Using Vonage to have U.S. phone number in Singapore

[jagambill]

We are moving to Singapore in early May. We were told that we could set up a Vonage account here in the U.S. and then use that to maintain a "U.S." phone number in Singapore (so friends and relatives can call). Can anyone tell us the requirements for making this happen? I know we need to get set up here in the U.S. and get the equipment to bring to Singapore. I saw a previous thread with discussion about bringing a U.S. cordless phone as well(?) Is Vonage the best choice or should we look at any other VOIP providers? Any help would be appreciated.

[xernstx]

You have several options - the Vonage one is fine. You buy/configure the phone/plan in the US before you leave. Vonage just needs an internet connection, so when you plug the vonage router/phone in Singapore - voila, you have a US phone number in SG.

Personally I prefer SkypeIn. You can buy a US phone number for only a few dollars/month, and then can answer the phone anywhere you have Skype... in theory even a mobile phone (things like IM+ client for iPhone).

Or if you prefer you can buy a Skype phone and use it at home more like a traditional phone.

There are other options as well

[jagambill]

Thanks very much for the info! We do have Skype on our computer (with a webcam) but hadn't looked into all the other options with Skype. We'll do that.

[cajunsis]

Vonage works great here in Singapore. I dial a 7 digit 'local' US phone number in Singapore to call my daughter in the US. It is just like dialing a US phone across town. The calls are crystal clear 100% of the time with an occasional 1-3 second lag. In a 30 minute phone call, it might happen once or twice.

Bring a US phone though! I could not find one here that was set up for US service. I have no idea what the difference is, but I had to send for a cordless from the US. 3 different Sing cordless phones did not work with Vonage. I finally gave up and had one sent - it works perfectly.

I took my Vonage box (small 4"x4") and US phone to Korea and it worked from there as well. Actually a Bellsouth agent told me her son had it in Germany and it worked - to hang up and call Vonage. You get a local number from where you are living (or you can request a specific area code so it is local for a loved one), or your present number changed to Vongage using the same number you have now.

If you get referred by someone, you get 3 months and the person who refers you gets 3 months free. I have yet to pay over $30 a month for hours of phone calls.

LOVE Vonage.

[jagambill]

thank you! Great info. Can you plug in the charger for the U.S. cordless phone (using and adapter)? No transformer needed?
Thanks
Allison

[wei2go]

Also wanted to add that I've used MagicJack with great success. Bought one for my home in Singapore, so have a local US number, and it's only $20/yr. And since magicjack requires the computer to be on all the time, I mainly use it to call out from Singapore back to the US. Calls are free to anywhere in the US and Canada.

I also bought a magicjack for my home in Los Angeles, and topped up $10 for their long distance, which is only 2 cents/minute to Singapore. Great deal for your close relatives back in the US to reach your local Singapore number.

Also found another promising devise, but have not fully looked into it. It is called Ooma (ooma.com), and if you buy the devise, you get a local US number and no more phone bills ever! You can even port your current US number over, and the computer does not need to be left on either.

If anyone has experience with Ooma, please give us your impressions.

Can someone clarify if a US phone system will work in Singapore with a Singapore phone number?

I bought a cordless Dect 6.0 phone system from Costco, that comes with 6 cordless sets. Only one needs to be plugged into a phone jack. They all have power supplies. Question is, will the power supply work in Singapore if I just get an adapter so it fits. One says "class 2 power supply...input AC 117V 60Hz 6W. output AC 6V 300mA" The other is a switching power suppy that says "input 100-120V-60Hz 200mA, output 6.0V=400mA". Still very unclear about that. I bought it to use with a local Singapore phone number.

Thanks for your help!
Wei2Go

[carteki]

Hi,
I use a service provided by uwtservices.com. It is a virtual calling card to anywhere in the world that is charged to you credit card. There is an option for a 1-800 number for family and friends to dial and it will then connect them to where-ever you have directed that number (great for traveling) and the entire account is based over the internet. Don't know the costs to the US though, but to other parts of the world it is the easiest cheap option. Another option is using the 018 international code from a starhub phone. Something like 5c a min if I remember correctly.

re the power supply - all you need to do is find an input power supply that gives the required output ie output 6.0V=400mA. Most of the generic power supplies I looked at would cover that requirement.