Calling US 800 numbers

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bazzer

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#90405 21-Sep-2011 11:46

Can I call 800 numbers in the States from my 2degrees phone and if so what is the cost? There is a special price of 22c per min to the US at the moment, would it come under that? I could just give it a go but I don't want to get stung with $2 a minute or something.

I guess I just call +1 800 xxx xxx, right?

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#523980 21-Sep-2011 11:53

In case this was an option for you, if you use Skype to call US toll free numbers, it's completely free.

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SaltyNZ

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#523983 21-Sep-2011 11:57

bazzer: Can I call 800 numbers in the States from my 2degrees phone and if so what is the cost? There is a special price of 22c per min to the US at the moment, would it come under that? I could just give it a go but I don't want to get stung with $2 a minute or something.

I guess I just call +1 800 xxx xxx, right?

Well, the IN doesn't care, but the core network might. So yes you're right, there *is* a simple way to find out. :-)

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bazzer

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#523985 21-Sep-2011 11:57

Spong: In case this was an option for you, if you use Skype to call US toll free numbers, it's completely free.

I guess I could give that a shot. Thanks!

Sorry, 2degrees!

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#523986 21-Sep-2011 12:04

bazzer:
Spong: In case this was an option for you, if you use Skype to call US toll free numbers, it's completely free.
I guess I could give that a shot. Thanks!

Sorry, 2degrees!?

Oh, you'll be back, just you wait and see, sunshine. :-D

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Predated

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#523988 21-Sep-2011 12:07

Can you let us know how you get on? I've tried calling 1800 numbers in the states before and never managed to get it to work, a bit of googling on it at the time lead me to belive that you can't connect to one of those numbers from outside the states.

Would be good to find out if there is away without having to use skype to do it

Cheers

sbiddle

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#523997 21-Sep-2011 12:17

These numbers are typically blocked from outside the US, in much the same way you typically can't call a NZ 0800 number from another country. Lots of companies have global toll free 800 numbers these days using the UIFN service, these will work from most countries.

Telecom NZ had a 0168 service many years ago allowing you to call these numbers, however the only reference I can find is the 1996 press release so I have no idea if this service is still available.

Spong

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#524003 21-Sep-2011 12:23

If you do want to use Skype, I'm pretty sure you'll need to add some credit to your account before you can even dial 1-800 numbers, but once it's there, it shouldn't decrease when you call 1-800. I've made many 1-800 calls over the years at no cost.

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#524006 21-Sep-2011 12:25

I'm surprised SaltyNZ doesn't know the simple answer to the question - how are 1-800 calls treated?

In general 1-800 numbers are not blocked. If you call US/CA 1-800 number from outside it's up to your operator to allow the call through or not.

If you are a Telecom New Zealand customer and call 1-800 then your call is put through and you are charged the standard international calling rates on your plan. They even play a message before the call is connected to let you know this.

If you are using Skype, 1-800 calls are free. And sorry SaltyNZ, but the quality in all my 1-800 calls was always top.

bazzer

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#524009 21-Sep-2011 12:31

Skype worked for me. Unfortunately, it's now outside business hours so I'll have to try again another time.

old3eyes

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#524023 21-Sep-2011 12:43

Just tried a call to a 800 number in the US from my 2D fone and it wen thru fine . 001800 xxx xxxx

Checked my 2D account about 5 minutes later and see no call cost or record of it. Not sure how long it takes to update the call records at 2D..

Regards,

Old3eyes

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#524034 21-Sep-2011 13:02

freitasm: I'm surprised SaltyNZ doesn't know the simple answer to the question - how are 1-800 calls treated?

Well, I work on IN. The IN deals in rating, and therefore only prefixes. The prefix +1 has a certain cost, and that's all *I* need to know. So, from *my* perspective it will work.

Whether or not the call will be *routed* depends on interconnects etc. and toll free are a special case of their own due to the wholesale billing arrangements to which I generally pay little or no attention.

In general 1-800 numbers are not blocked. If you call US/CA 1-800 number from outside it's up to your operator to allow the call through or not.

Indeed, and as I said it comes down to the wholesale billing arrangements.

If you are using Skype, 1-800 calls are free. And sorry SaltyNZ, but the quality in all my 1-800 calls was always top.

Yes yes, I know, I was only kidding. That's what the ':-D' was for. :-) Having said that while international internet calls are better than traditional phones when they're good, they are far less consistent. I spent 15 minutes talking to my mum on Viber, on Wifi->DSL. Till it just turned to garbage, and wouldn't come back.

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bazzer

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#524100 21-Sep-2011 14:45

Hopefully old3eyes can update us on the cost. I don't expect it to be free, hoping it would be 22c actually but we'll wait and see. For my purposes, Skype will be good enough, but it's nice to know for future reference.

SaltyNZ

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#524106 21-Sep-2011 14:49

bazzer: Hopefully old3eyes can update us on the cost. I don't expect it to be free, hoping it would be 22c actually but we'll wait and see. For my purposes, Skype will be good enough, but it's nice to know for future reference.

It will be 22c/min. Like I said, the IN only looks as far as +1 to make it's decision on rating.

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cws82us

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#524209 21-Sep-2011 17:27

To call USA 800 number u dail 001800xxxxxxxxx and it works fine here.

old3eyes

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#524247 21-Sep-2011 19:01

SaltyNZ:
bazzer: Hopefully old3eyes can update us on the cost. I don't expect it to be free, hoping it would be 22c actually but we'll wait and see. For my purposes, Skype will be good enough, but it's nice to know for future reference.

It will be 22c/min. Like I said, the IN only looks as far as +1 to make it's decision on rating.

22c correct. I called several US 800 and normal numbers to compare. The costs have appeared on my account. 22 cents it's still very low compared to calling a NZ number which is 44c / minute

Regards,

Old3eyes

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