COMMUNICATION OF AUSTRIA
TELEPHONES. Wherever possible, use a calling card for international phone calls, as the long-distance rates for national phone services are often exorbitant. Prepaid phone cards and major credit cards can be used for direct international calls, but they are still less cost-efficient. For info on cell phones, see 36. Direct dial access numbers include: AT&T, s(0800) 20 02 88; British Telecom, (0800) 20 02 09; Canada Direct, (0800) 20 02 17; Ireland Direct, (0800) 40 00 00; MCI, (0800) 20 02 35; Sprint, & (0800) 20 02 36; Telecom New Zealand, (0800) 20 02 22; Telkom South Africa,(0800) 20 02 30.
PHONE CODES
Country code: 43. International dialing prefix: 00 (from Vienna, 900). From outside Austria, dial int’l dialing prefix (see inside back cover) + 43 + city code + local number. To call Vienna from outside Austria, dial int’l dialing prefix + 43 + 1 + local number.
MAIL. Letters take 1-2 days within Austria. Airmail to North America takes 4-7 days, up to 9 days to Australia and New Zealand. Mark all letters and packages mit Flugpost. Aerogrammes are the cheapest option. Let’s Go lists the addresses for mail to be held (Postlagemde Brief e) in the practical information of big cities.
LANGUAGE. German is the official language. English is the most common second language; outside of cities and among older residents, English is less common. For basic German words and phrases, see 1036.
