Hi,

A friend just returned from Italy, where he bought a TIM SIM for his unlocked tri-band phone.

The problem: no one from the US was able to contact him.

The solution: he eventually told everyone to add a '#' at the end of his number when calling him. Almost everyone was then able to get through.

I've not heard of this before. Is this true for all international incoming phone calls? Why is it needed?

- Thanks

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Remensin,

I have never heard of this and don't know what this could be. To dial an Italian cell phone number from the US, you dial the same as any other Italian number:
- 011 for long distance
- 39 country code
- area code and number

I had exactly the same problem with TIM SIM last month..sure would like to know if "#" is required before I return shortly

Telephones all over the world have varying numbers of digits, so a # signals to the switch that you have finished dialing. It is not required, but it makes the call go through faster. A sufficiently long pause by the person dialing has the same effect.

If you have unnaturally impatient friends, or inexperienced friends who do not realize that establishing an international connection takes longer than calls within the US, then they might hang up prematurely.

Thanks Chuckles! I had never heard of this before!