Removal of country/regional code from phone number prefix

[Guest]

I get stopped by the operator because the +1 is not needed for local calls

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Then configure your dialing rule correctly. This is not an Outlook question.
Nor does Outlook force you to add the country code to your phone numbers.

 

[Guest]

Then configure your dialing rule correctly. This is not an Outlook question.
Nor does Outlook force you to add the country code to your phone numbers.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I get stopped by the operator because the +1 is not needed for local calls

 

[Guest]

Then configure your dialing rule correctly. This is not an Outlook question.
Nor does Outlook force you to add the country code to your phone numbers.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I get stopped by the operator because the +1 is not needed for local calls

 

[Guest]

Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I cannot
change it. I have tried everything that I could find to make the change to
no avail. I looked in the control panel under phone and could not find
anything that had to do with the country code or existing country code.
The country codes that are listed do not include one for no country.

Then configure your dialing rule correctly. This is not an Outlook question.
Nor does Outlook force you to add the country code to your phone numbers.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I get stopped by the operator because the +1 is not needed for local calls

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You set that option in Outlook's dialing options: Contacts > Actions > Call
Contact > New Call...

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I
cannot
change it. I have tried everything that I could find to make the change
to
no avail. I looked in the control panel under phone and could not find
anything that had to do with the country code or existing country code.
The country codes that are listed do not include one for no country.

Then configure your dialing rule correctly. This is not an Outlook
question.
Nor does Outlook force you to add the country code to your phone numbers.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I get stopped by the operator because the +1 is not needed for local
calls

 

[ProfDD]

If a user highlights a telephone number, presses the icom that appears
next to the number, and enters the country, the country code appears.
The implications of that action are not apparent until one tries to use
Outlook to dial a phone number. I think many users are hoping that
Outlook and other software will make intelligent use of the country
code information and are disappointed by the way it works.

Incidentally, I think this problem has some commonality with people's
dismay to find that all of their contacts are deemed to be from the
"United States of America" under some circumstances.

I still don't understand the function of the country indications that
Outlook invites but doesn't seem to use.

 

[ProfDD]

Outlook doesn't force you to enter the country code, but it does invite
you to do so.

 

[ProfDD]

Russ:

Is there a Microsoft knowledge base entry that explains:
1. the use, if any, made for the Country field in an address;
2. the use, if any, of declaring what your home country code and area
code is;
3. the relationship between the address Country field and the telephone
number country code field; and
4. the implications of entering or not entering this information in the
fields where Outlook invites it.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Not that I've ever seen.
It is largely an undocumented "feature" that changes from one version to the
next.

 

[ProfDD]

This would seem to explain the recurring problems with dialing
prefixes. I think that users could stand to understand that it isn't
their fault that their reasonable expectations are not being met.

 

[Dana DeLouis]

Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I

cannot change it.

Hi. I have just the "opposite" issue with Outlook 2003. I would like
Outlook to insert a "+1" prefix if able by default.
My reason is a little different. My Cell Phone can Sync to Outlook, and the
displayed phone number in Outlook is what gets put into the cell phone.

If I type into Outlook "12031234567", then the number stays in this format,
and stays in the same format in the phone.
If I type "+12031234567", then Outlook will format it a little better as "+1
(203) 123-4567" And of course, this looks much better in the Cell Phone.
I've been hoping to find a way to enter "2031234567" and have it changed to
"+1 (203) ...etc"

--
Dana

Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I
cannot
change it. I have tried everything that I could find to make the change
to
no avail. I looked in the control panel under phone and could not find
anything that had to do with the country code or existing country code.
The country codes that are listed do not include one for no country.

Then configure your dialing rule correctly. This is not an Outlook
question.
Nor does Outlook force you to add the country code to your phone numbers.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I get stopped by the operator because the +1 is not needed for local
calls

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You're mixing up 2 separate issues here and drawing unsupported conclusions.
1. Inclusion of the county code in the phone number does not interfere with
dialing as long as dialing rules are configured correctly.
2. Populating the country field does not interfere with proper formatting of
addresses as long as the address layout is configured correctly.

