just want to say if your in america and want to call your family,fiance,etc in the philippines , there is a company called [pinoy tawag] i used for 5 months now and it is 44$a month and you can call there unlimited all day and nite long.they send your filipino family etc a chip for there phone and it has an american local number and a philippine number in it,when you call from usa you dial the usa local number and your filipina recipients phone rings and you talk all you want.there is no contract either very good to have

Oh we use OWTEL, we pay like $15 a month

That sounds like a great product.

We are using MagicJack in the PI. Of course is requires a Laptop to use. But it costs under $20/yr and all calls into the US are free. At $44/mo, ($528.00/yr,) for your solution, you could buy a laptop the first year and from then on the extra $528 nicely pays for DSL for the person's home all year! :-) On the US side we put the US phone number from the MagicJack phone into our Friends and Family cell phone list. All calls are free all the time in both directions.

It's not mobile like your solution, but it allows both phone and IM over the same line at the same time. It is used heavily here and the results have been great.

If your family is using a high speed internet/dsl you can send them a magic jack (having USA area code) you can call them and they can call you back anytime...unlimited call...for only $19.95 a year for the service.

I just use the Yahoo IM client. You can call from computer to computer for free but calls to a cell phone are about .20 cents per minute.

The initial cost of this seems pretty high and you are limited to one phone in the PI from what I read, I just prefer to use Google Voice and pay the 17 cents a minute for cell and less for land lines. I can use any phone or call any phone, free sms, can record calls or save sms messages. Using magic jack is cool but you need an internet connection so buy the thing to begin with when you can talk for free anyway.

they live in a village not alot of people there can afford or have laptop and card to get on no running water in houser either internet cafe

it is unlimited call all nite and day and any relatives in usa can call the local number here and talk too they all live together in village so it is good and all relatives here can split the 44 a month bill

Well this is the BEST way.. Buy a MAGIC JACK :-) unlimited call :-) 19$ Yearly
Visit the website.. www.magicjack.com

Just need a good internet connections :-) I use this more than 1 year. my hubby bring me a MJ here
Then he can call me anytime, and I call all any part in the USA and CANADA.. Unlimited call :-0

Hope this can help u :-)

Claudeth and used to use Yahoo Messenger with the phone option so our only cost was the provider service for the internet. I was spending up to $400 a month before. Evidently she forgot about Yahoo when she got her because my first month's phone bill was over a grand and the second month was over two grand. I quickly put restrictions on the phone service

We use Skype on her laptop with a headset. Works liek a charm and she has a local US number and can call any US/Canadian number for free. Only $7 a month.

I use skype......it's free and it's clear. I can see my family on webcam too while we are talking.

We also have Skype but was unaware of this feature, can you explain how I set my fiance in Philippines laptop to use that? Thanks

Hi I call Thailand for 1.5 cents a minute cell to cell try (noble comm)

We are not talking about Thailand. This is a Philippine forum and which ever provider you use the Philippines is one of the most expensive countries to call.

minimum cost to call Phil cell phones is .16 cents/min from US. No way around that, no matter what card you use.

I agree on using Skype, it's voice quality is great, and it is free to use to another Skype user, plus you get to webcam with video better than YM.

And the old saying goes, "If it's free, then it's for me!"

the best and cheapest way to call phils is of course Magic Jack and devices like it.

But there is another alternative to that called Tk6000 by nettalk www.tk6000.com it is simular to a magic jack but you don't need a computer to use it just plug it into a router and a phone on the other end and you got a phone line. price sched is 100$ for the device that includes 3 yrs of service after that it's 20$ a year.

Now if you insist on spending money min to min then there is startec www.startec.com they have call rates to phils of 9.9 cents a minute that's cell and landline. good luck

the best and cheapest way to call phils is of course Magic Jack and devices like it.

But there is another alternative to that called Tk6000 by nettalk www.tk6000.com it is simular to a magic jack but you don't need a computer to use it just plug it into a router and a phone on the other end and you got a phone line. price sched is 100$ for the device that includes 3 yrs of service after that it's 20$ a year. send that to your fiance and boom free calling. life is easy. nettalk even has online call tracking.

