topic Re: International Favourites call-me numbers in Other Products and Services

International Favourites call-me numbers

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 23:09:13 GMT

Just tried to set up a call-me number in brasil.

Yesterday, I specifically asked if one was available in the (86) area code.

Today, I found out, (after buying the service), that the nearest location is about 2000 miles away from where my friends live. That's a long distance call for them, (DDD), which they won't make. To be honest, on PAYG tariffs there, DDD is not much cheaper than an international call.

Plus, I called one of them today on the outbound service, and although the line was clear, there was a long delay of about a second which made the experience rather like a shortwave radio.

Over and out 🙂

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 02:01:25 GMT

Thanks for sharing

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 07:23:16 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Just tried to set up a call-me number in brasil.

Yesterday, I specifically asked if one was available in the (86) area code.

Today, I found out, (after buying the service), that the nearest location is about 2000 miles away from where my friends live. That's a long distance call for them, (DDD), which they won't make. To be honest, on PAYG tariffs there, DDD is not much cheaper than an international call.

Plus, I called one of them today on the outbound service, and although the line was clear, there was a long delay of about a second which made the experience rather like a shortwave radio.

Over and out 🙂

Hi Telephone_user

Thank you for letting us know of your experience. 😄

Calling abroad can sometimes be a little hit and miss with connections depending on the concerned Networks connections.

It may be worth looking again at your request to see if there's an alternative area code nearer to your friends location.

Here is the O2 help-link just incase -> International Favourites

Take care.

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 17:57:27 GMT

Unfortunately the areas available are all in the south, there isn't much difference between them for my purposes.

I called my Brasil number from my O2 handset in the UK, and had it relayed back to me here in the UK again. (I know, I have way too much time on my hands, don't I?). The caller ID displayed was +55447714 xxxxxx.

+55 is the country code for Brasil, and +44 obviously the UK.

Now this number displayed is just the international form of the UK number with +55 stuck on the front.

If you dialed it back, you would either not be connected, as the 44 would be interpreted as a national area code in Brasil.

All very silly and pointless observations, as nobody is going to do this, (deliberately call abroad just to have the call routed back to the UK), but it makes me wonder if there is an official way of forming a dialing string to do this.

Also, I noticed whilst in Brasil that I can't call the UK speaking clock from a local SIM card 🙂 +44 123 doesn't work.

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 18:21:37 GMT

Ok - just thought I'd throw the question at you. 😄

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Cleoriff — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 18:41:08 GMT

Hi @Anonymous None of your onbservations are 'pointless' (your words)..:smileywink:

You say you travel a lot and to Brazil mainly so any additional info you can post is always going to be of use to someone (I may choose to go to Brazil next year ...instead of Spain...who knows)

Incidentally, I find whilst in Spain I cant use those short codes to text either....they just wont send.

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 00:25:39 GMT

I've never tried a short code whilst in roaming... I actually have several local sims, (one on a monthly contract), for my time in brasil, so I don't usually need to.

Brasil is well worth a visit by the way. My stomping grounds are miles away from any tourist areas, though so your mileage will vary.

Mobile coverage is very patchy outside large cities. You actually feel very alone when you drive out between towns on a road with nothing for 50 miles in front or behind. Not even a 2g signal. Or any other cars. Or anything. Just a few trees. You really don't want to break down out there...

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Cleoriff — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 00:32:06 GMT

I may be mixing up my idea of what short code is.... to what it really is?

When I am abroad and watching a UK TV programme and want to vote...they give you the text to vote.

Usually 5 digits? It those that never work...and that's what I refer to as short codes...?

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 00:38:17 GMT

So, are you are saying, for example that you are in Spain, with a UK sim roaming on a Spanish network, and you see a UK short code advertised such as 11222, and it doesn't work if you call +44 11222?

Or are you saying that a uk sim in roaming in Spain, will not let you call or text a Spanish short code, (advertised over there, for Spanish nationals to call/text)?

I assumed the second...

By the way, do you get good reception of UK tv in Spain? With what size antenna? (That's another area of interest for me 🙂 )

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Cleoriff — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 00:51:42 GMT

Right...I have my own place in Spain so am out there frequently. I take my Note 3 on O2 network with me.

