Sis going abroad

JamiSaint

Hi there!

Just a quick question. My sis is going to Malawi for her gap year but we're wondering how to cut the cost of calls. I've worked out that if we join a call-provider such as Telestunt we will only be charged around 3p per min. But the trouble is that her mobile - she's on Virgin at the mo - will charge her for receiving calls...can anyone recommend what we can do to slash the charges she will incur for people ringing her mobile?

Many thanks!

seaniboy

http://www.carphonemobileworld.co.uk/mobileworld/servlet/gben-home-Home

for say emergencies get one of these and call her on her local mobile provider there for 8.5p a min its pay as you go- top up with credit/debit card

dont know who would provide the cheapest landline to landline calls check the service providers here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=68

andy88_2

If she uses the UK mobile you will pay the cost of calling that, as well as your sister's roaming cost, rather than the cost of ringing Malawi which as you say is only 3p per minute even for mobile using Telestunt.

It will be best to get a local SIM card. There are two networks, called Celtel and Callpoint 900, both using 900 only, so even an old Vodafone or O2 single-band phone would be ok. Check if the phone is locked by trying a different SIM in it. If it needs unlocking you can get help here.

I can only find a website for Celtel; I imagine the other will be similar prices
http://www.mw.celtel.com/en/personal-plans/index.html

You can see coverage maps from
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_mw.shtml
though the Celtel site one looks more up to date.

andy88_2

seaniboy's recommended simcard is for making international calls from this country by the look of it. If you have a mobile with plenty of cross-network minutes included (maybe loads of off-peak), take a look at threads about making 'free' international calls from mobile, as below. Otherwise 3p a minute to a moblie looks pretty good anyway.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=29699