Now if you insist on spending money min to min then there is startec www.startec.com they have call rates to phils of 9.9 cents a minute that's cell and landline. good luck

another alternative is smart's plug n talk (www.plugntalk.com) smart has introduced a new device for ofw's it is called plug n talk (www.plugntalk.com) it is a usb device that will allow you to call and text anyone in the philippines at local phils domestic rates. so basically you can be here usa call or text your fiance @ philippine domestic rates BUT here is the bonus all INCOMING calls and text are FREE so if your fiance calls YOU it is free to you or if she texts you it's free to you. Only outcoing calls and texts are charged.

the rates are as follows calls going to

post-paid smart customers pre-paid customers all non smart customers
php 6.50 php 7.50 php 8.00

all rates for texting are as follows

smart customers non smart customers international customer
1.00 php per message 2.00 php per message 15.00 php per message


startec long distance
www.startec.com

smart's plugntalk
www.plugntalk.com

net talk's tk6000.com
www.tk6000.com

magic jack
www.magicjack.com

I was going to ask this question today and I saw someone already started this thread..

I've had a few $400 phone bills to Phil. Though we try to use yahoo voice when we can. The nearest internet for her is the cafe.

My cell phone bill though expensive lately shows good call records to include in my evidence.

I was going to ask if anyone knew any cheaper calling cards or services that show the phone records that I can include with my evidence of ongoing relationship. I'll need those call records.

I don't think I saw anyone mentioning the call records on the bill with some of these cheaper services. Again, just the net access isn't good enough because she's not always in the cafe and we talk every day.

Thanks for your suggestions very much

If the CellPhone Company MetroPCS is in your area, it pretty cheap.

You can text to PI for free, and for $5 per month you make unlimited calls to PI Landline.

The monthly cost for MetroPCS for unllimited talk, text, and internet is around $45 per month

hey i checked it out metropcs utility said philippines is not included in the international plan here is what the utility spit out

Based on the information provided above your destination is:
Philippines -- Not currently available with the Unlimited International Calling Feature

MetroPCS offers great rates with International Long Distance Calling Cards. Find out more about our competitive rates on this and other calling destinations using our International Long Distance Calling Card

and I used a landline number as the input. I'm thinkin like most other carriers philippines is excluded. I have yet to see phils included in any unlimited calling plans even the new vonage world plan phils is excluded.

I feel the same way about call logs. So I use an international calling plan thru my cable/phone provider. For $4/mo, I get a rate of .16c/min for Phil mobile calls, which is the lowest rate you can get to call a mobile. Each month I get a professional call log in the mail, and I just drop it into the evidence folder--done. That's how I like to roll. Plus I just pick up my home phone and push one memory button to reach mahal. Other times we cam chat on YM and Skype.

When I'm in the US i use Rebtel to call using my cell phone so i can call my wife from work. It is 13.9 cents a min to cell phone and 11.9 cents a min to landline. You can get your call history too from them. It gives you a local number to call and connects in the philippines. I am currently in kuwait and we have been using skype almost all the time. I also gave her a magicjack, but she hasnt used it much before because she didnt have hi-speed. We will have to try it once i get back to the US since she just got DSL. the other option that we have used quite a bit is yahoo messenger.

On BIG WARNING about Startec:

They bill like a Long Distance Provider not a calling card. This means you will pay A lot of fees & taxes which can add 20% or more to your bill depending on local tax rates and telecom fees.

You may be correct, Since I don't call the Philippines. But last time I checked, you could call the Philippines landline for unlimited

Here is a link to see if it would work

http://www.metropcs.com/ild/findrate.aspx

ummm... that is what i used to verify if phils was under the plan or not. Also, I used a landline number from the beginning to verify and it's not covered...... my theory as to way phils is always excluded is because it's a high rate per min country so it would be too expensive for a carrier to put it on an unlimited plan. Usually the cheap countries are used because the connection costs are low enough that carriers will not lose money on an unlimited plan. Phils will not have cheap ratees for years to come, though they are getting cheaper be the year.

I looked at their website and it seems like a good deal. Can you give me any input as to the quality of the calls using this service?

Would be very appreciated to get get your feedback here. Thanks!

I talk my family at yahoo messenger but sometimes I still call on their phones I am using AT&T 25 cents a minute.

Doesn't sound like a bargain to me. Plus, you don't even get a call log mailed to your house. Pffft!

How many Filipinos do you know that use a landline? For me, Zero! Even in America, folks are more and more skipping the landline, and just using a mobile 24/7 for all calling needs.

