Switching country dial codes, Contacts: Dial Assist?

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Level 2

425 points

Switching country dial codes, Contacts: Dial Assist?

How do I make sure that, when I travel between the US and UK, the telephone numbers in my Contacts database always dial correctly, please? On both iOS 12 and Mojave.

Can I simply store the number in Contacts exactly as it is published in each country (that is something like 020 7153 9000 for an Apple London number and (408) 606-5775 for Apple in Cupertino) in Contacts and have Dial Assist work out the correct prefixes etc?

Or do I need to add the country codes and omit that leading '0': (+44 20 7153 9000) or do I even record it in Contacts as 001 44 20 7153 9000?

Do I need the brackets and dashes in each case?

IOW how much does Dial Assist actually assist, please?

TIA!

iMac with Retina 5K display, macOS 10.14

Posted on Apr 1, 2019 12:37 PM

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Answer 1

Barney-15E

Level 10

123,326 points

Apr 1, 2019 5:24 PM in response to Mark Sealey

You need the +.

I don't bother with any format. I think Contacts will format the numbers per the default for the country in the address field.

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Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

123,326 points

Apr 1, 2019 2:01 PM in response to Mark Sealey

For mobile phones, you should use the +CC format. It should dial correctly no matter what phone or service you have, but I suppose your mileage may vary.

Dial Assist may actually work if you enter the numbers as published in the country, but I think I would rather have direct control. The problem with my way would be knowing which part to strip off and substitute the country code.

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Answer 3

Mark Sealey Author

Level 2

425 points

Apr 1, 2019 5:20 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thank you, Barney-15E.

My Contacts database synchs between desktop and mobile (iOS 12) so it's all or nothing as far as entering these numbers' strings is concerned.

You're suggesting actually always to add, say, '+1' for the US and '+44' (or just '1' and '44' without the '+'??) into that field in Contacts?

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Answer 4

Mark Sealey Author

Level 2

425 points

Apr 1, 2019 10:11 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks.

So always enter all numbers with the country code (including '+1' for the US) and then a string of numbers not necessarily either with or without spaces?

And in practice an iPhone will 'decode', say +1 (408) 606-5775 or +14 086 06-5775 to whatever format the phone system expects and if I'm in the US not dial with the '1', but if I'm in the UK, add 1 as needed?

If it really can do that reliably, that's a great solution and way to proceed. Thanks, Barney-15E!

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Switching country dial codes, Contacts: Dial Assist?

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