Notes on Calling The World

On 29 September 2026, ANA revised the SFC changes it announced in April. SFC LITE members can now use ANA lounges, except at peak times. In April I wrote that the change was not as bad as people said. Here is what changed, what did not.

Iqbal Abdullah

An unknown country code appeared on your phone. You looked it up, but then you got stuck on how to actually call back. This post shows how to look up the country, build the right dial string, and place the call from your browser.

Iqbal Abdullah

Browser calling means dialing an ordinary phone number straight from your web browser — no app, no download, no account on the other end. This guide explains how it works, what you need, and how to make your first call.

Iqbal Abdullah

Overseas Japanese often carry an identity they cannot name. This article gives that feeling a name through the TCK concept, shares a Japanese mother's story in Malaysia, and argues that the uncertainty is a strength.

Iqbal Abdullah

Skype shut down in May 2025, leaving millions of expats scrambling. Mary shares how she found a way to call her credit card company from abroad — completely in her browser, with no app to install.

Iqbal Abdullah

What Erin Meyer's The Culture Map gets right about cross-cultural communication, and where it falls short for nomads who switch cultures constantly.

Iqbal Abdullah

Reading a 2021 r/digitalnomad thread about nomad problems, and what the engagement asymmetry reveals about what actually bothers people on the road.

Iqbal Abdullah

A green pill on the dialler shows your connection is healthy; amber means it's struggling. Entirely local to your browser, with no data sent back.

Iqbal Abdullah

Setting up your digital identity is just the start; the real challenge is choosing the right software and services. This curated Estonian e-Resident toolkit provides a practical roadmap for running an OÜ from anywhere in the world.

Iqbal Abdullah