Calling a Singapore mobile cheaply

finktank1

Hi

Im just trying to understand the cheapest way to call a Singapore mobile (i.e. a local SIM rather than a UK mobile in Singapore). I've looked it up on the international call checker and the cheapest provider is 'cheapestchat'. But I don't quite understand how this works.

As i understand it, i phone the 0904 number. This costs me £1 and gives me £1 worth of 'cheapest chat' credit. Will it cost £1 irrespective of whether I call it from my home phone or my o2 mobile?

Once I have the £1 credit, I can phone the Singapore mobile, and I think i do this by phoning the 0208 number and then presumably following some instructions to be connected. And this will use 0.3p/min of my £1 credit. Will I also be charged the usual rate for a 0208 call, and if so should I make the call from my 02 UK mobile (i.e. using my free call minutes), or does it have to be from my BT landline?

And will there be any costs incurred by the Singapore mobile for all this?

Thanks in advance!

Heinz

At 0.3p/minute, Cheapestchat may well appear to be the cheapest but you have to remember that you are effectively buying credit in advance even if you don't use it all.

Use one of the 4 or 5 gateway (0844 dialthrough) ½p/minute suppliers instead. They are 'PAYG' in that you are charged (by your calls provider) for the time you are on the phone. The drawback is charging starts 'halfway through' the dialling process (after the first 11 digits of the 0844 number) but you won't be spending money on credit you may never use.

finktank1

Thanks for your advice. As it happens, I will be making quite a large volume of calls using this service, so I think the cheaper rate will outweigh the disadvantage of having to pay up front.

Another question just spring to mind though - what happens if you run out of credit mid-call? Do you just get cut off (which would be fine) or does it revert to a higher rate per minute?

BexTech

If you have no credit then you will get cut off, it wouldn't revert to a higher price because you have no credit for the higher cost to come out of.

Forgetful

Yes u will also have to pay for the call to the access number the 0208 number as well as being charged for the 0.4p /min call to singapore

finktank1

Just to update, I got this going this evening, and it worked a treat. The only surprise was that the local sim card charges me to receive incoming calls. I presume this is just the standard way it works in Singapore. It's only a couple of pence a minute, so not the end of the world.

Might be worth pointing out as something to be aware of in Martin's article though.

Thanks for all your help.

divadee

i use dialwise at 0.5p a minute to call my mum and dad on there local mobile in singapore. They have never been charged a fee for me calling them when they are in singapore. The only time they were charged was when i called them and they were in malaysia they then get charged a roaming fee.

hope that helps.

BexTech

divadee wrote: »

i use dialwise at 0.5p a minute to call my mum and dad on there local mobile in singapore. They have never been charged a fee for me calling them when they are in singapore. The only time they were charged was when i called them and they were in malaysia they then get charged a roaming fee.

hope that helps.

The Singapore mobile system is similar to the USA system where it is called party pays and not the system used in most other countries where it's calling party pays.

This means that a local Singapore mobile user will be charged for receiving calls even in their own country or it may come out of any inclusive minutes if on a contract. The calling party only pays the regular charge it would be to either a landline or mobile. The difference in cost of terminating the call on the mobile compared to the landline is made up by the mobile user. This is the system in Singapore.

divadee

BexTech wrote: »

The Singapore mobile system is similar to the USA system where it is called party pays and not the system used in most other countries where it's calling party pays.

This means that a local Singapore mobile user will be charged for receiving calls even in their own country or it may come out of any inclusive minutes if on a contract. The calling party only pays the regular charge it would be to either a landline or mobile. The difference in cost of terminating the call on the mobile compared to the landline is made up by the mobile user. This is the system in Singapore.

thats really odd that my dad has never been charged i will have to get him to go over his bill with a fine tooth comb!!