Many people use Internet Phone, such as Skype, to talk internationally across the net, but both must have the same software and fast connections. For more info, visit: Google's Directory on Internet Telephony or Yahoo's Directory on Internet Telephony.
"I recommend scheduling a certain time each week that you *may* call home. I chose early Sunday morning (home time) so as to catch someone at home. If there were any important messages, I could pick them up that way." <Alan Nelson>
"Do not assume you can place your call and get through at all times. Some countries have very few external circuits and they are often busy for long periods. Do not assume you can use touch-tone equipment to communicate with the US end (answering services, etc.) even if you carry a touch-tone beeper with you. You may be able to reach the answering service (and pay for that call), only to find that the international circuit is not good enough to work properly. This varies widely from country to country and from day to day." <Larry Cotter>
AT&T has a USADirect service, which allows you to reach US operators from foreign phones by dialing local access numbers. (800)874-4000 or (800)321-1140 x707.
"USADirect, like other competing companies, has a number of other services, including World Connect (calls from one foreign country to another, not available everywhere); translation service; a nice message service (whereby your recorded message is left for your contact at a time convenient for you, delivered at a time convenient for them; they have a minute or two to record an answer, then you listen to it later), and other features. USA Direct and particularly World Connect are rather expensive (more so than making a call at the local PTT Office). Get a calling card or telephone credit card before you leave home and a list of the numbers to call from within the foreign countries. The general term for this kind of service is 'Home Country Direct.' From some telephones in some countries, you can call most of the major nations and speak directly to their operators in their language, using their credit cards. In some countries, such as Thailand and Indonesia and Seychelles, it is very difficult to find a public telephone that offers this service, although most hotels will place the call at an extra charge of $2 or so. In other countries (e.g., India) you may have to go to a private telephone office to place your call, but these are easy to find." <Larry Cotter>
MCI has a CallUSA service, which allows you to reach US operators from foreign phones by dialing local access numbers: (800)888-0800 or (800)444-3333. MCI's Friends Around the World is at (800)782-1236.
World Time Server
Time & Date
Steve Kropla's Help For World Travelers
International Direct Dialing Codes
Country and Area Codes
International Long-Distance Access Codes
AT&T WorldNet Service
AT&T Traveler Worldwide Traveller
MCI
Sprint
TRAC - Telecommunications Research and Action Center
Google's's Directory on Internet Telephony
Yahoo! Telephony Links