What realistic expectations are not being met?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Outlook will do this by default when you set your dialing location correctly
and set the option to "automatically add the country code to local phone
numbers" in Outlook's dialing options.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I
cannot change it.

Hi. I have just the "opposite" issue with Outlook 2003. I would like
Outlook to insert a "+1" prefix if able by default.
My reason is a little different. My Cell Phone can Sync to Outlook, and
the
displayed phone number in Outlook is what gets put into the cell phone.

If I type into Outlook "12031234567", then the number stays in this
format,
and stays in the same format in the phone.
If I type "+12031234567", then Outlook will format it a little better as
"+1
(203) 123-4567" And of course, this looks much better in the Cell Phone.
I've been hoping to find a way to enter "2031234567" and have it changed
to
"+1 (203) ...etc"

--
Dana

Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I
cannot
change it. I have tried everything that I could find to make the
change
to
no avail. I looked in the control panel under phone and could not find
anything that had to do with the country code or existing country code.
The country codes that are listed do not include one for no country.

Then configure your dialing rule correctly. This is not an Outlook
question.
Nor does Outlook force you to add the country code to your phone
numbers.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I get stopped by the operator because the +1 is not needed for local
calls

 

[Dana DeLouis]

Thank you! I've never used that option (Dialing Location), so I'll check it
out.

--
Dana

Outlook will do this by default when you set your dialing location
correctly and set the option to "automatically add the country code to
local phone numbers" in Outlook's dialing options.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I
cannot change it.

Hi. I have just the "opposite" issue with Outlook 2003. I would like
Outlook to insert a "+1" prefix if able by default.
My reason is a little different. My Cell Phone can Sync to Outlook, and
the
displayed phone number in Outlook is what gets put into the cell phone.

If I type into Outlook "12031234567", then the number stays in this
format,
and stays in the same format in the phone.
If I type "+12031234567", then Outlook will format it a little better as
"+1
(203) 123-4567" And of course, this looks much better in the Cell Phone.
I've been hoping to find a way to enter "2031234567" and have it changed
to
"+1 (203) ...etc"

--
Dana

Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I
cannot
change it. I have tried everything that I could find to make the
change
to
no avail. I looked in the control panel under phone and could not find
anything that had to do with the country code or existing country code.
The country codes that are listed do not include one for no country.

:

Then configure your dialing rule correctly. This is not an Outlook
question.
Nor does Outlook force you to add the country code to your phone
numbers.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I get stopped by the operator because the +1 is not needed for local
calls

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Just remember that Dialing Location is an operating system setting, not an
Outlook setting. Control Panel > Phone and Modem options...
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thank you! I've never used that option (Dialing Location), so I'll check
it out.

--
Dana

Outlook will do this by default when you set your dialing location
correctly and set the option to "automatically add the country code to
local phone numbers" in Outlook's dialing options.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I
cannot change it.

Hi. I have just the "opposite" issue with Outlook 2003. I would like
Outlook to insert a "+1" prefix if able by default.
My reason is a little different. My Cell Phone can Sync to Outlook, and
the
displayed phone number in Outlook is what gets put into the cell phone.

If I type into Outlook "12031234567", then the number stays in this
format,
and stays in the same format in the phone.
If I type "+12031234567", then Outlook will format it a little better as
"+1
(203) 123-4567" And of course, this looks much better in the Cell
Phone.
I've been hoping to find a way to enter "2031234567" and have it
changed to
"+1 (203) ...etc"

--
Dana


Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I
cannot
change it. I have tried everything that I could find to make the
change
to
no avail. I looked in the control panel under phone and could not
find
anything that had to do with the country code or existing country code.
The country codes that are listed do not include one for no country.

:

Then configure your dialing rule correctly. This is not an Outlook
question.
Nor does Outlook force you to add the country code to your phone
numbers.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I get stopped by the operator because the +1 is not needed for local
calls

 

[Guest]

Select (or de-select, according to your preference) "Automatically add
country code to local phone numbers" under "Dialing Options".

