OK, I bought a cheap Chinese GSM unlocked phone and a Thai 12Call Freedom SIM card so I could have a phone number before going to LOS. The number listed on the card is 0821319281. Does this mean the city code is 082 and local number is 1319281? I understand the country code for Thailand is 66 and the city code for Bangkok is 2 but I can't find a city code of 082 for Thailand. I obviously don't understand what's going on here or did I get burned? No biggie since it was only a few dollars but I want to be able to tell family what number to call in case of emergency. Can someone help me understand this please? TIA!
help me understand SIM telephone number
Started by
Guest_jaybee11_*
, Dec 21 2011 05:13 AM
11 replies to this topic
#2
Nick Bullseye
-
- Members
- 2,009 posts
- LocationParis, France
Posted 21 December 2011 - 05:25 AM
08 or +668 means you have a mobile phone in Thailand. These numbers are nation-wide. It works the same way in Europe, different from US.
Nick Bullseye
#3
eslmiker
-
- Members
- 1,996 posts
- Locationthe Land of Sand
Posted 21 December 2011 - 05:37 AM
So, in a little more detail than BEM gave, to call your number in Thailand you'd dial 0821319281. But, to dial your Thai number from outside Thailand you'd dial +66-8-2131-9281. The country code for Thailand is 66, and you drop the leading 0 when calling Thai numbers from overseas. The prefix for all Thai cell phone numbers is 08. But, again, you only use that leading 0 when in Thailand.
Personally, I try to program all the numbers in my phone using the international format +66-8-2131-9281. The local system then automatically correctly dials the local number. But, will also automatically dial long distance/overseas, if that is in fact necessary. Putting in the plus (+) sign is necessary to make this work properly.
Clear as mud?
Personally, I try to program all the numbers in my phone using the international format +66-8-2131-9281. The local system then automatically correctly dials the local number. But, will also automatically dial long distance/overseas, if that is in fact necessary. Putting in the plus (+) sign is necessary to make this work properly.
Clear as mud?
#4
Guest_jaybee11_*
Guest_jaybee11_*
-
- Guests
Posted 21 December 2011 - 07:41 AM
elsmiker,
Actually the first part does make sense and it is good to know about when to or not to dial that leading 0. I think I understand now. It was that leading 0 that threw me off.
I'll just take your word about part two.
bullseye, good to know about the 08 code too. I tried to find out on Google what was going on but couldn't find much.
Thanks guys!
Actually the first part does make sense and it is good to know about when to or not to dial that leading 0. I think I understand now. It was that leading 0 that threw me off.
I'll just take your word about part two.
bullseye, good to know about the 08 code too. I tried to find out on Google what was going on but couldn't find much.
Thanks guys!
#5
Guest_jaybee11_*
Guest_jaybee11_*
-
- Guests
Posted 22 December 2011 - 09:50 PM
elsmiker,
I'm obviously a little dense when it comes to this Internat'l calling... :Mental:
so now what's confusing me is the whole "+" plus sign and knowing if or when to use it. On my cell phone there is indeed a + sign but my normal US land line phone does not. All the web sites I've looked at seem to include the + in the numbers they use as examples. So do I need to include it when calling from a land line?
I'm obviously a little dense when it comes to this Internat'l calling... :Mental:
so now what's confusing me is the whole "+" plus sign and knowing if or when to use it. On my cell phone there is indeed a + sign but my normal US land line phone does not. All the web sites I've looked at seem to include the + in the numbers they use as examples. So do I need to include it when calling from a land line?
#6
Nick Bullseye
-
- Members
- 2,009 posts
- LocationParis, France
Posted 22 December 2011 - 10:17 PM
Several countries have different prefixes to call abroad. It is 00 in France, something else probably in the USA, even something else elsewhere. To unify all these different prefixes, the phone operators agreed to use the + sign in front of the country code.
An example: If you call +33 6 22 33 XX XX (last four digits suppressed), you are calling a mobile phone (the 6 in the third position) in France (33 prefix) wherever you are, in France or abroad. If you call +66 80 977 XXXX (last four digits suppressed), you are calling a mbile phone (the 8 in the third position) in Thailand (66 prefix) wherever you are, in Thailand or abroad.
An example: If you call +33 6 22 33 XX XX (last four digits suppressed), you are calling a mobile phone (the 6 in the third position) in France (33 prefix) wherever you are, in France or abroad. If you call +66 80 977 XXXX (last four digits suppressed), you are calling a mbile phone (the 8 in the third position) in Thailand (66 prefix) wherever you are, in Thailand or abroad.
Nick Bullseye
#7
Guest_jaybee11_*
Guest_jaybee11_*
-
- Guests
Posted 22 December 2011 - 10:39 PM
OK, makes sense...to a point. But what if my phone (landline) doesn't have a "+" key? Do I just dial the number without it?
#8
Nick Bullseye
-
- Members
- 2,009 posts
- LocationParis, France
Posted 22 December 2011 - 10:44 PM
Usually hitting the * (star) key twice pproduces the same effect as a + key. However, a landline is not supposed to travel, hence you would probably use the 00 or 001 or whatever prefix for calling abroad from the country where your landline is based. Mobile phones are supposed to travel (with you) abroad, hence therefore we need the + .OK, makes sense...to a point. But what if my phone (landline) doesn't have a "+" key? Do I just dial the number without it?
Nick Bullseye
#9
Guest_jaybee11_*
Guest_jaybee11_*
-
- Guests
Posted 22 December 2011 - 10:49 PM
Oh, gotcha!
Yes, I have seen where in the US to call abroad they say to dial 001 first.
Damn, it shouldn't be this complicated. I guess some site just assume that everybody uses cell phones nowdays so they give that explanation.
I need a "International Calling for Dummies" book!
Yes, I have seen where in the US to call abroad they say to dial 001 first.
Damn, it shouldn't be this complicated. I guess some site just assume that everybody uses cell phones nowdays so they give that explanation.
I need a "International Calling for Dummies" book!
#10
xyzzy
-
- Members
- 1,708 posts
- LocationPattaya
Posted 23 December 2011 - 06:01 AM
Check the manual for your phone. My Samsung phone makes a + by holding the 0 (zero) key down. I keep the PDF version of the manual on my traveling laptop.OK, makes sense...to a point. But what if my phone (landline) doesn't have a "+" key? Do I just dial the number without it?
xyzzy is the "magic word" from the first computer adventure game and isn't capitalized
#11
dixon cox
-
- Moderators
-
- 7,150 posts
Monkey Nut
- LocationCentral Pattaya
Posted 23 December 2011 - 06:30 AM
My Nokia does the same.My Samsung phone makes a + by holding the 0 (zero) key down.
Meum cerebrum nocet
#12
rxpharm
-
- Moderators
-
- 3,339 posts
Posted 23 December 2011 - 06:37 AM
That's standard for any cell phone nowadays. Holding down "0" zero will produce the + for automatic recognition of the long distance code of the country you bought the sim card from and if you have roaming, the country where you are visiting.
Land-line phones don't have this feature, since they are not expected to be taken out of the country you are normally resident - which has been mentioned in another post.
If you have a land-line phone you need to know the long distance code your country uses for international calls, plus the country code and then the phone number of the person you're calling.
Land-line phones don't have this feature, since they are not expected to be taken out of the country you are normally resident - which has been mentioned in another post.
If you have a land-line phone you need to know the long distance code your country uses for international calls, plus the country code and then the phone number of the person you're calling.
1 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users
