Why is a + needed for a phone number? What does it mean and why can’t it be omitted if the full number follows after anyway?
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An international call prefix or dial out code is a trunk prefix used to select an international telephone circuit for placing an international call. It is now called an IDD prefix (international direct dialing) – a country will typically have an NDD prefix as well (national direct dialing). The international dialing prefix must be dialed before the country calling code and the destination telephone number. It is synonymous with international access code or exit code. The international call prefix is part of the telephone numbering plan of a country for calls to another country.
When phone numbers are published for use abroad, they typically show a plus sign (+) prefix in place of any international call prefix, to signify that the caller should use the prefix code appropriate for their country. Many phones allow the plus sign to be entered in their saved number lists, often by holding down the zero (0) key (most GSM mobile phones) or with two consecutive presses of the star (*) key. When making a call, the system then automatically converts the plus sign to the correct international prefix, depending on where the phone is being used, which enables callers to use the same stored number when calling from either their own country or any other
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