debinthepeg

I have purchased a European cell plan for my Canadian phone for when we are in Europe. I will need to send SMS text messages to European cell phones and I am not sure of the format to enter a European phone number of the person I want to text.

Do I have to enter the Canadian exit code first?

For example - if I wanted to send a text to +49 177 111 2222

would I enter 011 49 177 111 2222 or just 49 177 111 2222? Or maybe something else?

Traveler_Nick

011 is North America isn't it?

+49 and the phone number. But wouldn't your phone company know?

StCirq

011 is the exit code from Europe to get to the USA.

Use 011 or +1, then the number.

Traveler_Nick

Ya but the OP isn't calling North America (1 is North America not the USA). The OP is calling a European number.

StCirq

Oops, sorry!

I just enter the country code and the number here in Europe.

AnselmAdorne

"... just 49 177 111 2222?"

Just as above; your Canadian phone is roaming on an European network, so it is handled as a local call or message. I did exactly that to send messages with my phone in Ireland a couple of weeks ago. (On an unrelated note, are you from Winnipeg? We were travelling with friends from Winnipeg.)

hetismij2

I store all numbers, including foreign ones on my phone with + and the land code. If you are calling a country other than the one where you are you need the + to tell the phone you are calling abroad - it will automatically use the dial out code. If you are calling withint the same country you either do the same thing, so + landcode, or just drop the land code and dial the number with a 0 in front of it.

So on my phone I have my brother in the UK at +44 1234556789. I use that no matter where I am as it is in the memory. Same for my son in the Netherlands +31 123456789. If however I am on holiday in France and I want to call a French number not from the phone memory I dial 0123456789.

Not using the + before the landcode will confuse things and get you a wrong number.

debinthepeg

Thanks everyone! Very helpful information. Good to understand that if we are in Europe, calling to Europe that it is treated as a local call.

anselmAdorne - yes, we are from Winnipeg.

Tulips

Why not use whatsapp instead of SMS as it's free when you have wifi?
We don't really use SMS much.

debinthepeg

Yes, we will use whatsapp whenever we have wifi.