How to Call the US From India? A Complete Guide
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The dialing procedure for international calls differs slightly from that for making local calls; however, it’s easier than you think. The only difference is that you add a few more codes before the phone number. Similarly, if you reside in India and are wondering how to make calls to the US, you can add a few dialing codes before the recipient’s actual phone number.
How to Call the USA from India (Step-by-Step Process)
To call the US from India, start by pressing India’s exit code (00), US country code (1), the US area code of the recipient’s location, and their local phone number.
The steps to take while dialing the USA from India are given below.
- Press India’s exit code, 00. It indicates that you’re making an international call.
- Press the US country code, i.e.,1. It routes your call to the US.
- Enter the US area code of your recipient's location.
- Enter the local phone number of your contacts.
For instance, if you want to call a recipient with a phone number of “1234567” living in Montana, press “00 1 406 1234567”, where “406” is the area code of Montana.
Note: When calling from a cell phone, you can use “+” instead of “00,” for instance: “+1 212 1234567.”
Importance of Area Codes While Contacting the US
While calling the US from India, add the recipient's US area code to your dialing prompt. Adding the area codes helps to connect your calls to that specific location of your contacts.
The US has 335 area codes, 317 of which are geographical and 18 non-geographical. Here are some of the popular area codes in the US.
Area Codes | Location |
212, 315, 347, 516, 646, 917 | New York |
213, 424, 415, 916 | California |
305, 239, 321, 352, 386, 407 | Florida |
512, 210, 214, 254, 281, 325, 346 | Texas |
702,725 and 775 | Nevada |
Best Time to Dial the US From India
The usual business working hours in the US are from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, so if you’re calling the US from India for business purposes, you must adjust your time frame accordingly.
As the US and India are geographically very far apart, they follow different time zones. So, noting the time difference between these two countries is essential.
Here is a comparison of the time zones between the US and India.
US Time Zones | Indian Time Zone | Appropriate Time to Call the US from India |
Atlantic (AST, UTC-4) | IST is 9 hours and 30 minutes ahead of AST. | The best time to call the US would be 6:30 PM to 2:30 AM |
Eastern (EST, UTC-5 | ST is 10 hours and 30 minutes ahead of EST. | The best time to call the US would be 7:30 PM to 3:30 AM |
Central (CST, UTC-6) | IST is 11 hours and 30 minutes ahead of CST. | The best time to call the US would be 8:30 PM to 4:30 AM |
Mountain (MST, UTC-7) | IST is 12 hours and 30 minutes ahead of MST. | The best time to call the US would be 9:30 PM to 5:30 AM. |
Pacific (PST, UTC-8) | IST is 13 hours and 30 minutes ahead of PST. | The best time to call the US would be 10:30 PM to 6:30 AM |
Alaska (AKST, UTC-9) | IST is 14 hours and 30 minutes ahead of AKST. | The best time to call the US would be 11:30 PM to 7:30 AM |
Hawaii (HST, UTC-10) | IST is 15 hours and 30 minutes ahead of HST. | The best time to call the US would be 12:30 PM to 8:30 AM |
Samoa (SST, UTC-11) | IST is 16 hours and 30 minutes ahead of SST. | The best time to call the US would be 1:30 AM to 9:30 AM |
Chamorro (CHST, UTC+10) | IST is 4 hours and 30 minutes behind CHST. | The best time to call the US would be 4:30 AM to 12:30 PM |
What Can You Use to Call United States from India
To call the US from India, you can use the direct dialing method using your conventional carrier system. However, you can also use new and modern methods using the virtual number that works over the internet.
Using Direct Dialing Method
To dial the US from India, you can use direct dialing, which includes calling using your conventional SIM system. It is still the most popular method for contacting someone, where you call someone with your existing cell phone. To make a call using the direct method, you can start by pressing the exit code of India (00), the US country code (1), followed by the US area code and the recipient’s phone number.
Using Virtual Phone Number
Virtual phone numbers are a modern alternative to calling your contacts in the US. They work over the Internet, allowing you to make and receive calls from anywhere, on any device with an Internet connection.
Cost of calling the US from India
If using a direct dialing method, for instance, the prepaid JIO network in India (as of now) provides the US international call package for Rs. 3455, which includes 30 Days validity for 250 minutes of voice call. Similarly, the most affordable plans in Airtel India have a 365-day validity worth rupees 2997 for 100 minutes.
However, making calls from virtual phone numbers is more affordable than direct dialing if you are a frequent caller. For instance, calling the United States from India from Calilio costs around $0.0199/min, i.e., only 1.67 rupees per minute.
Calling the US from India Using Calilio
Calling the US from India isn’t much of a deal if you use the correct dialing prompt. Taking note of the time zone difference and adjusting the local time with the US business working helps you make timely calls. Though direct dialing is still efficient, choosing a virtual number can make your communication reliable without breaking the bank.
Calilio is a virtual number provider that makes your calls convenient by providing features like video conferencing (video calls with multiple team members), call filtering to detect spam calls, advanced call routing, etc. Sign up today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can You Call the US from India for Free?
To call the US from India for free, use the Over-The-Top (OTT) applications like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber, Facetime, etc.
How Can You Call the USA from India through the Internet?
To call the USA from India through the Internet, use Over-The-Top (OTT) apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc., or a virtual phone number.
How Do You Call a US Number from India on WhatsApp?
First, save your recipient’s contact information in WhatsApp, and then you can start making calls to a US number from India in WhatsApp using the Internet.
How Do You Dial the US Number from India?
To dial the US from India, take the following steps:
- Enter the India’s exit code (00).
- Enter the US country code (1).
- Dial the US area code.
- Dial the receiver’s phone number.
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