How do I call a Russian mobile phone on the Megafon network (a federal
number) from within the United States? The number I want to call is of
the form 7-921-xxx-xxxx.
When I dial it from my cell phone (which has international access) or
a landline, I get a rapid set of tones and cannot connect. I have read
that of the three Russian cellular provides Bee, MTS, and Megafon,
only Bee is accessible through direct dialing from the U.S. Is this
true? If so, is there a way I can dial the Megafon number with a
calling card?

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Clarification of Question by davedking-ga on 23 Jun 2006 08:03 PDT

Note that I am dialing the number from within the U.S. with the
stanard international prefix:  011-7-921-xxx-xxxx. I can successfully
call Russian landline phones using this method, but not cell phones.

Hi davedking-ga,

try to add "+" before phone number. "+" is output on the international line.
Sample: +7921xxxxxxx

I hope that my answer is helpful for you.

Huh?  How exactly do you type a plus on a phone?

International phone numbers are usually written with a "+" before the
phone number, and some phones allow this to be entered directly, often
with two consecutive presses of the * key. THIS AVOIDS HAVING TO KNOW
THE INTERNATIONAL CALL PREFIX.

See cell phone pictures:

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/zoom.php?p=769&g=1 - bottom left button
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/zoom.php?p=213&g=1 - bottom middle button
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/zoom.php?p=710&g=1 - bottom middle button

"Most telephone networks nowadays are interconnected in the
international telephone network, where the format of telephone numbers
is standardized by ITU-T in the recommendation E.164, which specifies
that the entire number should be 15 digits or shorter, and begin with
a country prefix. In most countries, this is followed by an area code
or city code and the subscriber number, which might consist of the
code for a particular telephone switch. ITU-T recommendation E.123
describes how to represent an international telephone number in
writing or print, starting with a plus sign ("+") and the country
code. To actually call an international number from a fixed line phone
(mobiles generally allow the + to be entered directly) the + must be
replaced with the international call prefix of the country the call is
being made from."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_number

other way - you can use international prefixes directly in the phone
number (not recommended way if you can use a plus as a international
prefix). See "List of international call prefixes" for more
information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_call_prefixes

Hi davedking,

I asked your question in the Megafon support. 
Reasons why you cannot reach the Megafon abonent:
1. Phone number must be in the internetional format +7-921-xxx-xxxx
2. The Megafon subscriber's tariff doesn't allow to get a phone call from U.S.
3. They asked what do you hear when calling to the Megafon network -
mobile operator automatic message (e.g. "The subscriber cannot be
reach") or nothing?

For your information this is a Megafon North-West web site
http://www.megafonnw.ru/site/eng. I'm not sure but online consultant
unfortunately available only in Russian. But page for sending sms
available in English.

Hi davedking,

this is addition to the previous answer.

Megafon support sad, that 011 may be works when you call to Russian
landline phones, but not mobile and they advised to try make a call in
such format: +7-921-xxx-xxxx (with a plus) from cell phone. And also
they sad that all Megafon subscribers is accessible through direct
dialing from the U.S.