahua: 3
Zabora Chinchipe: 7
Ambulance Service: 101
Fire Dept: 102
Emergency: 101
International access code: 00

European Union (1996 proposal)

Proposed Country Code: 3

In 1996, the European Commission proposed the introduction of a single telephone numbering plan, in which all European Union member states would use the code '3'. Calls between member states would no longer require the use of the international access code '00'. This proposal would have required countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark and others, whose country codes began with the digit '4', to return these to the International Telecommunication Union. For example, to call a number in Berlin, in Germany:

xxxx xxxx (within Berlin)
030 xxxx xxxx (within Germany)
1 4930 xxxx xxxx (within the EU)
+3 49 30  xxxx xxxx (outside the EU)

Countries like Ireland, Portugal and Finland, which used codes in the '35x' range, would adopt a different format. For example, to call a number in Dublin, Ireland:

xxxx xxxx (within Dublin)
01 xxxx xxxx (within Ireland)
1 53 1 xxxx xxxx (within the EU)
+3 53 1  xxxx xxxx (outside the EU)

A Green Paper on the proposal was published, but it was felt by many in the industry that the disruption and inconvenience of such a scheme would outweigh any advantages.

The EU proposal should not be confused with the European Telephony Numbering Space (ETNS) scheme, which uses the code +388, and is intended to complement, rather than replace, existing national numbering plans.

Finland

Country Code: 358
International Call Prefix: 00

Finland's numbering plan was reorganised in 1996, with the number of area codes being reduced, and the trunk code being changed from 9 to 0. This meant that the area code for Helsinki also changed:

Before 1996: 
90' xxx xxx     within Finland
+358 0 xxx xxx outside Finland

After 1996:
09' xxx xxx     within Finland
+358 9 xxx xxx outside Finland

The default international access code became 00, although other codes such as 999 are also still used.

France

Main article: French telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 33
International Call Prefix: 00

In 1996, France changed to a ten-digit numbering scheme, as follows:

01 Paris
02 Northwest France
03 Northeast France
04 Southeast France
05 Southwest France
06 Mobile phone services 
08 Freephone (numéro vert) and shared cost services.
08 70 7X XX XX now gives access to the new Free (Internet Provider) land lines.

Germany

Main article: Area codes in Germany

Country Code: 49
International Call Prefix: 00

There are no standard lengths for either area codes or subscribers' numbers in Germany, meaning that some subscribers' numbers may be as short as three digits. Larger towns have shorter area codes permitting longer subscriber numbers in that area. Some examples:

00800  toll free (international)
010xxx dial-around-services (Call by Call - alternative carrier)
011xx  service numbers
012xx  "innovative services", Unified Messaging & non-geographical VoIP
0137x  televoting & TV call-in-shows
0138   teledialog (radio and TV stations)
015x   cell phone (not longer assignable to certain operator due to number portability)
016x   pagers & cell phone (not longer assignable to certain operator due to number portability)
017x   cell phone (not longer assignable to certain operator due to number portability)
0180x  shared-cost-service (partly more expensive than national calls)
0181x  virtual private network (VPN)
01888  government numbers (departments in Berlin or the former capital Bonn) 
0190x  premium rate until December 31st, 2005 (migrated to 0900)
0192x  internet dial-up numbers
0201   Essen
0211   Düsseldorf
0221   Köln/Cologne
0228   Bonn
0231   Dortmund
030    Berlin
0310   announcement of current carrier for long-distance calls
0311   announcement of current carrier for local calls
032x   non-geographical VoIP
0341   Leipzig
040    Hamburg
0511   Hannover
0611   Wiesbaden
069    Frankfurt
0700   lifetime personal numbers (non-geographical)
0711   Stuttgart
0800   toll free (within Germany)
089    München/Munich
09001  premium rate (information services)
09003  premium rate (entertainment services)
09005  premium rate (adult services)
09009  premium rate (internet premium dial-up services)
0911   Nürnberg/Nuremberg
0941   Regensburg
110    police
112    fire & ambulance
116116 blocking service (report loss of credit cards, SIM card etc.)
118xx  directory assistance services
19222  medical emergency operator (only in some regions)
19449  local public transportation information (only in some regions)

The default length for newly assigned numbers (area code without 0 + subscriber number) is 10 or 11 digits, but older shorter numbers will not be replaced, but not reassigned if given back. The area codes are, if not counting the national trunk prefix '0', from 2 digits (only for Berlin +49 30, Hamburg +49 40, Frankfurt +49 69 and Munich +49 89) to 5 digits long (for smaller towns in the former East German states +49 3xxxx).

The former East German states were integrated into the Federal Republic's numbering system at 03xxx because Berlin's 030 was the only 03 area code before. They used range is from 0331 (Potsdam) to 039999 (small village Tutow in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania). Due to limited number range also 5-digit area codes are used there, whereas in the old Federal Republic only 4-digit area codes (without the leading 0) are used.

Callers from the U.S. & Canada need to dial 01149 for Germany and the area code without the "0" prefix and then the local number, like 01149-69-123456789 (example).

Emergency numbers in Germany are 110 for police and 112 for fire and ambulance. In some states, the non-prioritised number 19222 is used for ambulance services, though this is heavily lobbied against and expected to be phased out in the future.

Greece

Country Code: 30
International Call Prefix: 00

During 2001-2002, Greece moved to a closed ten-digit numbering scheme in two stages, with the result that subscribers' numbers changed twice. For example, before the change, a number in Athens would have been dialed as follows:

xxx xxxx (within Athens)
(01) xxx xxxx (within Greece)
+30 1 xxx xxxx (outside Greece)

In 2001, a '0' was added after the area code, which was incorporated into the subscriber's number:

010 xxx xxxx (within Greece, including Athens)
+30 10 xxx xxxx (outside Greece)

Finally, in 2002, the leading '0' was changed to a '2' (for geographic numbers) :

 210 xxx xxxx (within Greece, including Athens)
+30 210 xxx xxxx (outside Greece)

Mobile phone numbers were similarly prefixed with the digit '6'.

Hong Kong

Main article: Hong Kong telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 852
International Call Prefix: varies, depending on IDD provider

Hungary

Country Code: 36

Standard lengths for area codes is one (Budapest only) to two digits and 8 or 9 (cell phone numbers beginning with 20, 30 and 70 and corporate network numbers starting with 71) for subscribers' numbers in Hungary.

