Hello all, I have a dumb question
Family member is in SA, and emailed a cell number with what I guess is a country code/prefix? It's
(084) nnn-nnnn
I've been unable to successfully dial the number from NYC, is (084) some kind of local cell phone area code?
Thanks.

You need to dial 011 then the country code then the cell phone number (likely without the 0 before the 84)

084 is the code indicating it's a mobile phone. Still need the Intl Ntwk which is 011, then country code, then the (0)84+xxx-xxxx.
I'm never sure of the "0"

Yes you drop the zero. Just as you would do if you were dialling a land line code such as Jo'urg (011 becomes 11).

So if 011 is the Int. dialing code from your location (the "+" in Int. terms), it will be 011 27 84 nnnnnnn. Where 27 is the S.A. country code.

Thanks all for answering so quickly.
Do any of you know if 84 sounds like a legit code? (We thought maybe the family member messed up and gave us the wrong number). We've tried (unsuccessfully):
011-27-084-nnn-nnnn
011-27-84-nnn-nnnn
even
011-27-21-nnn-nnnn (I saw someplace online that 21 is Cape Towns code, where I think he got the SIM chip)
We're about to give up!




Sandi, do you know if 084 is a legit code?

Not sure if this helps, but I am renting a SA mobile phone (in cape town) in a couple of weeks and they sent me the mobile # of 27-83-xxx-xxxx. maybe the 84 should be an 83??

keymag,

84 definitely is a telphone code in SA in that it represents a mobile phone that is linked to one of the mobile providers in SA viz. Cell C. Thus it suprises me that 011-27-84-nnn-nnnn does not work. Are you sure you are dialling correctly?

When dialling you DEFINITELY MUST DROP the (0) of the 084 prefix.

Hope this gets you connected.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

I just wanted to update this, because everyone was so helpful. Sure enough, the correct number was
011-27-84-nnn-nnnn (the family member in question had the phone turned off most of the time!)
Thanks again to all for helping