I recommend keeping all phone contact info in Outlook in full "canonical"
format, that is including the country code, in the format: +ccc (aaa) nnn. As
long as you have your dialing rules set up correctly, then the dialer will
figure out how to dial the number correctly, inserting the proper dialing
prefixes for long distance and, if necessary, IDD. This is particularly
useful if you have a laptop and you travel with it. All you have to do is set
up a new dialing rule for your location and the dialer will work correctly,
wherever you are, anywhere in the world. Otherwise, you may have to re-format
your phone numbers to get them to dial correctly. If you never, ever travel
with your computer, then I suppose this doesn't matter.

One other advantage, as Dana points out, is that the phone numbers will get
synced to a Smartphone in proper format. If you're on a GSM network, then the
network will automatically figure out how to dial them correctly.

Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I
cannot change it.

Hi. I have just the "opposite" issue with Outlook 2003. I would like
Outlook to insert a "+1" prefix if able by default.
My reason is a little different. My Cell Phone can Sync to Outlook, and the
displayed phone number in Outlook is what gets put into the cell phone.

If I type into Outlook "12031234567", then the number stays in this format,
and stays in the same format in the phone.
If I type "+12031234567", then Outlook will format it a little better as "+1
(203) 123-4567" And of course, this looks much better in the Cell Phone.
I've been hoping to find a way to enter "2031234567" and have it changed to
"+1 (203) ...etc"

--
Dana

Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I
cannot
change it. I have tried everything that I could find to make the change
to
no avail. I looked in the control panel under phone and could not find
anything that had to do with the country code or existing country code.
The country codes that are listed do not include one for no country.

Then configure your dialing rule correctly. This is not an Outlook
question.
Nor does Outlook force you to add the country code to your phone numbers.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I get stopped by the operator because the +1 is not needed for local
calls

 

[Dana DeLouis]

Thanks to both you & Russ very much! Excellent! Took me a while to find
that option. In Outlook 2003, it's under:
Action | Call Contact | New Call ... | Dialing Options.
Looks like the "Dialing Properties" button will take you to the Control
Panel option for "Phone & Modem Options" also. :>)
Excellent! I really like this option. I find it much better using the +1
format when syncing Outlook to both a GSM smart phone, and a pda.
Cheers! :>)
--
Dana

Select (or de-select, according to your preference) "Automatically add
country code to local phone numbers" under "Dialing Options".

I recommend keeping all phone contact info in Outlook in full "canonical"
format, that is including the country code, in the format: +ccc (aaa) nnn.
As
long as you have your dialing rules set up correctly, then the dialer will
figure out how to dial the number correctly, inserting the proper dialing
prefixes for long distance and, if necessary, IDD. This is particularly
useful if you have a laptop and you travel with it. All you have to do is
set
up a new dialing rule for your location and the dialer will work
correctly,
wherever you are, anywhere in the world. Otherwise, you may have to
re-format
your phone numbers to get them to dial correctly. If you never, ever
travel
with your computer, then I suppose this doesn't matter.

One other advantage, as Dana points out, is that the phone numbers will
get
synced to a Smartphone in proper format. If you're on a GSM network, then
the
network will automatically figure out how to dial them correctly.

Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I
cannot change it.

Hi. I have just the "opposite" issue with Outlook 2003. I would like
Outlook to insert a "+1" prefix if able by default.
My reason is a little different. My Cell Phone can Sync to Outlook, and
the
displayed phone number in Outlook is what gets put into the cell phone.

If I type into Outlook "12031234567", then the number stays in this
format,
and stays in the same format in the phone.
If I type "+12031234567", then Outlook will format it a little better as
"+1
(203) 123-4567" And of course, this looks much better in the Cell Phone.
I've been hoping to find a way to enter "2031234567" and have it changed
to
"+1 (203) ...etc"

--
Dana

Russ: My Outlook puts the +1 in the prefix of the phone number. I
cannot
change it. I have tried everything that I could find to make the
change
to
no avail. I looked in the control panel under phone and could not
find
anything that had to do with the country code or existing country code.
The country codes that are listed do not include one for no country.

:

Then configure your dialing rule correctly. This is not an Outlook
question.
Nor does Outlook force you to add the country code to your phone
numbers.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I get stopped by the operator because the +1 is not needed for local
calls