1     area code for Budapest
104   emergency operator (medical)
105   emergency operator (fire)
107   emergency operator (police)
112   emergency operator (general)
20    cell phone network of Pannon
22    area code for Székesfehérvár
23    area code for Biatorbágy
24    area code for Szigetszentmiklós
25    area code for Dunaújváros
26    area code for Szentendre
27    area code for Vác
28    area code for Gödöllo
29    area code for Monor
30    cell phone networks of T-Mobile
32    area code for Salgótarján
33    area code for Esztergom
34    area code for Tatabánya
35    area code for Balassagyarmat
36    area code for Eger
37    area code for Gyöngyös
40    Shared-cost service (national)
42    area code for Nyíregyháza
44    area code for Mátészalka
45    area code for Kisvárda
46    area code for Miskolc
47    area code for Szerencs
48    area code for Ózd
49    area code for Mezokövesd
52    area code for Debrecen
53    area code for Cegléd
54    area code for Berettyóújfalu
55    Test number
56    area code for Szolnok
57    area code for Jászberény
59    area code for Karcag
62    area code for Szeged
63    area code for Szentes
66    area code for Békéscsaba
68    area code for Orosháza
69    area code for Mohács
70    cell phone network of Vodafone
71    corporate networks
72    area code for Pécs
73    area code for Szigetvár
74    area code for Szekszárd
75    area code for Paks
76    area code for Kecskemét
77    area code for Kiskunhalas
78    area code for Kiskorös
79    area code for Baja
80    freephone service (national)
81    IN
82    area code for Kaposvár
83    area code for Keszthely
84    area code for Siófok
85    area code for Marcali
87    area code for Tapolca
88    area code for Veszprém
89    area code for Pápa
90    Premium-rate service (national) 
91    IP VPN
92    area code for Zalaegerszeg
93    area code for Nagykanizsa
94    area code for Szombathely
95    area code for Szombathely
96    area code for Gyor
99    area code for Sopron

Iceland

Country Code: 354
International Call Prefix: 00

India

Country Code: 91
International Call Prefix: 00

Fixed (landline) numbers

Fixed line telephones are operated by the government-owned incumbent operator BSNL, although some new fixed-wireless operators are in the picture since 2001.

Subscriber Trunk Dialing (STD) codes are assigned to each city/town/village, with the larger cities having shorter area codes (STD codes), the smallest being 2 digits. An STD Prefix of 0 is used to dial such a number. For example,

11 - New Delhi, Delhi
22 - Mumbai, Maharastra
33 - Kolkata, West Bengal
44 - Chennai, Tamil Nadu
40 - Hyderabad/Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh
80 - Banglore, Karnataka
20 - Pune, Maharastra
79 - Ahmedabad, Gujarat

In addition, due to the availability of multiple operators offering fixed line services (either over wire or wireless), there is also an operator-code for each telephone number, namely:

2 - BSNL and MTNL
3 - Reliance
4 - Airtel (formerly Touchtel)
6 - Tata Indicom

Thus, a number formatted as 020-30303030 means a fixed-line Reliance number in Pune, while 011-20000198 is a MTNL fixed line in Delhi and 033-65229320 is a Tata Indicom number in Kolkata.

A full list of area codes in India is available with BSNL

Cell phone numbers

Telecom Regulator TRAI has divided the country into various cellular zones such that within each zone, the call is treated as a local call, while across zones, it becomes a long-distance call. A cellular zone (or cellular circle) is normally the entire state, with a few exceptions like Mumbai (which is a different zone), Goa (the state, which is a part of the Maharashtra zone) or Uttar Pradesh (which is so big it was divided into multiple zones)

From 20th May 2005 onwards calls between Mumbai Metro & Maharashtra Telecom Circle, Chennai Metro & Tamilnadu Telecom Circle, Kolkata Metro & West Bengal Telecom Circle and UP (East) & UP (West) Telecom Circle Service Areas are merged in Inter service area connectivity. With the above arrangement, calls within a State in the above-mentioned four States would be treated as intra-service area call for the purposes of routing as well as Access Deficit Charges (ADC). The dialing procedure for calls within a State for these States would also be simplified i.e. dialing of mobile-to mobile subscribers and fixed-to-mobile subscribers would be without prefixing ‘0’. Ref : DoT Notice

All mobile numbers in India have the prefix 9 (This includes pager services, but the use of pagers is on the decline). Each zone is allowed to have multiple private operators (earlier it was 2 private + BSNL, subsequently it was changed to 3 private + BSNL in GSM 900/1800, now it also includes 2 private + BSNL in CDMA). All cellphone numbers are 10 digits long, (normally) split up as OO-AA-NNNNNN where OO is the operator code, AA is the zone code assigned to the operator, and NNNNNN is the subscriber number.

The numbering plan is as follows:

92-yy-yyyyyy - Tata Indicom mobile phones. The two digit code XX identifies the cellular zone.
93-xx-yyyyyy - Reliance India Mobile. The two digit code XX identifies the cellular zone.
94-xx-yyyyyy - BSNL. The two digit code XX identifies the cellular zone.
98-xx-yyyyyy - All private (non government-owned) GSM operators. The two digit code XX identifies 
the operator as well as the cellular zone.
97-xx-yyyyyy/99-xx-yyyyyy - Some new licensees have been given 97 and 99 series codes, as the 98 series stands saturated.

For a full list of cellphone numbering plans in India, refer to India Cellphone Numbering

International dialing

The international access code in India is 00. For example, to call 08-790-1000 in Sweden from India, a subscriber would dial:

00 46 8 7901000.

For calls to India from abroad, the appropriate international access code should be dialed, followed by 91 followed by the area code (without the 0) followed by the phone number. For example, to call 011-23456789 in India, from Europe, a subscriber would dial:

00 91 11 23456789

Ireland

Main article: Irish telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 353
International Call Prefix: 00

Telephone numbers in Ireland are similar in format to those in the United Kingdom, with only the subscriber's number being required for local dialing. The trunk prefix is '0' followed by an area code, the first digit indicating the geographical area.

01  Dublin
02  Cork (021) and South
04  Drogheda (041) and East 
05  Waterford (051) and South East
06  Limerick (061) and South West
07  Sligo (071) and North West
09  Galway (091) and West

Area codes have varied in length, between one and three digits, and subscribers' numbers between five and seven digits but a migration to a standard format, as follows, is in process:

 (0xx) xxx xxxx

Dublin numbers are currently seven digits, but may change to eight digits in the future, although breaking the city into separate area codes would match the rest of the national system.

The 08 numbering range was previously used for calls to Northern Ireland, but following the UK's renumbering of Northern Ireland in 2000, this changed, so to call a number in Belfast from the Republic:

Before 2000: (080) 1232 xxx xxx
After 2000: (048) 90xx xxxx; 
or via the UK numbering plan;  00 44 28 90xx xxxx 

Calls to Northern Ireland landlines are, unlike calls to the rest of the UK, charged at national rates.

The 03 numbering range was originally used for calls to Great Britain, but this was discontinued in 1992, when the international access code changed from 16 to 00. For a short period in the early 1990's 0300 was used for premium rate services (see below)

 Before 1992: 030 xxx xxx xxx
 After 1992:  00 44 xxx xxx xxx

The prefixes 151x, 1530, 1540, 1550 (Initially 0300), 1559, 1560, 1570 and 1580 are for premium rate Services which are more expensive than other telephone calls. These numbers provide a range of services from weather forecasting to adult dating. Regtel an independent body monitors the premium rate services industry.

Mobile phones use the prefixes 083, 085, 086 and 087. 088 was previously issued to the Eircell analogue service. While mobile numbers are portable between operators, all new numbers are issued in an operators own allocation - 083 for 3, 085 for Meteor Mobile Communications, 086 for O2 and 087 for Vodafone. Due to number portability, the full number must be dialed even if it has the same prefix as the caller's number.

Freephone services use the prefix 1800, while shared cost (Lo-Call) numbers use the prefix 1850. 1890 (local rate) and 0818 (national rate, or slightly higher) are issued to non-geographic services. One disadvantage of this arrangement is that Irish freephone numbers are inaccessible from outside the Republic (unlike for example UK freefone numbers which can be accessed by dialing 0044800).

