The Importance of Researching Country Codes and Time Zones Before Placing International Calls

Knowing how to place international calls is essential to travel or volunteering abroad. You must know your country code and time zone to avoid unnecessary charges, delays, or misunderstandings.

A country code is a two-letter or three-letter combination used to identify a country and its dependent areas. It is also the basis for country-level domain names on the Internet.

Country codes

Researching country codes and time zones before contacting someone who lives in another country is becoming increasingly important, especially if you’re studying abroad or planning a holiday. This is because many different factors can impact your ability to place international phone calls correctly and effectively.

The first thing to understand is that there are 24 time zones in the world, each corresponding to 360 degrees of longitude around the planet. Each time zone has a one-hour difference in the local time based on the date line.

When you call from your home country to a number in another, you must dial the prefix for that country plus the calling code. Usually, this is a single or up to three-digit number.

Most countries use two-digit country codes, though some have only one digit. This is because countries often need to be separated into groups for statistical purposes and to prevent numbers from getting too long.

Time zones

When people travel, they often use time zones to tell what time it is. This is an essential part of traveling; it helps keep everyone on the same schedule.

Historically, many different time zones were used across the globe. This led to confusion for travelers and train passengers.

A time zone is a section of Earth that observes a standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes. These zones are 15 degrees longitude vast and are called lunes (pronounced “launches”).

Because the sun only illuminates one portion of Earth at a time, time zones help maintain logical order. They also regulate the day and night cycle.

These zones are defined by an offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This can range from an hour to a half-hour.

Phone numbers

Phone numbers are often used to connect businesses and customers throughout the world. This is especially true with countries in different time zones, where a business phone system can direct calls to agents assigned to the correct region.

International calls can be tricky because each country has a unique phone number format. Before placing a call, you must research the country codes and time zones of the recipient’s location.

If your team is manually using this data for marketing personalization in some way, another format may be a better option.

Charges

Suppose you want to save money on international calls and research. This can save you significant cash, especially if you plan to make international calls often.

The best place to start is with your phone provider, as these companies have different rates for countries and cities. Find a company that offers the best rates for your region and your business’s needs.

Another important consideration is the time zone in which you will be making your call, which can significantly influence the call’s cost. This is possible, as many services provide accurate time zone information. For example, they use an algorithm to determine your location based on your calling date and time. It will then automatically recommend the appropriate time zone for your call. The site also has several valuable tips and tools to help you navigate the time zone maze.