Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Communications and Media
The Bay Area is where the American tech boom was born,
so it should come as no surprise that most places in San
Francisco have wireless Internet access; indeed, many hotels
and cafés offer it to customers free of charge. San Francisco
is also a fairly international and cultural city, so it's relatively
easy to find foreign publications, films, and television broad-
casts. Coin-operated public pay phones are not as common
as they once were, but they are still available at the airport
and on some streets in downtown neighborhoods. Note
that hotels set their own telephone rates, so calls from
your room may be more expensive than those made
from a pay phone or cell phone.
Reaching the Right
Number
• Long-distance direct-dial
calls outside your local area
code, but within the US and
Canada: dial 1.
• International direct-dial calls:
dial 011, followed by the
country code (Australia: 61;
New Zealand: 64; UK: 44),
then the city or area code
(omitting the first 0), and
then the local number.
• International calls via the
operator: dial 01, followed
by the country code,
and the city code (without
the first 0), then the
local number.
• National directory inquiries:
dial 411. There may be
a charge.
• International directory
inquiries: dial 00.
• Local operator assistance:
dial 0.
• International operator
assistance: dial 01.
• An 800, 866, 877, or 888
prefix indicates that the call
is free. Dial 1 before the 800.
• Emergencies: dial 911.
International and Local
Telephone Calls
Within the city limits of San
Francisco, the standard charge
of 50 cents buys 3 minutes' time.
If you talk for longer than that,
the operator may request
additional payment. The area
code for the city is 415. The
prefixes 650 and 408 serve the
southern suburbs; 510 is for
Oakland, Berkeley, and the
East Bay; and 707 is for
Napa and Sonoma.
These and other
numbers called from San
Francisco are long-
distance. The prefixes 800,
877, and 888 indicate toll-
free numbers.
All international calls
can be dialed direct,
but operators can help
if your call is not going
through. Their advice is
free, but if they connect
your call you will have
to pay a surcharge.
Long-distance direct-dial
calls within the US are
cheaper at night and
weekends. The White Pages
of the telephone book offer
current rate and long-distance
calling information in the
“Customer Guide” section.
The times of day when
discounted rates apply for calls
to foreign countries vary; the
international operator will
be able to advise you. Prepaid
international calling cards,
available from most
newsstands and convenience
stores, as well as online,
offer discounted rates on
international calls.
Public Telephones
Pay phones in San Francisco are
slowly disappearing, but they
can still be found at the airport,
on major streets, and in some
shopping centers. AT&T operates
most of the pay phones in the
city, which have a blue-and-
white sign with a receiver and
the word “phone” or a bell with
a circle around it. Charges
must be posted by law, as
well as toll-free numbers,
how to make calls
using other long-
distance service carriers,
and the phone's exact
location. To complain
about service, call the
operator (0).
flat-rate, $25-a-month,
no-contract-service option with
good international rates. You
will also need a phone, but the
company sells a basic one for
$20. This is a good option if you
are staying in the US longer
than a week and plan on
making frequent calls.
Cell Phones
Triband or multiband
cell phones from else-
where in the world
should work in the US,
but your service
provider may have to
unlock international
roaming. They can also advise
on costs of calls.
The main US providers are
T-Mobile
,
Verizon
,
AT&T
, and
Sprint
. Except for Sprint, they all
offer prepaid, pay-as-you-go
phones with a “starter” SIM card
(with 10-15 minutes' talk time)
for $30 and up. Local and
national calls are very cheap on
these phones, but international
calls are not, so it is wise to buy
a calling card to use with your
pay-as-you-go phone.
Alternatively, look for a plan
with international calling
options.
Virgin Mobile
offers a
Chinatown
phone box
Internet and Email
High-speed Internet (often
wireless) is available throughout
the city, including on many trains
and in the underwater subway
tunnel linking San Francisco to
Oakland. Many cafés, such as
Ritual Roasters
, offer free Wi-Fi,
although you are expected to
purchase something before
using it. Hotels are increasingly
offering free Wi-Fi as well, either
in the lobby or in all rooms.
Those that charge for access bill
$10-$15 a day. It is rare to find an
Internet café with computers, so
take your laptop.