Dial-up Internet providers are entitled, but not required, to use numbers in the 189x range. 1891 numbers cost slightly below local call rate, and are often provided for subscription dialup packages. 1892 numbers are used for full local rate dialup, and 1893 for variable-rate dialup.

A new area was introduced in 2005, using the 076 access code. This is allocated to VOIP providers, and is treated as either a national or local call by individual telecoms operators.

The 13xx code is used for accessing third party long distance/International service providers and some internet services

Israel

Country Code: 972

00  - General International Access Code (kod gisha)
012 - International Access Code (Kavei Zahav)
013 - International Access Code (Barak)
014 - International Access Code (Bezeq International)
015 - International Access Code (Internet Zahav, Smile)
017 - International Access Code (Netvision)
018 - International Access Code (Exphone)
02  - Jerusalem Area (ezor yerushalayim)
03  - Tel Aviv & Central Area (ezor ha'merkaz)
04  - Haifa & Northern Area (ezor heifa ve'ha'tzafon)
050 - Mobile (Pelephone)
052 - Mobile (Cellcom)
054 - Mobile (Orange)
057 - Mobile (Mirs)
077 - Cable Network (Hot) (kvalim)
08  - Lowland & Southern Area  (ezor ha'shfela ve'ha'darom)
09  - Sharon Area (ezor ha'sharon)
100 - Police (mishtara)
101 - Ambulance Service (magen david adom)
102 - Fire Fighters (mehabey esh)
103 - Electric Corporation (hevrat ha'hashmal)
106 - Municipal Call Center (moked ironi) <in most cities>
107 - Municipal Call Center (moked ironi) <in some cities>
108 - Municipal Call Center (moked ironi) <in some cities>
109 - Municipal Call Center (moked ironi) <in some cities>
118 - Personal Distress Call Center
1255-XXX - Hospital Information Center <only in times of emergencies>
142 - Collect Call (govayna)
144 - Telephone Listings Information (modi'in)
166 - Telephone Repairs (tikunim)
1-700 - Regular Toll Rate (siha regila)
1-800 - Toll Free (sihat hinam)

Italy

Country Code: 39
International Call Prefix: 00

Italy changed to a closed numbering plan in 1998. The plan which had originally been advertised in early 1998 was to merge the trunk code '0' into subscribers' landline numbers effective June 19, 1998, and then to replace that leading '0' with a '4' starting from December 29, 2000. As a result of this change, all landline numbers would begin with a '4', and mobile phone numbers with a '3'. Other initial digits had been reserved for different special purposes. In practice, the switch was not completed as originally announced, and landline numbers still begin with a '0', unlike in the closed numbering plans of other countries. E.g. a number in Rome:

06 xxx xxxx    (within Rome - after 1999)
06 xxx xxxx    (within Italy)   
+39 06 xxx xxx  (outside Italy - after 1998)

Calls to mobile phone numbers within Italy were also affected, deleting the previously used trunk code '0'. International calls to Italian mobile phone numbers were not affected. E.g. for former Omnitel, now Vodafone provider in Italy:

0347 xxx xxx (within Italy - before 1999)
347 xxx xxx (within Italy - after 1999)
+39 347 xxx xxx (outside Italy - both before and after 1999) 

Until 1996, San Marino was part of the Italian numbering plan, using the Italian area code 0549 but in that year it adopted its own international code 378. However, instead of using international dialing codes, dialing arrangements between San Marino and Italy continued as before. In 1998, San Marino incorporated the 0549 area code into its subscribers' numbers, following the Italian format:

0549 xxx xxx (San Marino from Italy)
+378 0549 xxx xxx (San Marino from rest of the world)
+39 0549 xxx xxx (San Marino via Italy)

Mobile phone number in Italy: without a zero, started with a 3.

 3xx xxx xxx (within Italy and San Marino)
 +39 3xx xxx xxx (from the rest of the world)

This is the actual national telephone numbers plan (Delibera no. 9/03/CIR of 3 july 2003 Piano di numerazione nel settore delle telecomunicazioni e disciplina attuativa):

00-     international access code (+)
00800-  toll free (international)
0-      geographical (local and national) phone numbers
010-    Genoa
011-    Turin
0131-   Alessandria
015-    Biella
0165-   Aosta
0187-   La Spezia
019-    Savona
02-     Milan
030-    Brescia
031-    Como
0321-   Novara
035-    Bergamo
0369-   mass calls phone number (polls, television programs, etc.), geographical rate
0376-   Mantua
039-    Monza
040-    Trieste
041-    Venice
0432-   Udine
045-    Verona
0461-   Trento
0471-   Bolzano
049-    Padova
050-    Pisa
051-    Bologna
0541-   Rimini
0549-   San Marino (Republic of San Marino)
055-    Florence
059-    Modena
06-     Rome
070-    Cagliari
071-    Ancona
075-    Perugia
0769-   mass calls phone number (polls, television programs, etc.), geographical rate
079-    Sassari
080-    Bari
081-    Naples
085-    Pescara
0878-   mass calls phone number (polls, television programs, etc.), max. 0,66€+0,23€/min
089-    Salerno
090-    Messina
091-    Palermo
095-    Catania
099-    Taranto
1-      Service and emergency numbers
112     general emergency, police (Carabinieri)
113     police (Polizia)
115     fire (Vigili del Fuoco)
117     tax and costums police (Guardia di Finanza) 
118     ambulance
12xx    telephone number services 
144-    premium rate, max. 0,07€+1,31€/min
15xx    other emergency and information services
1515    fire, forest and environemental emergency (Corpo Forestale dello Stato)
1518    road information service (CCISS)
1530    on sea emergency and assistance, "blue" number (Capitaneria di Porto)
166-    premium rate, , max. 0,07€+1,31€/min
178-    personal number, max. 0,15€+0,35€/min
18-     client services
19-     client services
199-    personal number, max. 0,12€+0,26€/min
2-      reserved for future purposes
3xx-    mobile and personal phones
4-      internal phone net service numbers
5-      reserved for future purposes
6-      reserved for future purposes
7xx-    internet service numbers
70x-    internet access numbers
8-      special rate numbers
80x-    toll free (within Italy)
9-      reserved for future purposes
84x-    shared rate (information services), max. 0,10€+local rate/min
89x-    premium rate (informational and adult services)
892-    premium rate, max. 0,30€+1,50€/min

Japan

Main article: Japanese telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 81

South Korea

Main article: Communications in South Korea, Korean telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 82

Liechtenstein

Country Code: 423

Until 1999, Liechtenstein formed part of the Swiss numbering plan, using the country code 41 and the area code 075, but in that year it adopted its own international code 423, meaning that calls to and from Switzerland require international dialing.

Lithuania

Country Code: 370

2xx x xx xx reserved for future use
31x x xx xx landline numbers for district of Alytus
34x x xx xx landline numbers for district of Kaunas
35x x xx xx landline numbers for district of Vilnius
37 xx xx xx landline numbers for city of Kaunas
42x x xx xx landline numbers for district of Siauliai
44x x xx xx landline numbers for district of Klaipeda
45x x xx xx landline numbers for district of Panevezys
52 xx xx xx landline numbers for city of Vilnius
53 xx xx xx landline numbers for city of Vilnius
6xx xx xxx  mobile numbers
700 xx xxx  universal landline numbers
800 xx xxx  toll-free numbers
9xx xx xxx  premium rate numbers

Luxembourg

Country Code: 352

Luxembourg uses a closed dialing plan: all numbers are dialed in the same format whether from within the country or from abroad. There is no trunk "0".

