UK mobile phone use while in America

MyRealNameToo

_Chris__2 said:

BFBW said:

_Chris__2 said:

BFBW said:

If you want to both receive and make calls, you can temporarily port your number out to a service that allows you to receive and make calls via application. That way your number stays the same. You can port it back afterwards if you wish. Call costs inclusive in the package of around £10.
Alternatively, it will cost you £47 to buy the required Extras via Vodafone.

15-day Around the World Extra

4GB data | 200 minutes | 200 texts

£28.75

one-off charge

plus

8-day Around the World Extra

2GB data | 100 minutes | 100 texts

£18

one-off charge

Thanks, I'm in the States for three weeks.   So, with the porting, the person calling me still calls me to the same UK number?  

I would add, that I also need to call the UK clients from a number that looks like the usual UK number I would call from.

If you port your number, all calls will appear to be from that number and all calls to that number can be answered normally at no further cost. Of course the caveat is that you would need a data service/WiFi Hotspot to make or receive calls. Best to set it up at least a week before you go.
Alternatively the £47 cost via Vodafone Extras is considerably less than £7 daily. But is 300 minutes enough?


 

Thank you, that's appreciated.  So by porting the number over, there's no extra charges calling to or from the UK number?

What's the current recommendations for great companies to use for the port forwarding please?

300 minutes wouldn't be enough for three weeks.

They are talking about using a VOIP or similar service so yes there will be charges for making calls but there will be no premium caused by the fact you are in the US so it'd be the same as if you'd called whilst in the UK. 

Personally I would port it, Id add it as CLI number but that does limit the incoming calls but means you can leave it like it permanently and not have to deal with porting it back again etc. 

_Chris__2 said:

QrizB said:

_Chris__2 said:

BFBW said:

If you port your number, all calls will appear to be from that number and all calls to that number can be answered normally at no further cost. Of course the caveat is that you would need a data service/WiFi Hotspot to make or receive calls. Best to set it up at least a week before you go.

Thank you, that's appreciated.  So by porting the number over, there's no extra charges calling to or from the UK number?

There will be data charges, unless you can guarantee that you'll always have free WiFi (eg. if you only make or receicalls from your hotel). You will need a data service for this.

Good point, and no, I can't guarantee WIFI as will be out and about 90% of the time.

Should I be looking at port forwarding with unlimited data?

You wouldnt find that, instead you'd get a VOIP like solution and independently an esim with data. Likely to be different firms

saajan_12

_Chris__2 said:

born_again said:

_Chris__2 said:

eskbanker said:

Which provider (and product/tariff) are you with?

Vodafone pay as you go.

Does phone have e-sim option?

Both current sim slots on the dual are full with sim cards.

What are the two sims - Vodafone and what's the other? Are these personal / business paid? 

Are they on fixed term contracts or monthly rolling? If rolling, I'd switch to something with a cheaper roaming deal and just use that sim normally. Then when back, you can keep on the new contract or switch back to something suitable for UK usage. 

_Chris__2

saajan_12 said:

_Chris__2 said:

born_again said:

_Chris__2 said:

eskbanker said:

Which provider (and product/tariff) are you with?

Vodafone pay as you go.

Does phone have e-sim option?

Both current sim slots on the dual are full with sim cards.

What are the two sims - Vodafone and what's the other? Are these personal / business paid? 

Are they on fixed term contracts or monthly rolling? If rolling, I'd switch to something with a cheaper roaming deal and just use that sim normally. Then when back, you can keep on the new contract or switch back to something suitable for UK usage. 

Thanks, I'm looking into porting now.

_Chris__2

If it helps anyone for giving answers, the number the receiving UK mobile phone (in the UK) sees whan I call them, MUST be the usual UK business mobile phone number that they already know.

Original question:

What would be the cheapest way for me to call UK mobile numbers from America, using my UK mobile number while in America please?

BFBW

You have been given an answer to your question. VOIP. But you are going to need data that supports VOIP, either WiFi or Mobile broadband. Once you have solved that part of the equation, you can apply the VOIP solution. Calling and receiving calls, can cost nothing other than the subscription charge, dependent on the solution you choose. So you don't need to look at Porting until you have solved the data equation. A US SIM with data can be a solution. You'll have space for a SIM, as the VOIP service doesn't need a SIM, so you'll have a spare slot. But make sure that it supports VOIP.
How far have you got with a data solution?