mobile to mobile calls/texts to Australia and cardboard fish site

Aitch7

Hi,

I have been told my Virgin Media that it will cost me 20p per min to call Australia mobile to mobile and that they cannot offer a cheaper way.

I have read a lot about Rebtel and various other means of doing this and am feeling a bit swamped with all the techno speak - does anyone know of a cheaper way to call mobile to mobile - my friend in Australia only has a mobile. I do have a landline aswell and am also looking into options there.

Also has anyone used cardboard fish to send sms texts? I just found out today (and am still reeling from the shock) that the numerous texts I have been sending have cost me 20p each and that they are not included in the 300 texts I get each month - I had assumed that they were and actually read the terms and conditions at Virgins website and could find no reference to them not being included - however I just found another page at their site stating that they charge 20p each.

Cardboard fish have a VIP account that you can set up where texts cost 5p each and where you can receive replies directly to your mobile - has anyone tried this and does it all work ok?

Does anyone know of a free way to send texts?

Best wishes
Aitch7

hxm

I have been using cardboardfish VIP for about 2 years to send text messages to my friends in Kenya at 5p a time and have only had a few failed messages in all that time. I prefer to use it as it's much easier to type than text, and it has saved me a fortune. When my friends get the message, it just shows as coming from my mobile number. You can also check on the cardboardfish site by clicking on sent messages to see whether it has been delivered or not. I haven't found any better way to be honest and can definitely recommend it.

Celini

Three has a sister network in Australia (http://www.three.co.uk/Help_Support/International/3_Like_Home_Pay_Monthly)

You should give CS (have fun!) a call and ask them how much you would be charge to call an Australian 3 mobile.
Otherwise (and if I understand their website) your friend could maybe get a British 3 mobile contract, and your calls should be deducted from your allowance as a normal call...

but the easiest way is making VoIP calls. You and your friend would need to get a mobile supporting Skype (or Fringe or any VoIP software) and an unlimited internet access. Calling each other through Skype from your mobiles would then go through internet and you wouldn't pay any extra
same goes for the texts!