The majority of the country also employs a closed numbering plan, where a two-digit area identifier is followed by a four-digit subscriber number. This varies in Luxembourg City, where numbers typically begin with the digits "2" or "4".

79 xxxx           (example number in Consdorf)
+352 79 xxxx        (when dialed from outside Luxembourg)

4 xxxx xxxxx      (example number in Luxembourg City)
+352 4 xxxx xxxxx   (when dialed from outside Luxembourg)

Mobile telephone numbers always carry a three-digit network code, in the format "6x1", which is followed by six digits. The leading "6" of these numbers is not omitted when dialing from abroad.

6x1 xxx xxx       (within Luxembourg)
+352 6x1 xxx xxx    (outside Luxembourg)

These codes were introduced on the 1st of September 2006, replacing codes in the format "0x1". Existing numbers were converted to the new format.

The mobile network codes are:

621   LuxGSM
661   VOXmobile
691   Tango

Macau

Main article: Macau telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 853 International Call Prefix: 00

Malaysia

Country Code: 60
International Call Prefix: 00

Area codes in Malaysia have variable length: one digit in Peninsular Malaysia and two digits in East Malaysia. Subscriber numbers are seven digits in Peninsular Malaysia (except Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor) and six digits in East Malaysia. Prior to 1999, subscriber numbers were seven digits in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor. From 1999 to 2001, subscriber numbers in these areas were expanded to eight digits in phases to meet new demands.

Calls to Singapore does not require international dialing; calls are made using the "02" access code. Similarly, calls to Brunei are made using the "080" access code but is limited to East Malaysia only. Calls to Brunei from Peninsular Malaysia requires international dialing.

00  : International call prefix
010 : Celcom Art900 (wireless)
011 : Telekom Malaysia (TM) ATUR 450 (wireless)
012 : Maxis (3G/GSM900/GSM1800 mobile)
013 : Celcom (formerly TMTouch, GSM900/GSM1800 mobile)
014 : reserved (for IMT satellite mobile)
0146: Digi (GSM900/GSM1800 mobile, prepaid plan only)
0148: Celcom (3G/GSM900/GSM1800 mobile, prepaid plan only)
015 : Data/IP wireless
016 : Digi (GSM900/GSM1800 mobile)
017 : Maxis (formerly TimeCel, GSM900/GSM1800 mobile)
018 : Telekom Malaysia (TM) (formerly Mobikom, CDMA wireless)
019 : Celcom (3G/GSM900/GSM1800 mobile)
02  : Domestic access code to Singapore
03  : Selangor & Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya
04  : Kedah, Penang & Perlis
05  : Perak & Cameron Highlands (Pahang)
06  : Melaka, Negeri Sembilan & Muar (Johor)
07  : Johor (except Muar)
080 : Domestic access code to Brunei (from East Malaysia only)
081 : reserved (for domestic access/area code)
082 : Kuching (Sarawak)
083 : Sri Aman (Sarawak)
084 : Sarikei, Sibu (Sarawak)
085 : Lawas, Limbang, Miri (Sarawak)
086 : Bintulu
087 : Inner District (Sabah) & Federal Territory of Labuan
088 : Kota Kinabalu, Kudat (Sabah)
089 : Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Tawau (Sabah)
09  : Kelantan, Pahang & Terengganu (except Cameron Highlands)
1xx : Message & service
112 : Mobile network emergency message & service
1300: Local toll message & service
1400: reserved (for special message & service)
15xx: Internet access service
1600: reserved (for special message & service)
1700: Personal numbering service
1800: Toll-free message & service
1900: reserved (for special message & service)
600 : Premium toll message & service
991 : Civil defense
994 : Fire
999 : Police & medical emergency

Mexico

Country Code: 52

In 1999 Mexico introduced the following new prefixes long distance calls for long distance and international calls:

00 - international direct dialing (00 + country code + nat'l number)
       including USA and Canada.
01 - domestic direct dialing (01 + area code + number) 
02 - domestic operator dialing (02 + area code + number) 
09 - international operator dialing (09 + country code + number)
       including USA and Canada.

This did not affect calls from outside Mexico, which continued to be dialed in the same format. For example, to call a number in Mexico City:

 +52 55 xxxx xxxx

Mexican area codes are 3 digits long, except for Mexico City (55), Monterrey (81), Guadalajara (33) and their respective outlying areas.

Likewise, local numbers are 7 digits long, while Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara use 8 digit numbers. 8 digit numbers are commonly written two ways:

xxxx xxxx
xx xx xx xx

When dialed within its local area, calling-party-pays mobile phone numbers have a designated prefix: 044 - mobile phone (044 + area code + number) For example, when calling within area code 33, a Guadalajara mobile phone would be dialed as: 044 33 xxxx xxxx This prefix is dropped when the number is dialed from another city in Mexico and the domestic prefix 01 is used since calling-party-pays calls can only be made when the mobile subscriber is being called from the same local area. Outside the country, mobiles are dialed in the same way as regular lines: +52 33 xxxx xxxx

It is common to see businesses with multiple lines on the same telephone exchange list their alternate lines without repeating the common numbers. For example, "(55) xxxx xx10, 19, 22 y 24" would signify a series of lines in Mexico City:

(55) xxxx xx10
(55) xxxx xx19
(55) xxxx xx22
(55) xxxx xx24

Moldova

Country Code: 373

In 2003 Moldova introduced new open type telephone numbering plan [1]. It created controversy with Transnistria, which then adopted its own plan instead [2].

Netherlands

Main article: Telephone numbers in the Netherlands

Country Code: 31
International Call Prefix: 00

In the Netherlands, the area codes are — excluding the leading '0' — two or three digits long. Since renumbering in 1996, all regular telephone numbers have ten digits including area code and the leading 0. Larger towns and cities have two digit area codes permitting a larger number of local telephone numbers.

010:  Rotterdam
020:  Amsterdam
030:  Utrecht
040:  Eindhoven
050:  Groningen
06:  mobile phone number
066: mobile pagers
0676: internet access number
070:  The Hague
073: 's-Hertogenbosch
0800: toll free number
084: location independent (used mostly for fax-to-email and voicemail services)
087: location independent
0878: location independent (voice over IP)
0900: premium rate, information
0906: premium rate, erotic
0909: premium rate, entertainment
112:  emergency services number

066, 084 and 087 are often used by scammers, because they are easy and cheap to register and make identification very hard.

Previously, 06-0, 06-1000 and 06-4 were used for toll-free numbers, 06-8 for shared cost, 06-9 for premium rate, and other 06 for mobile numbers. 09 was used as the international access code before this changed to 00. The emergency number used to be 06-11.

New Zealand

Country Code: 64

Since 1993, land-line telephone numbers in New Zealand consist of a single-digit area code and seven-digit local numbers, the first three of which generally specify the exchange and the final four a line at that exchange. The long distance prefix is '0'.

