You want to talk to friends and family in Germany but have never placed an international call before. Placing a call to Germany from the United States can seem confusing for those used to the simplicity of dialing domestically. Frustration may ensue over access, country and area codes, as well as making the call affordable.

Calling Cards

Consider purchasing a calling card to reduce your costs. International calling cards are available from phone stores, drugstores and several online vendors. These will often come in denominations of $10 to $100 and are re-loadable. Remember that international calling card companies charge by the minute. Take some time to compare the rates of different calling cards.

VoIP

Alternatively, you may wish to use a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service. If you plan on calling Germany frequently, this can be a good option. Unlike an ordinary landline or cell phone, VoIP services employ your Internet connection to place calls. Vonage is one such service. With a US or Puerto Rican phone number, a landline phone and a phone adapter available through the company, you can place VoIP calls to Germany for a monthly fee. Skype is another popular choice, which allows you to make calls to landlines and cell phones through your computer. If you choose Skype, you can opt into a monthly subscription, or pay as you go.

Calling Germany

If you are using an international calling card, dial the toll-free number printed on the back. When prompted, enter your pin number. Begin by dialing "011." This indicates that you are placing an international call. Next, dial "49," Germany's country code. German phone numbers consist of two parts: the area code and the local number. Note that German area codes begin with a "0" and it may seem only natural to dial it. Nonetheless, it's important to leave this out and skip to the rest of the code. Dialing the "0" will result in an unsuccessful phone call. After you have dialed the city code, proceed with the rest of the phone number.

Source:

Dial Around World: How to dial to Germany

Skype: Call phones from Skype

Vonage: How It Works