Best/Cheapest method for calling a mobile phone in the UK

Jschmuck2

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2005
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I figured Skype would be the best way to go but as it turns out - it aint. Better than Verizon at $1.67/minute but still, not hot.

Any advice?
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
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Get the other person to use Skype on their phone? Is that an option?
 

Jschmuck2

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2005
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Originally posted by: Leros
Get the other person to use Skype on their phone? Is that an option?

A fine idea - but it's an old beater phone and that isn't an option.
 

AnonymouseUser

Diamond Member
May 14, 2003
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Originally posted by: Jschmuck2
Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Originally posted by: Jschmuck2
Originally posted by: Leros
Get the other person to use Skype on their phone? Is that an option?

A fine idea - but it's an old beater phone and that isn't an option.

Bullshit.

Skype To Go

Be that as it may - we're in two different countries and that doesn't apply.

If you buy a subscription you'll also be able to set up a free Skype To Go number and call landlines (and mobiles in some countries) included as part of your subscription. This means you can make international calls on the move and make huge savings.
 

Jschmuck2

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2005
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Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Originally posted by: Jschmuck2
Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Originally posted by: Jschmuck2
Originally posted by: Leros
Get the other person to use Skype on their phone? Is that an option?

A fine idea - but it's an old beater phone and that isn't an option.

Bullshit.

Skype To Go

Be that as it may - we're in two different countries and that doesn't apply.

If you buy a subscription you'll also be able to set up a free Skype To Go number and call landlines (and mobiles in some countries) included as part of your subscription. This means you can make international calls on the move and make huge savings.

Believe me, I want you to be right but even with a to go number, the rate remains the same...right?
 

AnonymouseUser

Diamond Member
May 14, 2003
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Originally posted by: Jschmuck2
Believe me, I want you to be right but even with a to go number, the rate remains the same...right?

No. It costs extra to call to a mobile in some countries. If they call you and you are using a landline it would cost ~ .03 per minute.

EDIT >> I guess it would also cost for the subscription @ $5/ month
 

AnonymouseUser

Diamond Member
May 14, 2003
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Also, I see there is no extra charge for calling a mobile number in the USA, so it wouldn't matter which phone they call you on.
 

puffff

Platinum Member
Jun 25, 2004
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Onesuite

I've been using them for my long distance international calls for a couple years now. Relatively decent service I think.
 

Jschmuck2

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2005
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Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Originally posted by: Jschmuck2
Believe me, I want you to be right but even with a to go number, the rate remains the same...right?

No. It costs extra to call to a mobile in some countries. If they call you and you are using a landline it would cost ~ .03 per minute.

EDIT >> I guess it would also cost for the subscription @ $5/ month

Yeah and the UK is one of those countries ;) 25ish cents per minute.
 

AnonymouseUser

Diamond Member
May 14, 2003
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Originally posted by: Jschmuck2
Originally posted by: Kaido
Isn't the Skype subscription for Worldwide calling only $9.99 a month?

http://www.skype.com/allfeatur...s/#uscaSubscriptionTab

Landlines only :(

This is where reversing who initiates the calls would be very beneficial. Your contact in the UK could get a Skype subscription for as little as $4.95/month, then using Skype To Go call you for ~$.03/per minute. If you talk for more than 4.5 hours/month (270 * .03 = $8.1 + $4.95 = $13.05) then they should get the Unlimited World plan for $12.95/month and no additional cost.

By comparison, calling their mobile UK number (UK charges connection fee for mobiles, US doesn't) now costs $.253/minute, so 4.5 hours would cost you $68.31.

EDIT >> Corrected math
 

Jacque

Junior Member
Apr 2, 2009
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Originally posted by: puffff
Onesuite

I've been using them for my long distance international calls for a couple years now. Relatively decent service I think.

I also go with Onesuite on this one. You can use it as a prepaid calling card service and as a VoIP if you don't have access to a landline or regular phones. Rates are pretty cheap as well.

 

Jschmuck2

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2005
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Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Originally posted by: Jschmuck2
Originally posted by: Kaido
Isn't the Skype subscription for Worldwide calling only $9.99 a month?

http://www.skype.com/allfeatur...s/#uscaSubscriptionTab

Landlines only :(

This is where reversing who initiates the calls would be very beneficial. Your contact in the UK could get a Skype subscription for as little as $4.95/month, then using Skype To Go call you for ~$.03/per minute. If you talk for more than 4.5 hours/month (270 * .03 = $8.1 + $4.95 = $13.05) then they should get the Unlimited World plan for $12.95/month and no additional cost.

By comparison, calling their mobile UK number (UK charges connection fee for mobiles, US doesn't) now costs $.253/minute, so 4.5 hours would cost you $68.31.

EDIT >> Corrected math

Well how about this - Can the person I'm calling in the UK get a SkypeIN number - which I could then call via Skype but at the landline rate instead of the mobile rate - which is much cheaper?
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
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First "she" wants you to call her.

Then it will be money for college or a tit job

Next thing you know, you go to meet her and it is really a man that was tucking it in the pictures the whole time, and your savings account is wiped clean.

 

AnonymouseUser

Diamond Member
May 14, 2003
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Originally posted by: Jschmuck2
Well how about this - Can the person I'm calling in the UK get a SkypeIN number - which I could then call via Skype but at the landline rate instead of the mobile rate - which is much cheaper?

Only if they can run the skype client on their mobile phone and have a data plan.
 

Jschmuck2

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2005
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We're both on mobiles - btw.

Or how about this - Will Skype forward your calls to an international phone? So say the person in the UK gets a SkypeIN number based in the US and then has it forwarded to their cell?
 

Jschmuck2

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2005
5,623
3
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Originally posted by: OCguy
First "she" wants you to call her.

Then it will be money for college or a tit job

Next thing you know, you go to meet her and it is really a man that was tucking it in the pictures the whole time, and your savings account is wiped clean.

It all makes sense now - why she wanted to sweep my chimney.
 

AnonymouseUser

Diamond Member
May 14, 2003
9,943
107
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Originally posted by: Jschmuck2
We're both on mobiles - btw.

Or how about this - Will Skype forward your calls to an international phone? So say the person in the UK gets a SkypeIN number based in the US and then has it forwarded to their cell?

Yes, Skype can forward calls, but I'm pretty sure you'd still get billed as an international caller.
 

AnonymouseUser

Diamond Member
May 14, 2003
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Jschmuck2, since you are on a PC right now, why don't you use Skype on the PC and your friend can get the $4.95/month UK plan (so they get a SkypeToGo number), then they can call you (on Skype on your PC) for free?
 

Jschmuck2

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2005
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Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Jschmuck2, since you are on a PC right now, why don't you use Skype on the PC and your friend can get the $4.95/month UK plan (so they get a SkypeToGo number), then they can call you (on Skype on your PC) for free?

Yet another good idea :D however, she has a pre-paid cell with a limited number of minutes - the SIM she got is designed for calling overseas. So calling that SkypeToGo number would end up eating her minutes more than just calling my cell directly.

Currently, she's paying 4p/min for calls to my US cell. I think calls to a local UK number would be in the neighborhood of 15p/min