United States offers excellent telephone and postal services; mobile phones and public cybercafes contribute to making communications easier than ever. Most hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers offer internet connection.
Media in the United States is among the most important in the world. Advertising and propaganda are the basis of the high consumption of this society. Press, radio, television, and the internet make it one of the best-informed societies in the world, though not necessarily the most culturally aware. There are many newspapers, radios, and television networks that are continuously producing information. The film industry also helps to spread the American lifestyle, somewhat mythologized.
How to call by phone in the United States
American telephone numbers contain a three-digit area code (e.g. 212), indicating a suburban area of a large city, such as Manhattan, a metropolitan area, or even an entire state.
The telephone number can be written in different ways:
- (212) 324-4152 (formato estándar)
- 212/324-4152
- 212-324-4152
Depending on who you are calling, there are different ways to dial this number:
- If you are calling a number in your same area, you must omit the area code and only dial the last 7 digits.
- If you are calling a different area, you must dial 1, followed by the area code, and the remaining 7 digits (e.g. 1-212-324-4152).
- To call the USA from the UK, you need to dial the international access code (which is usually 00), followed by the country code for the USA (1), and then the area code and the phone number you want to reach.
For example, to call a phone number in the USA with the area code 212 and the local number 324-4152, you would dial:
00 + 1 + 212 + 324-4152. - To call from the USA to the UK, you need to dial the international access code (which is 011), followed by the country code for the UK (44), and then the local phone number you want to reach.
For example, to call a phone number in the UK with the local number 20 1234 5678, you would dial:
011 + 44 + 20 + 1234 5678.
We must be careful of the cost of international calls, and if we are using our mobile phone, have agreed with our telephone company on the cost of roaming calls. Other alternatives are using messaging applications that also allow for internet calls like WhatsApp.
Emergency phone
You can report any type of emergency that requires the presence of the police, fire department, or medical assistance from any phone, including mobile phones. Dial “911”. This call can usually be made for free from any public phone, so you do not need to insert coins. In most of the US, the emergency response center will immediately know your location without you having to tell them where you are.
