International Calling - Skype/Alternates and Suggestions

Justin_Br · Post by **Justin_Br** » Tue, 27 May 2008 4:15 am

Hello, I will be arriving in Singapore in one week. However, I am unsure what is the best method to call back home, Canada. I will have internet and as such thought that some VOIP method would be the cheapest. Could someone comment on their experience with this.

durain · Post by **durain** » Tue, 27 May 2008 4:20 am

if you do a little bit of searching on this forum, you will find the answer.

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/forum/ftopic50199.html

Justin_Br · Post by **Justin_Br** » Wed, 28 May 2008 1:48 am

Skype used to be free or that was my understanding. Thus, is there still a free version offered by some company that would allow VOIP or is Skype the only alternative?

durain · Post by **durain** » Wed, 28 May 2008 2:22 am

skype to skype is free (PC to PC*)

* or to mobile fone using VoIP but check with your provider for data cost.

taxico · Post by **taxico** » Wed, 28 May 2008 2:26 am

there're heaps of voip services. skype's just popular so if the people back home know a lil, they can use skype on the pc and your calls would still be free.

there're subscription-based services in north america which allows "roaming" use (some friends of mine use vonage).

otherwise, check out that thread listed above for another recommendation. someone even did a cost comparison of it!

i'm sure there're heaps more, but i wouldn't be sure on their reliability. i'm sure skype's pretty competitively priced at the end of the day.

Post by **jpatokal** » Fri, 30 May 2008 10:31 pm

I call Canada regularly for business, using either SkypeOut (if I can be bothered to fiddle about with headsets) or Phoenix 1516 (if I can't). Both work fine and cost about the same, that is to say, dirt-cheap: a 30-minute call at night (day in .ca) is around S$1.

Phoenix has more consistent line quality, but they screwed up my billing once and sorting that out was rather painful. (My bill had three simultaneous calls from my only registered phone to the same number; their first response was that I'd somehow called three times and put the other two on hold before proceeding with the third!

)

SkypeOut and especially plain-old Skype occasionally have problems with the line, but 90% of the time it's just fine. Skype's huge advantage for me as a heavy traveler, though, is that it works anywhere -- I can make SkypeOut calls from anywhere with an Internet connection for precisely the same price, instead of paying exorbitant roaming fees. The one quirk is that you have to top up in advance, instead of just settling your bill afterward.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Sat, 31 May 2008 12:11 am

As most of my calls are to the US, I use SkypeOut's subscription service but only for a single country. It costs me S$5.67/mo for about 12 hours of phone calls a months 8x1hr. But it's a double savings for me & my family as I don't do much traveling anymore as I work here instead of offshore now. I have my SkypeOut phone number set to the same area code as my parents so they only pay their local flat rate and the call to me is a local call. As I use a Win Mobile device for a cell phone they can get me anywhere for nothing so it save them a bundle as well (both are computer challenged and in their 80's). Most everybody else goes PC to PC or PC to PDA.

QRM · Post by **QRM** » Mon, 15 Sep 2008 4:11 pm

Is it just me or has recently skype OUT has become really bad, I can hear clearly but the people on the other end think they are speaking to Stephen Hawkings

I tried it on different phones, I even bought the new belking skype desk phone but same problem.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Mon, 15 Sep 2008 6:00 pm

This past week I've noticed it as well. Don't know if the lastest upgrade actually anything to address it or not. Although that's what it was supposed to do.

Cissiboy · Post by **Cissiboy** » Fri, 19 Sep 2008 1:00 pm

for US & Canada.. voipstunt is the best..

sierra2469alpha · Post by **sierra2469alpha** » Fri, 19 Sep 2008 3:27 pm

Guys - if you're having problems with SkypeOut after the last upgrade, do a quick check to ensure you have the latest drivers for your soundcards, webcams, microphones etc. Some people have had problems because of this - seems that Skype really does prefer the drivers to be the latest as at each of their new releases.

Funnily, the last Skype upgrade said it was bug-fixes only - LOL!

HTH, Mr. P

sampas · Post by **sampas** » Fri, 19 Sep 2008 4:03 pm

@Justin: Like I've mentioned on another thread, check Onesuite.com website. They got voip and prepaid phone card combined in one account. Rates to Canada via VoIP is less than 2 cents per minute.

Cissiboy · Post by **Cissiboy** » Sat, 20 Sep 2008 9:47 am

with voipstunt you can call for free for 120 days both landline and mobile phones in many countries included USA & Canada

PS: Just top up with 10$ to have (almost) unlimited free calls for 120 days

sampas · Post by **sampas** » Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:37 am

Cissiboy wrote:with voipstunt you can call for free for 120 days both landline and mobile phones in many countries included USA & Canada

PS: Just top up with 10$ to have (almost) unlimited free calls for 120 days

I checked the website but it says the fere minutes is only limited to landlines and not mobile phones.

From their website:

Free calls are limited and only valid for landlines in destinations marked as free.

Most of my Onesuite calls are to mobile phones so I guess voipstunt is not for me.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Sat, 20 Sep 2008 5:52 pm

Also, I believe cissiboy is a bit confused because in one sentence he says free and in the next he says almost free. Not quite the same thing.

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International Calling - Skype/Alternates and Suggestions

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