Calling abroad: Cheap calls?

[Viney]

Okies, Anyone regularly phone someone aborad, like Aus, or S.Africa? If so, do you use one of these cheap rate companies? If so who?

The better halfs. auntie lives in S.africa, just outside Durban, and she used to have a deal on her o2 mobiles that made calls chaep. however, vodafone dont have such a deal.

Im thinking of the likes of alpha telecom etc but looking for recomendations

[timwilky]

Get Verna to look at VoIP. I use sipgate and as my sister also uses it in Spain we can talk all day free of charge. My step mum was so impressed she took a pre configured ATA out to New Zealand with her 3 months ago. She now talks to her family there all the time free of charge. She justifies her broadband internet on the basis that it was cheaper than her monthly phone costs to her sister out there

I use VOIPBUSTER and you can use it from your mobile as well.

Other companies are www.telestunt.co.uk and www.telediscount.co.uk

I use Talk Talk, it has free international calls using a normal phone.

I use Best Minutes to call the states. SA is 2p a min with them.

[Stu]

I use Martin's thingy to find the chaepest provider for each country or even different types of UK calls
http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/

[Stu]

From an advert on Voipbuster above try
http://www.yourcallworld.com/calling...frica%20Mobile
Free calls from your mobile inclusive minutes - even SA Mobile calls are free.

[Viney]

So these numbers, how do they work, its not that clear.

You get charged to connect to the number at what ever rate the phone company charge, then you pay the 2p or whatever it is on top? Or is 2p the flat rate you get charged for dialing thier number?

I'd imagine that VErna will do this from her mobile, as her home landline and net connection isnt the best.

when you use them from ur mobile expect the providers rate plus the rate from that number 1p or 2p etc.

I use voipbuster cause it gives you an 0208 number which is local so I use my free minutes plus any money I have on my voipbuster account.

one thing to watch out for though is if your mobile phone provider recognises these numbers and doesn't include them in your free minutes

[Stu]

Originally Posted by 600+

when you use them from ur mobile expect the providers rate plus the rate from that number 1p or 2p etc.

I use voipbuster cause it gives you an 0208 number which is local so I use my free minutes plus any money I have on my voipbuster account.

one thing to watch out for though is if your mobile phone provider recognises these numbers and doesn't include them in your free minutes

Just to be clear, when you call a provider's number you pay your normal provider either BT or Vodafone for that call. The other provider (whose number you call) Has no method of billing you at all, so they cannot charge you any more. The price quoted 1p or 2p etc. will be what BT charge you for calling the provider. (remember thats as soon as you are connected to the service, not just when you speak to you're friend - so don't listen to all of the announcement, just dial the international number & the hash key)
If you call an 07 number from your mobile that's included in your free minutes then the whole cost of calling overseas is from your free minutes. Yes check your bills to make sure it doesn't change but everyon else can't get it for free and not you!

(Hope this is clear without being condesending in any way)