[askwhy]

I could use a hand understanding something I just noticed -- it's probably a carrier (sprint) thing, or maybe a Windows phone thing, or maybe even an HTC thing -- I certainly don't think it's a ROM thing, but anyways it's something I don't understand and I can't seem to search down the answer.

Why can't the network, phone, dialer, other software, or whatever handle a PLUS (+) symbol at the beginning of the phone number? This is just a curiosity, it's not an issue.

Details: I don't add a (+) to my contacts, but Google Voice does, and that's why I am suddenly seeing this happen. If I 'Quick Save' a contact from a call entry on the Google Voice website it adds a PLUS (+) symbol in front of the phone number, which eventually syncs over the air with my phone creating a situation where when I dial that contact it actually dials, for example, +19701234567 -- and then the call fails with two horrible audible 'burps' over the speakerphone speaker after which I get disconnected from the cell network for about 5 seconds. If the same number is dialed without the PLUS (+) -- if I dial or modify the contact to dial 19701234567 -- then it works fine. I bet there is a simple answer that I have failed to find in my searching. I know this is not an EnergyROM thing, but I already know how many savvy minds read this thread, and I figured I would ask here before making a thread somewhere. So, any thoughts?