Entering Phone Numbers and Choosing Countries

International numbers can look intimidating - country codes, plus signs, leading zeros. The good news: CallTuv handles almost all of it for you, and checks the number as you type so mistakes are caught before the call, not after. Here's how it works, gently.

Step 1: Choose the country

In the dialer, tap the country selector (it shows a flag). A list opens - start typing the country's name, "United Kingdom" for example, and tap it when it appears. Two things happen automatically:

• The country code (the +44 part for the UK) is filled in for you - nothing to remember.
• The price per minute for that country appears immediately, so you know the cost before dialing.

Step 2: Type the number

Type the local number only - the number as someone inside that country would write it, without the country code. An example makes it clear:

To call the London number 020 7946 0000: select United Kingdom, then type 2079460000. That's it - CallTuv handles the leading zero and the +44 for you.

Already have the full international number written down, starting with a plus - like +14155552671? Even easier: paste or type it as-is, and CallTuv recognizes the country by itself, no selecting needed.

Toll-free numbers, such as 1-800

Toll-free numbers are typed exactly like any other number: select the country, then type the number without its leading 1 (or leading 0 in countries that use one). They connect normally through CallTuv even though ordinary phone lines abroad usually can't reach them - but they are not free here, so check the price the dialer shows. Full details in Can I Call 1-800 Numbers from Outside the US?.

Landline or mobile?

As you finish typing, CallTuv tells you whether the number is a landline or a mobile - and shows the matching price, since some countries charge differently for each. Just useful information; nothing you need to do.

If CallTuv shows a message about the number

These messages are CallTuv protecting you from a wasted call - here's what each means:

• "Phone number is too short" / "incorrect length for this country" - the number doesn't have the right amount of digits for the selected country. Count the digits, and double-check the right country is selected.
• "Please select a valid country or use international format" - CallTuv doesn't know which country you mean. Either pick one from the list, or start the number with + and the country code.
• "The number you are trying to dial is invalid" - the number can't be called as written. The safest fix: confirm the number with the person you're calling. You can also double-check any number's format with our free phone number validator.

If the number looks right but the call still won't go through, something else is up - the friendly checklist in Why Your Call Won't Connect will sort it out.

Save yourself the typing next time

Once a number works, save it: press Save contact and give it a name. From then on it's one tap - see Managing Your Contacts.