There are five regional area codes, which must be used when calling outside the local dialing area, for example from Christchurch to Dunedin in the South Island, the '03' prefix must be dialed first. In many parts of the country, the old area code was incorporated into the new number, hence Nelson (054) xx xxx became (03) 54x xxxx . Or New Plymouth (067) became (06) 75x xxxx - old numbers mostly 5 digit, or 1 series of 6 digit at the Spotswood Exchange of 51x xxx.

024099 Scott Base in the Ross Dependency
03 the South Island and the Chatham Islands
04 Wellington Region except the Wairarapa and Otaki
06 the remaining southern and eastern North Island:
          - Taranaki
          - Manawatu-Wanganui except Taumarunui
          - Hawke's Bay
          - Gisborne
          - the Wairarapa and Otaki
07 the Waikato, the Bay of Plenty and Taumarunui
09 Auckland and Northland

Mobile phone numbers are prefixed with 02, followed by one digit and the subscriber's number, which is either six, seven or eight digits, dialed in full, e.g. 025 xxx xxx or 027 xxx xxxx.

021 Vodafone
025 Telecom
027 Telecom
028 CallPlus
029 Vodafone/TelstraClear

Free call services generally use the prefix 0800 (although some use 0508) while local rate (usually internet access numbers) have the prefix 08xx. Premium rate services use the code 0900 followed by five digits.

The main international prefix is '00' (there are others for special purposes, such as 0161, for discounted rates). The emergency services number is '111'.

Nigeria

Country Code: 234

The area codes in Nigeria vary between 1 (Lagos and Ibadan) and 3 (for GSM networks) digits long. The non-GSM mobiles are given area codes of the geograhical location where they are registered. To call in Nigeria, you use this format:

xxx xxxx         Calls within an area code
01 xxx xxxx      Calls outside Lagos
+234 1 xxx xxxx  Calls outside Nigeria
009              Internation Direct Dialing code 

With the advent of Unified Licencing by the Nigeria Commnication Commission, the private telephone operators (Non GSM Telcos) are starting to introduce cross-area code roaming.

0802 & 0808  Vmobile (A Celtel subsidiary)
0803 & 0806  MTN 
0804             MTEL 
0805 & 0807  Globalcom

North American Numbering Plan

Main article: North American Numbering Plan

Country Code: 1
International Call Prefix: 011

In the United States (including its territories), Canada, Bermuda, and 16 Caribbean nations, area codes are regulated by the North American Numbering Plan. Currently, all area codes (officially called numbering plan areas) in the NANP must have 3 digits. Despite being one numbering plan, the cost of calling numbers in the NANP (both from inside and from outside) can vary wildly depending on which country of the NANP the code is in. As a result, great care is needed on the part of a caller to avoid unexpectedly large bills.

Not all area codes correspond to a geographical area. Codes 8xx (excluding 811 and 899) with the last two digits matching, such as 800, 888, 877, 866, etc., are reserved for toll-free calls. Code 900 is reserved for premium-rate calls (also known as dial-it services, although such services also exist in some places on a local basis using a particular three-digit prefix following the area code, often "976" or "540"). Area code 710 is reserved for the United States Government.

Mobile phones are allocated numbers within regular geographic area codes corresponding to or close to the subscriber's home or work location, instead of within a distinctive subset of area codes (e.g. 07xxx in the UK) and all the extra costs of mobile telephony must be borne by the mobiles owner (unlike in many countries where calling mobiles costs significantly more than calling landlines). Local number portability (LNP) applies across landline and mobile services. In some regions, customer can port a landline number to mobile service and vice-versa.

Dialing plans vary from place to place depending on whether an area has overlays (multiple area codes serving the same area) and whether the state requires toll alerting (a leading 1+ for toll calls.) The NANPA web site includes dialing plan information in their information on individual area codes.

In areas without overlays and without toll alerting, including California and much of Illinois, New York (excluding New York City, see below), and New Jersey, calls within an area code are dialed as seven digits (7D) and calls outside the area code as 1 followed by 10 digits (1+10D). Most areas allow permissive dialing of 1+10D even for calls that could be dialed as 7D. The number of digits dialed is unrelated to whether a call is local or toll.

In areas without overlays and with toll alerting, including most rural states, local calls within the same area code are dialed as 7D, toll calls are dialed as 1+10D. In some places, local calls to other area codes are 1+10D, in others they can be dialed as 10D without the leading 1.

In areas with overlays, local calls are all dialed as 10D. (In New York City, the preferred form is 1+10D but 10D also works.) In areas without toll alerting, all calls to numbers within the caller's area code and overlay codes serving the same area can be dialed as either 10D or 1+10D, while calls to other area codes must be 1+10D. In areas with toll alerting, all toll calls must be dialed as 1+10D.

Most areas permit local calls to be dialed as 1+10D except for Texas which requires that callers know which numbers are local and which are toll, dialing 10D for all local calls and 1+10D for all toll calls. The current profusion of dialing plans is quite confusing, and it appears likely that all areas will converge on 1+10D even in places where other forms are permitted.

Norway

Country Code: 47
International Call Prefix: 00

Since 1992, land-line and mobile telephone numbers in Norway consist of eight digits, without any area codes. The numbers are apportioned in chunks, which vary in size between a thousand and over a million, among counties and telephone companies.

00          international dialing prefix
01          reserved for future changes 
02xxx-09xxx 5-digit non-geographical numbers 
100-189     standardised special numbers (e.g. 112 for emergency)
19x         operator-specific special numbers 
2x xx xx xx geographical numbers, mainly Oslo
3x xx xx xx geographical numbers in south-central counties, except Oppland
4xx xx xxx  mobile numbers
5x xx xx xx geographical numbers in south-western counties, including Bergen
6x xx xx xx geographical numbers in south-eastern counties and Oppland
7x xx xx xx geographical numbers in the north, including Trondheim
8x xx xx xx non-geographical numbers (toll-free, voicemail, etc.)
9xx xx xxx  mobile numbers

Pakistan

Country Code: 92

Fixed (landline) numbers

Area codes in Pakistan are from 2 to 5 digits long; the smaller the city, the longer the prefix. All the large cities have a 2-digit code. Older exchanges have a 4, 5 or 6 digit number. Newer exchanges, those in the cities, have 7-digit numbers.

It is common to write phone numbers as (0xx) yyy-yyyy, where xx is the area code. The 0 prefix is for long-distance dialing from within the country. International callers should dial +92 xx yyyyyyy.

All mobile phone codes are 3-digit long and start with 3xx. All mobile numbers are 7-digit long.

Area codes for the common cities are:

  021 xxx xxxx: Karachi
  051 xxx xxxx: Islamabad / Rawalpindi
  042 xxx xxxx: Lahore
  041 xxx xxxx: Faisalabad
  022 xxx xxxx: Hyderabad
  081 xxx xxxx: Quetta
  091 xxx xxxx: Peshawar
  052 xxx xxxx: Sialkot
  048 xxx xxxx: Sargodha

Premium Rate services:

  0900 xxx xx

Toll free numbers (For callers within Pakistan):

  0800 xxx xx

Cell phone numbers

The cell phone numbers in Pakistan are of the following format 0XXX-YYYYYYY where XXX is the three letters code assigned to the cellular operator and YYYYYYY is the subscriber's actual phone number.

