Contacts Phone No + disappears

I am using the O2 XDA 2 running Windows Mobile and I have a problem when I
send an SMS to someone whose cellphone number starts with + in the address
book using the Inbox, New , and To commands. When the number appears in the
To box the + has disappered and hence I have to manually type it which is
time consuming and annoying. Replying to numbers works fine.

This is necessary as I travel and I need the + before the country code (If I
use 00 itis OK but I can not use this in all countries)