Calling home from USA

wendyloub

Hi, I'm a vodafone contract customer and phoned them up for advice regarding my trip to New York after finding out just how much it would cost to use my phone over there, I've made sure they have put a bar on my internet for those dates! thank goodness for wifi, however I'm going away without my children and would like to ring them at least every other day, and as there are three of them, this would take a fair few minutes.

I found Vodafone passport but then realised this doesnt cover USA, have read info on here so may end up buying a special sim card before I go, any other suggestions, or what worked for you?

Thanks

Wendyx

wendyloub

oh and my daughter and I both have blackberries, so is there any app we could download maybe?

macman

Buying a local US SIM will not be of much use for phoning back to the UK, only for cheaper calls within the USA.
You don't say how you would be ringing your children-on their mobiles, or on a landline?
You can bar your own internet, just turn off data roaming.

wendyloub

Would have to be on their mobiles, and thanks didn't realise about data roaming thing will remember that for next time :-)

malc_b

Buy a pay as go mobile in USA. We've done this when gone on hols to Florida, sold the phones for 50% cost on return. Trac phones are popular and you can check out minute costs on their web site (and check out Walmart for current phone prices and deals). One year the phone came with 200 min which included international calls to UK. Cost was ~£30 AFAIR.

Just looked at Walmart and cheapest phone is $10-$15. Minutes are $20 for 60min, $30 for 120min (some phone come with free double minute BTW). Minutes are for local calls and calls to uk landline.

ahxcjb

Are you using an Android or iPhone? If so, register on sipgate.co.uk and get yourself a free UK number. Then top it up with a tenner.

Next, install either sipgate's (free) client, or use 'Softphone' (£5, but excellent!). Put in your sipgate username/password details and hey bingo you have a UK number available to use anywhere you have WiFi / Data and your iPhone/Android.

You can call them, and they can call you, all as if you are in the UK still.

wendyloub

Thats fab thanks have a look at the websites, calls on my contract are £1.35 a minute, I was shocked!! glad I looked before I got there and just used it lol

macman

Connect by local wi-fi and use Skype on your mobile?

chrisv24

Macman has got it right. You can always just find a wifi hotspot and talk on skype. Either setup an account for your kids or top up £10 and get some credit to call home. Simple as that!

stevie11

chrisv24 wrote: »

Macman has got it right. You can always just find a wifi hotspot and talk on skype. Either setup an account for your kids or top up £10 and get some credit to call home. Simple as that!

Good advice, I have just returned from US and Canada and I subcribed to a free month of international calls with Skype. I have now cancelled to avoid further payment.

Benefit in North America is that you can ring landlines and mobiles also 800 numbers.

The majority of calls were fine, depending on the wifi signal some calls cut off half way through but it was great to be able contact family and friends both in North America and UK, also for arranging travel plans etc.

Remember to switch of data roaming before you get there. You don't want any unwanted bills.