Cellular operators and their assigned codes are given below:

300 - Mobilink
301 - Mobilink
302 - Mobilink
303 - Paktel
304 - Paktel
306 - Mobilink
320 - Instaphone
321 - Warid Telecom
333 - Ufone
334 - Ufone
345 - Telenor
346 - Telenor

Peru

Country Code: 51

Most area codes in Peru changed on 1 March 2003, providing an area code for each region (national subdivision).

Peruvian area codes are 2 digits long except for Lima (area code 1).

Also on that date, '9' was prepended to existing mobile numbers. Mobile subscriber numbers are now 8 digits in Lima (+51 1 9xxx xxxx) and 7 digits elsewhere (+51 xx 9xx xxxx).

Philippines

Country Code: 63

Main article: Philippine Telephone Area Codes

Poland

Country Code: 48

Polish phone numbers since 5th December 2005 : 10 digits, starting with a 0.

   0xx xxx xx xx   (within Poland)
 +48 xx xxx xx xx  (outside Poland) 

Polish mobile number: 10 digits, starting with 05, 06, 07 and 08.

  050 xxx xx xx
  051 xxx xx xx
  060 xxx xx xx
  066 xxx xx xx
  069 xxx xx xx
  078 xxx xx xx
  088 xxx xx xx

Mobile Virtual Network Operators

     0699 xxx xx xx
     

UMTS :
  078 xxx xx xx
  079 xxx xx xx

Premium Rate services:

  070 xxx xx xx
  030 xxx xx xx
  040 xxx xx xx

Shared cost numbers:

  0801 xx xx xx

Free (for the caller in Poland):

  0800 xx xx xx

"UTR VSAT, Tekstofon, Fixed SMS"

     0 802 xxx xxx

"UAN (universal number)"
    0 804 xxx xxx

   VPN 
    0 806 xxx xxx
   VCC
    0 808 xxx xxx
   VoIP
    0 39x xxx xxx
   NDSI
    0 20 xx xx

  call box 
  0 xx 801 xx xx
  0 xx 802 xx xx
  0 xx 803 xx xx
  0 xx 804 xx xx 
  0 xx 805 xx xx

http://www.bip.uke.gov.pl/bipurtip/index.jsp?place=Lead07&news_cat_id=27&news_id=57&layout=11&page=text

Portugal

Country Code: 351
International Call Prefix: 00

Portugal changed to a closed numbering plan in 1999. Previously, the trunk prefix was '0', but this was dropped, and the area code, prefixed by the digit '2' was incorporated into the subscriber's number, so that a nine-digit number was used for all calls, eg:

   xxx xxxx             (within Lisbon)
(01) xxx xxxx    (within Portugal)   
+351 1 xxx xxxx   (outside Portugal) 
+351 21x xxx xxx  (after 1999)

Mobiles similarly changed, with the digits '96' replacing the prefix '0936':

 0936 xxx xxx   (within Portugal)
 +351 936 xxx xxxx  (outside Portugal) 
 +351 96 xxx xxxx (after 1999)

Other new number ranges include:

 10xx        Carrier selection codes
 700 xxx xxx Personal numbering
 8xx xxx xxx Geographic expansion 
 800 xxx xxx Freephone
 80x xxx xxx Shared cost

Romania

Main article: Romanian telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 40

In the last years, landline usage started to drop as the mobile phones market was growing fast. Mobile phone companies were running out of numbers, as both the main mobile companies claimed millions after million of subscribers. Also, due to approaching EU join, the state-owned company was going to lose the landline monopoly. A 2002 reform modified the system to an 10 digits system, of which the first is always a national access code 0:

• the landline Romtelecom numbers start with a two or three digits area code: 21 for Bucharest (like 021-xxx-xxxx) and 2pp for the other counties (like 0233-xxx-xxxx for Neamţ County)
• the new landline companies were granted new area codes starting with 3, e.g. an Astral Telecom landline number will be 03pp-xxx-xxx, using the same two digits (or 1 for Bucharest, as 031-xxx-xxxx) for counties prefix as Romtelecom
• the mobile companies use area codes starting with 7: 72 for Vodafone Romania (previously branded as Connex), 74 for Orange Romania (previously branded as Dialog) etc.; a Connex-Vodaphone number will be 072p-xxx-xxx
• no-charge number area codes is 800 (like 0-800-xxx-xxx)
• extra-charge numbers are starting with 021-89-xxxxx, like a subset of the numbers owned by Romtelecom in Bucharest.

Calling from Romania to Romania usually implies using the full 10 digits number, while Romtelecom subscribers can call inside their area code dropping the leading 0 and the area code (a number becomes just xxx-xxxx in Bucharest and xxx-xxx for the rest of the country). Romtelecom county codes were chosen on a geographical order, starting with northern Moldavia (Suceava County had 30), then going southwards to eastern Wallachia, than westwards to southern Transylvania, than northwards, closing the circle, until the biggest prefix, 69 (used for Sibiu County).

Extra-charge SMS are sent to three or four digits numbers, each company having its own system.

Short numbers became are allowed in both the 3 digits and in 4 digits forms, both with a leading 9, like 981 for the ambulance or 9xxx for various cab companies. Each town or county has it own special services, like firefighters, police, with the same number. The station to which these calls are directed is chosen based on location.

Romania joined the European initiative for a continent wide emergency number, 112.

When calling from abroad the leading zero is dropped and replaced with the international access code and the country code, like +40-xxx-xxx-xxx. As usual, only regular landline and mobile phones are accessible from outside Romania.

When calling from Romania abroad, the international access code is 00. Also supported is + for the mobile devices.

Russia and Kazakhstan

Country Code: 7
International Call Prefix: 8~10

Under the Russian numbering plan, the trunk code is '8', with subscriber numbers being a total of ten digits long, for example:

xxx-xx-xx  (within Moscow)
8 495 xxx-xx-xx  (to Moscow from Russia)
+7 495 xxx-xx-xx  (to Moscow from outside Russia)

A scheme of 8 + 2 + city code + number can be used to dial within a Region. For example, the code for Saratov Region is 845, the city code for Saratov is 2, and the city code for Engels is 3:

xx-xx-xx  (within Saratov)
8 22 xx-xx-xx  (to Saratov from Saratov Region)
8 8452 xx-xx-xx  (to Saratov from outside Saratov Region, within Russia)
+7 8452 xx-xx-xx  (to Saratov from outside Russia)

xx-xx-xx  (within Engels)
8 23 xx-xx-xx  (to Engels from Saratov Region)
8 8453 xx-xx-xx  (to Engels from outside Saratov Region, within Russia)
+7 8453 xx-xx-xx  (to Engels from outside Russia)

A short list of examples, set out in the officially approved number groups (it's important to notice that the last four digits of the number are separated into two equal groups, and the area code is written without the dialing prefix 8 and in parentheses):

(495) xxx-xx-xx: Moscow
(496x) xx-xx-xx: Moscow Region, bigger towns
(496xx) x-xx-xx: Moscow Region, smaller towns

(812) xxx-xx-xx: Saint-Petersburg
(813xx) x-xx-xx: Leningrad Region

(8452) xx-xx-xx: Saratov, Saratov Region
(8453) xx-xx-xx: Engels, Saratov Region

Freephone numbers:

8 800 xxx-xx-xx

Historically, '7' has been used as the Soviet Union country code. Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, all former republics except Russia and Kazakhstan switched to new country codes.

