AT&T International Calling Plan

Have you called your phone service provider yet and asked them?

If the call is originating in the US and they are calling your usual US cell phone #, then there's no need to dial any prefixes. They just dial your # direct. But it wouldn't hurt to double-check with AT&T.

If you are using your ATT cell phone over there with your US sim card (which I assume you are, since you are adding the plan) they will call and text your exact same cell phone number. In addition, if any foreigners will call you, it will be the same with the US prefix (001+your phone number). How long are you staying in Italy? And much calling time are you planning on using? Just be aware that the charges rack up very quickly. I had this plan last summer and still spent a lot of money on it. Another option if you'll be around internet connections is to own a iPod touch or similar device and use it with WIFI to Skype people back in the states. If you skype other Skype members, it will be free. You can also use Skype to call phone numbers for a small cost (smaller than ATT will be).

Actually, my husband had it set up through his work. He may need his phone (for emergencies)... Due to traveling, he hasn't looked at it closely yet. When I read the info, I get confused. I'm wanting to know if a person in the US, calling a US phone in Italy, if this person just dials normally....But when I'm reading the information, I'm not sure it actually specifies DIALING to a US MOBILE PHONE vs. dialing to an Italy phone. I know I'm making this more confusing than it really is. I'm wanting to forward information to family in the states, in case we would need to be reached while traveling.

Diane, to answer your question, yes, anyone in the U.S. who wants to call you will just dial normally. As far as they know, you haven't even left the country. That is the advantage of taking your own phone overseas. It is all transparent, or hidden, to someone calling you. Callers don't have to pay for making an international call. You do. That is the downside. Also, you may get calls while you are sleeping from folks who don't even know you are out of the country. The only thing you need to tell family and friends is "Please don't call me past __ p.m. I will be 6, 7, 8, 9 or whatever hours ahead of the time back home."

I think from what you are saying you want to know what a person would dial if they were a US phone number dialing to another US phone number, just one that happens to be in Italy. They would dial exactly the same as they would if they were calling you while you were in the US. My family dialed no differently when calling me last year. So for example, if your number is 1-212-555-5555, they would still call 1-212-555-5555. Be aware though, that through ATT's international calling plan, you will be paying the high charges per minute whether they call you, or you call them. So I would use it as little as possible.

Yes. That is how I was thinking it should work. We do realize we will have charges, even with the international plan. We plan on our 21 year old texting us daily, just to check in, even if it's a "hi," but we do not expect othe calls from family or work, unless it's an emergency. I was just wanting to pass the correct info along to family/work. ...But I do believe if we call back home we will need to dial +1 then the area code and number.

Since you mentioned texting, please be aware that under many plans this is a SEPARATE charge. For AT&T, using my iPhone, my international phone plan only covered phone calls. Texting was a separate charge (and a separate line item feature) - $10 gets you 50 text messages, additional texts 40 cents per text. Here's where global coverage is covered on AT&T http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/international/index.jsp

You seem to have it figured out Diane! Sounds like a good idea. And often I have to add 1 at the beginning of cell phone numbers here. It may work without it, but if it doesn't, just add 1. Receiving texts from your son should be free for you, it should just be the sending of texts while abroad that will incur charges.

CL is correct about the texting charges, that is the ATT plan I used last year. But for the 50 texts were only outgoing texts were counted. Incoming were neither counted nor charged.

thanks for the info. We will need to take a close look at the plan and make sure we understand it all. We're not planning on using the phone much at all; just don't want any huge surprises when we get the bill.

This and many other international cell phone questions answered: http://www.lodgephoto.com/blog/going-wireless-in-europe-what-you-need-to-know-about-cell-phones/12/ How to minimize international roaming costs (not just for iPhone): http://www.lodgephoto.com/blog/set-up-iphone-for-europe-travel-save-money/277/

I just returned and used the AT&T plan for calls and although expensive (about $1 per minute... it is worth it and everyone from US calls the same as they normall would) With the caller number displayed you do not have to answer and then there is no charge) but the text plan, as it was explained to me meant either incoming or outgoing...50 for $10, but that might not be correct. I turned off the data as that is too difficult to calculate and not worth it to me. I am going again next week and plan to double check that texting issue so if I find out its different, I will post.

Thank you for all the information!