Travel Technology - Strange international dialing issue? ADD the zero?

So, I have strange issue here, wonder what has changed.

I have been trying to dial some friends travelling in italy over the past week, they have been in differant areas. I had NOT been able to get a hold of them at all. I kept getting fast busy signals. I thought it was my providor, or calling times etc.

Turns out, as I have been doing for the past 25 years when calling abroad, I was removing the ZERO that leads up to a city code, or mobile prefix.

For example, the number in italy is 39 036 xxx.xx

When I dial, I would dial 011 39 "36" xxx.xxx Droping the zero that leads into the city code.

I made calls this way last week, to Germany and Switzerland, dropping the 0 in front of 0654 to reach some friends outside frankfurt, dropping the 0 in front of the 0171 for a mobile number.

Same for Switzerland, but BUTTT

But, it turns out for ITALY one HAS to dial this zero. When did that start? What is the change and why / how did they decide to do this?

Well, I'll answer my own post.
Seems since 1999, ITALY is the ONLY COUNTRY IN THE EU that requires dialers to ALWAYS DIAL THE ZERO for a city code, no matter from where they are dialing.

So, all numbers should be dialed completly.

+011 39 06 xxx.xxx.xxx

I hate to say it, but it makes no sense

Wow, I didn't know that, hardly makes sense in a Europe where they want to get everything unified...

Well, I'll answer my own post.
Seems since 1999, ITALY is the ONLY COUNTRY IN THE EU that requires dialers to ALWAYS DIAL THE ZERO for a city code, no matter from where they are dialing.

So, all numbers should be dialed completly.

+011 39 06 xxx.xxx.xxx

I hate to say it, but it makes no sense

Now I'm confused. I would use +69 06 xxx.xxx.xxx or 011 69 06 xxx.xxx.xxx but not both.

In any case, I just always put the entire number in my cell phone memory.- Even my US numbers begin +1, and it always seems to work from wherever I am.

Except for Italy (which I just learned about here) I would actually enter the numbers as +(country code) (city code without the zero)(number) and it will ring through even if I'm in the country itself. Never need the zero if you use the plus and the country code first.

I know! I could hardly believe it either.
No wonder they are at the bottom of the EU with their economy! Nobody can REACH them!

Now I'm confused. I would use +69 06 xxx.xxx.xxx or 011 69 06 xxx.xxx.xxx but not both.

In any case, I just always put the entire number in my cell phone memory.- Even my US numbers begin +1, and it always seems to work from wherever I am.

Except for Italy (which I just learned about here) I would actually enter the numbers as +(country code) (city code without the zero)(number) and it will ring through even if I'm in the country itself. Never need the zero if you use the plus and the country code first.

you will not be able to make a landline call to italy, with or without a plus sign from the US or another country, WITHOUT putting the zero in there before the city code. That is just the way it apparently works.

go home, give it a try. I tried so many providors it was making me sick.

I also tried on Skype, using the +011 39 6 xxx.xxx.xxx. Skype says this is an invalid number.

Add the zero, +011, (or just +39) 39 06 xxx.xxx.xxx and it goes through fine.
all providors, skype, voip, etc.

As for putting all the digits in, in the cell phone. I'm not sure for example how that is working for other countries, where one has to drop the zero when calling from outside the target country.

When I phone from my cell to germany, lichtenstein, switzerland, I have to dial it +49171xxx.xxx.xxx and not +490171xxx.xxx.xxx.

Maybe you're phone is dropping the zero via some dialing setup?

When I phone from my cell to germany, lichtenstein, switzerland, I have to dial it +49171xxx.xxx.xxx and not +490171xxx.xxx.xxx.

Maybe you're phone is dropping the zero via some dialing setup?

Sorry my example wasn't clear. I enter the number just like you do in the example above (no zero). This number then works as entered from anywhere I am, including when I'm in the country. The zero isn't necessary when you begin with +(country code). Except, apparently, for Italian numbers. Just when I think I have this all figured out another curve is thrown in!

But, it turns out for ITALY one HAS to dial this zero. When did that start? What is the change and why / how did they decide to do this?The leading zero became an integral part of the telephone city code in Italy around 1998/99 (e.g. 06=Rome). It is not a dialing prefix "0" which is not used ("dropped") when calling the number from outside the country.