The international access code is 8~10 - callers dial '8', wait for a tone, and then dial '10', followed by the number.

Due to the use of 8 as both the dialing prefix and the first digit of some area codes, sometimes it may be confusing for foreigners to understand the dialing pattern. Moreover, it is not uncommon to see the non-existent area code of 95 in foreign print, instead of the correct 095, due to the fact that 0 is a local dialing prefix across Europe but not yet in Russia (there is already a plan to implement it in Russia, too).

On 1 December 2005, dialing code 095 et al was replaced with 495 et al, so that at a later date it will be possible to adopt the ITU convention of 0 and 00 dialing prefixes for local and international dialing respectively. The old 095 dialing code is to be effective until 31 January 2006. In Russian: Изменения нумерации в зоне 7, [3], [4].

For a historical overview of the telephone numbering plans in connection with the Soviet Union and now Russia, see ‘§ 91. Краткая история телефонных номеров’.

Serbia and Montenegro

Main article: Serbian telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 381

Serbia and Montenegro received a new country code following the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992 (which had 38 as country code). An example for calling Serbian telephones is as follows:

   xxx xxxx             (within Belgrade)
(011) xxx xxxx    (within Serbia and Montenegro)   
+381 11 xxx xxxx   (outside Serbia and Montenegro) 

In 2006, Montenegro declared its independence and has been assigned 382 as its new country code while Serbia retained the 381 country code. However, 381 will be in parallel use with 382 until February 2007, when 382 will be fully in use in Montenegro.

Singapore

Main article: Singapore telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 65
International Call Prefix: 00

Slovakia

Main article: List of Slovak telephone codes

Country Code: 421

South Africa

Main article: South African Telephone Numbering Plan

Country Code: 27

South Africa is switching to a closed system (reportedly from the end of 2006, but implementation of telecoms regulation has been haphazard in SA), although as of September 2006 it is still not mandatory to prefix the 3-digit area code for local numbers. The trunk prefix is still '0', with the system generally organised geographically. The numbers were initially allocated when South Africa had four provinces, meaning that ranges are now split across the current nine provinces:

01: Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West
02: Western and Northern Cape
03: KwaZulu-Natal
04: Eastern Cape and eastern parts of the Western Cape
05: Free State
06: Unused, was Namibia until 1992
07: Cellular spill-over
     072: Cellular: Vodacom
     076: Cellular: Vodacom
     073: Cellular: MTN
08: Special services, including
     080: Toll-free
     081: Current unused (?), was car phones
     082: Cellular: Vodacom
     083: Cellular: MTN
     084: Cellular: Cell C
     086: "Sharecall"
     087: VOIP
     089: Maxicall
09: International access code, being phased out as of May 2002 - reportedly by the end of 2006.
00: Proposed new international access code - reportedly from the last quarter of 2006.

All telephone numbers are 10 digits long (including the 3 for area code), except for certain Telkom special services.

Spain

Country Code: 34
International Call Prefix: 00

Spain changed to a closed numbering plan in 1998. Previously, the trunk prefix was '9', but this was incorporated into the subscriber's number, so that a nine-digit number was used for all calls, eg:

xxx xxxx         (within Madrid before 1998)
91 xxx xxxx      (within Spain, Madrid included, after 1998)   
+34 1 xxx xxxx   (outside Spain before 1998) 
+34 91x xxx xxx  (after 1998)

Mobiles similarly changed, prefixed with the digit '6':

 909 xxx xxx     (within Spain before 1998)
 +34 09 xxx xxx  (outside Spain before 1998) 
 +34 609 xxx xxx (after 1998)

New numbering ranges have also since been introduced:

 10xx        Carrier selection codes
 700 xxx xxx Personal numbering
 8xx xxx xxx Geographic expansion 
 800 xxx xxx Freephone
 900 xxx xxx Freephone
 80x xxx xxx Shared cost 
 90x xxx xxx Shared cost 

Spain's international access code also changed from 07 to 00, but this did not affect dialing arrangements for calls to Gibraltar, in which the provincial code 9567 is used instead of the international code 350, eg:

 9567 xxxxx (Gibraltar from Spain)
 +350 xxxxx (Gibraltar from all other countries)  
 +34 9567 xxxxx (Gibraltar via Spain)

Sweden

Country Code: 46
International Call Prefix: 00

In Sweden, the area codes are — excluding the leading '0' — one, two or three digits long, with larger towns and cities having shorter area codes permitting a larger number of telephone numbers in the eight to ten digits used. Before the 1990s, ten-digit numbers were very rare, but they have become increasingly common because of the deregulation of telecommunications, the new 112 emergency number, which required change of all numbers starting with 11, and the creation of a single area code for the Greater Stockholm area. No subscriber number is shorter than five digits.

010:    NMT mobile phones
01x(x): South Middle Sweden
020:    toll free
0200:   toll free
02x(x): North Middle Sweden
03x(x): Central South Sweden
031:    Gothenburg
040:    Malmö
04x(x): Southern Sweden
05x(x): Western Sweden
06x(x): Northern Sweden
070:    GSM mobile phones
071:    Premium rate calls
073:    GSM mobile phones
0730:   GSM mobile phones
074(x): Pagers
076:    GSM mobile phones
07x(x): various non-geographical area codes
08:     Greater Stockholm
09x(x): Far Northern Sweden and premium rate calls
112:    emergency services number

Sweden adopted 00 as its international access code in 1999, replacing 009 and 007.

According to the postal and telecommunication services supervising authority Post- och Telestyrelsen, it seems possible that Sweden will adopt a closed numbering plan in the future.

Switzerland

Main article: Swiss telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 41
International Call Prefix: 00

In 2002, Switzerland adopted a closed numbering plan, but retained the use of the trunk code 0. The original plan was to dispense with the trunk code completely, so that all calls within Switzerland would only require a nine-digit number. However, this was modified on grounds of cost. The 01 prefix for numbers in Zurich was phased out in favour of 044, with 043 being used for overlay numbers.

Until 1999, Liechtenstein formed part of the Swiss numbering plan, using the area code 075, but in that year it adopted its own international code 423, meaning that calls to and from Switzerland require international dialing.

00... international call
1xx, 1xxx the short numbers (emergengy and some services numbers)
0xx xxx xx xx normal number
0800 xx xx xx toll free
084x xx xx xx share cost
090x xx xx xx Premium rate services

Taiwan (ROC)

Country Code: 886 (unofficial; listed as "reserved" by ITU)
International Call Prefix: 00

02x: Taipei
09x: Mobile 

Tanzania

Country Code: 255
International Call Prefix: 00

Turkey

Main article: Turkey Telephone Numbering Plan

Country Code: 90

Turkey went from six (2+4) to seven digits (3+4) local phone numbers c.1988, at which time Ankara went from 41 to 4.There used to be more than 5000 local area codes of varying lengths (one to five digits) with correspondingly varying local number lengths (seven to three digits).

The new system is based on 83 three-digit area codes for provinces and seven digit local phone numbers. Istanbul is the exception and it gets two area codes ((212) for the European and (216) for the Asian side).

0 is the long distance dialing prefix while the international dialing prefix is 00.