So...if I am watching BGT and want to vote via short code text it wont send....either on the Note 3, my old S3 or even when I had my Motorola. The network in Spain I am using is Movistar

Re TV....accessed via the community satellite. BBC1 and 2....ITV 1 Ch4 and Sky news. If I wanted more channels it would have to be over Wifi....but those I have suffice for me

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Cleoriff — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 00:54:13 GMT

To add...in February of this year Sky turned off all signal to my area of the Costa Del Sol...so no-one can get it unless you go through Algeciras TV on contract...paying through the nose...:smileysad:

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 01:10:33 GMT

We have the same choice of handset - I'm writing this on a Note 3!

I would assume, but I don't know, that it's either because the two networks don't have an agreement for billing for these short codes, or because the handset is applying some logic to the numbers dialed to put them in the correct international format, (I.E. convert 020 -> +44 20), which is munging the short code and so it's never sent out with a valid number.

But I don't know.

My experiment of calling +44 123 was just a quick attempt with an Oi sim. Never tried to diagnose why it wasn't working. But then most if not all uk mobiles can't dial the speaking clock on 123 anyway, so I dunno what I was expecting.

It's the O2 message service centre in the uk that receives them, just the same as any other sms, so presum

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 01:12:12 GMT

Ignore that last sentence, I was writing some other waffle and forgot to delete it, (is it really 1 o'clock in the morning? Am I supposed to sleep during the night or something!?)

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Cleoriff — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 01:15:28 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Ignore that last sentence, I was writing some other waffle and forgot to delete it, (is it really 1 o'clock in the morning? Am I supposed to sleep during the night or something!?)

Well, as I have no knowledge of your nocturnal habits I can only presume the answer is yes...

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

jonsie — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 08:23:13 GMT

It's a strange occurrence, I dial my Thai number from my uk mobile and the correct number is displayed on both phones. Granted it's not an IF call-me number but there must be a strange configuration at O2's end. I've tried all variations of shortcodes to no effect on both phones (strange how you while away the hours in bars) to no avail. Even TuGo can't handle them....Not that I would ever dream of voting in the idiotic ) phone-ins. Heck, I can't even be bothered to catch up on You Tube.

By the way...I've been here 2 months, have these shows not finished yet?

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Cleoriff — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 08:46:24 GMT

Yes @jonsie they have all finished now (just in time for Christmas) Although there was a Christmas Special of Strictly Come Dancing...which I enjoyed...and no I didnt vote!!

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

jonsie — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 08:51:36 GMT

@Cleoriff wrote:
Yes @jonsie they have all finished now (just in time for Christmas) Although there was a Christmas Special of Strictly Come Dancing...which I enjoyed...and no I didnt vote!!

Shucks...missed it!

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 09:26:39 GMT

It would seem that the configuration at O2 is just to strip off the first digit and add the international code. Normally that would convert 0 xx xxxxxxxx into +55 xx xxxxxxxx, but when I dial from my UK number it arrives there as +44 xxxx xxxxxx and the system just strips off the + sign and adds a new +55.

To be honest, there may be a real issue here for a minority of users - if you have friends in many countries, who all want to call you, (lucky you!), then you would probably be best off setting up your call me number in a country that is cheaply callable in general.

For example, imagine that I travel to every country in south america, and meet a beautiful woman in each one, who wants to keep in touch with me, (it could happen!). I also have business contacts around europe. I can only have a call me number in one country. So rather than give a preference to just one of the nice women, (and completely ignore the business contacts), it would be better to set up a call me number in the US, based on the fact that most places in the world have some sort of calling card or other service that offers cheap rates to the US, usually one of the cheapest destinations, often cheaper than calling the UK.

So in this scenario, all of the incoming caller ID would be foreign numbers calling the US, and being passed back to my UK number.

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

Cleoriff — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 09:58:55 GMT

@Anonymous this was fascinating to read...However you lost me at the part when you mentioned 'having a beautiful woman in every country'.....The complications of keeping all that secret and seperate is completely beyond me....

Re: International Favourites call-me numbers

jonsie — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 10:17:08 GMT

It's eveny harder when you have one in every street.....so which one for New Year's eve