Calling a cell phone from out side of Turkey is the same except the three digit numbers are replaced with the ones of the companies. Like [9] + [0] + [cell company id number] + [seven digit number]. The following are the company identification numbers for the major mobile telephone providers: Aria 555, Telsim 542 and Turkcell 532.

Local numbers in most areas were also changed in conjunction with the numbering plan that took effect 1 August 1993.

If a former area code is indicated, this is for the major centre in the new area code's district. The new area codes will also replace former area codes other than the primary one mentioned.

Ukraine

Country Code: 380
International Call Prefix: 8~10

Ukraine (similarly to most of ex-Soviet Union countries) employs a four-level (local, zone, country, international) open dialing plan. For all non-local numbers, the required trunk prefix is '8' followed by an auxiliary dial tone after it (optional on digital exchanges), with the following '2' for in-zone calls, '0' for in-country calls to geographical and cell phone zones, none to toll-free, premium-rate and other special zones (e.g. 800, 900, 703, 711), and '10' for international calls.

The in-country sequence for ordinary zones consists of a 2 digit zone code, an optional subzone code (never used for the capital of the geographic region corresponding to a phone zone), an optional filler (0 to 2 "2"s, used to make the whole in-country sequence contain exactly 9 digits) and the local phone number (5 to 7 digits). Mainly for historical reasons, zone codes are very often named with a leading '0', e.g. 044 instead of 44. When dialing from cell phones, the in-country dial sequence (with 80 prefix) is used even for phones of the same provider. Otherwise a call may be placed in the nearest geographic area.

Geographical zones correspond to geographic regions ("oblasti") with exception of Sevastopol which utilizes its own phone zone.

Cell phone numbers can be assigned both within the cell phone provider zone and within a geographic zone. The latter arrangement is used mainly for CDMA phones and for GSM operators selling their connectivity within one city, like GoldenTelecom GSM. Allocation of new GSM cell phone numbers within a geographic zone is very rare now because law requires all incoming calls to be free, including incoming calls to a cell phone.

Some examples of dialed sequences:

xxx-xx-xx          (two PSTN phones within Kiev, local number is 7 digits long)
x-xx-xx            (two PSTN phones inside Brovary, city in Kiev phone zone, local
                    number is 5 digits long)
8~294 x-xx-xx      (from Kiev fixed line to Brovary PSTN phone, the same zone, 
                    different subzone; subzone code is 94)
8~2 xxx-xx-xx      (from Brovary fixed line to Kiev PSTN phone, the same zone, 
                    different subzone, empty subzone code)
8~050 xxx-xx-xx    (from any Ukraine mobile not roaming or PSTN phone to 
                    UMC, cell phone provider)
8~067 xxx-xx-xx    (from any Ukraine mobile not roaming or PSTN phone to 
                    Kyivstar, cell phone provider)
8~800 xxx-xx-xx    (from any Ukraine mobile not roaming or PSTN phone to toll-free number)
8~044 xxx-xx-xx    (from any Ukraine mobile not roaming or PSTN phone outside Kiev 
                    phone zone to Kiev)
8~044 94x-xx-xx    (from any Ukraine mobile not roaming or PSTN phone outside of
                    Kiev phone zone to Brovary)
8~045 xxx-xx-xx    (from any Ukraine mobile nor roaming or PSTN phone outside of 
                    Chernihiv phone zone to Chernihiv)
8~032 2xx-xx-xx    (from any Ukraine mobile nor roaming or PSTN phone outside of 
                    Lviv phone zone to Lviv; the local number is 6 digits long, 
                    so "2" is used as a filler to make the whole in-country dial sequence 
                    9 digits long)
+380 44 xxx-xx-xx  (mobile international call to Kiev zone or Kiev itself)
+380 44 94x-xx-xx  (mobile international call to Brovary)
+380 48 xxx-xx-xx  (mobile international call to Odessa)
+380 48 2xx-xx-xx  (mobile international call to 6-digits numbers of Odessa)
+380 32 2xx-xx-xx  (mobile international call to Lviv)
+380 50 xxx-xx-xx  (mobile international call to UMC)
+380 67 xxx-xx-xx  (mobile international call to Kyivstar)
+380 63 xxx-xx-xx  (mobile international call to life ;))
8~10 ...  (mobile or fixed international call from Ukraine)

(In the table, tilde sign ('~') means waiting for secondary dial tone.)

Some mobile operators may support additional dialing plans. For example, Kyivstar also supports the following:

xxx-xx-xx          (local number at current location of KyivStar mobile - i.e. if the 
                    mobile is currently in Kiev this will represent a Kiev number)
67-xxx-xx-xx       (call from KyivStar subscriber to KyivStar subscriber)

Note that law explicitly prohibits trunk calls to a PSTN phone within the same local area in a geographic phone zone (e.g. from Kiev to Kiev), so one cannot dial 8~2 or 8~0xx for this, unless the phone exchange is misconfigured or a special circumstance occurs.

United Arab Emirates

Main article: UAE telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 971

The overall structure of the UAE's National Numbering Plan is:

02 Abu Dhabi
03 Al Ain
04 Dubai
06 Sharjah and Northern Emirates
07 Ras Al Khaimah
09 Fujairah
050 Cell phones (Etisalat)

United Kingdom

Main article: UK telephone numbering plan

Country Code: 44
International Call Prefix: 00

Since April 28, 2001, almost all normal geographic numbers and most non-geographic numbers are 9 or 10 digit (excluding the 0 prefix but including the rest of the area code) the overall structure of the UK's National Numbering Plan is:

01 Geographic area codes
02 Geographic area codes (introduced in 2000)
03 Reserved for area codes
04 Reserved
05 corporate numbering and VoIP services (note: some voip services use 0845, 0870 or geographic numbers).
06 Reserved
07 "Find Me Anywhere" services (mobile phone, pager & personal numbers)
08 Freephone (toll free), Local & National Rate numbers
09 Premium Rate services and multimedia

A short list of examples, set out in the officially approved (Ofcom) number groups:

(029) xxxx xxxx: Cardiff
(0131) xxx xxxx: Edinburgh
(01382) xxx xxx: Dundee
(015396)  xxxxx: Sedbergh
(01386)   xxxxx: Evesham
(016977)   xxxx: Brampton

In the United Kingdom, area codes are — excluding the leading '0' which is dropped when calling UK numbers from overseas — two, three, four or five digits long, with larger towns and cities having shorter area codes permitting a larger number of telephone numbers in the ten or eleven digits used. Area codes are called "STD" (subscriber trunk dialing) codes.

It is very common to see the + notation being misused — +44 (0)xxx xxx xxxx is not an uncommon occurrence even in official documents. For international callers the number between the brackets is dropped. For callers within the United Kingdom the +44 is dropped and the number between the brackets used. Calling +44 0xxx xxx xxxx will not work from most operators, and the +44 (0)xxx notation is incorrect and should not be used. The correct usage of the + notation in this example of the three-digit geographic code is +44 xxx xxx xxxx.

External links

• North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA)
• Search Area Code, Time Zone, and Location info on-line or in free download (US and Canada)
• AskYP US Area Code
• World Telephone Numbering Guide
• Free Area Code Information (All NANP)
• Free Area Code Listing (US and Canada)
• LincMad United States Area Code History and Changes
• World Country Code Locator