My wife's house in PI they have a landline, but I would think just like in USA, Landlines are on the way out

Here is what my wife does to stay in contact with her friends / family in PI for almost free.

She purchased a International Sims Card from Smart Bros in Philippines, Cost around $3, and is a one time cost.

She has an unlocked phone in USA, Since all incoming text are free, She can receive all the free text from PI.

In USA she also has MetroPCS which has free unlimited International text, as part of her monthly plan.

This works for her and a couple of my other buddies who are courting Pinays.........

But what service provider does your wife have in US, T-Mobile?

For her incoming text, she does not have a service provider. Just an unlocked cell phone (her old cell phone from PI),With Her International Sims Card (Smart Bro) from PI is all she needs to receive PI text.

Her outgoing texts and her cell phone provider in USA is MetroPCS.

Ahh, that is wild. Thx for explaining it.

I bet it is required to set up/ use the International Sim Card in the PI B4 using it in the states.

Both of you must have: 1. Laptop/personal computer 2. Headset 3. Good/High speed internet connection 4. skype application installed on both pc. If you have all these, you will both create an account in skype (it's free) then you will add each other as your buddies. Then you're good to go. You can chat, talk and see each other for free.

I use pingo (www.pingo.com).

Back in my childhood days

We used two cups and a string............

This thread was originally about phone calls to the PI using a service called 'PinoyTawag Coverage Plus SIM'

@ $50.00 per month for unlimited calls to the recipient of their SIM card in the PI + they get free local calling within their area there...

Sounded like a good deal, so I am in the middle of processing the order to try it out. My honey likes to talk a LOT so this 'could' save me a pile.

Things I have noticed so far:

1) Customer service sucks. They will get to you eventually but you better be willing to wait.

2) Customer service sucks. YOU better be able to figure out if you have a phone that is GSM compatable. Google will be your friend if you know the model info for the phone you plan to use for this...

3) Customer service sucks. Depending on WHO you speak to, You may be told different things. One lady told me that they had already called my girl on the phone and got her personal info from her... Nope. I was talking to her when they called and told me that and she said that she had received NO call from ANY company about ANY phone service. Hmmmm. I got in touch with them, Told them that they did NOT talk to the right person and they said they would call her back. (they DID have her correct phone number) Instead of calling they sent her a text message asking for the info. She forwarded this message to me and it was 'sorta' English but not really... Looked like a text message that your 3 yr old kid would send to someone...

4) Terms MAY change so pay careful attention to the emails that they send you. Everywhere on their website and in all previous emails I received, They said that delivery was free in the Metro Manila area... Last email I got from them said that there was a $6.00 delivery fee being added. I was fairly sure that Mandaluyong city WAS inside of Metro Manila?? Hmmmmm. I emailed the CS rep to ask about this 'extra fee' and am waiting on a reply currently.

My advice: Pay attention to the emails they send you, Be willing to do some work other than just giving them your payment info, And USE a Credit Card to pay for this service so that if things go south you can call your credit card company and have them issue a chargeback if you need to...

Since the OP never answered my question about the quality of the calls using this service, I WILL in a week or so once we get all of this sorted out and working.

Yes and no....well mostly yes. My wife just bought me an international roaming sim card and sent it to me in kuwait. Now she can txt me for 1 peso a text when she is not at home on the computer. She tried using it b4 sending it to me. I think it turned off the roaming because it didnt work when i received it. So she went and talked to smartbro and they were able to activate it with the 14 or 16 digit number on the card itself. You can set up your smartbro card online and then you can turn the international roaming on and off that way too, but you need service to receive the txt it will send you.

We have been using skype every day and it works great. I have the Rebtel for when i am back in the states because i would call her to wake her up in the morning. Rebtel is the best rate i have found....13.9 cents a min to a cellphone and 11.9 cents to a landline. It is a prepay service. I found it after gorrilamobile stopped giving service.

It's great there are cheaper ways to call to Phils now, we used rebtel back then.. but yeah, just a heads up.. never ever call thru AT&T..they're evil! lol they charge $3.51 per minute!!!! hubby ddnt know about that back then and ended up getting $1000 + phone bill!!!
and that amount would've looked good added to the savings account lol

I've made a few pricey calls to the PH on my AT&T cell phone, it adds up quick.

For now we've ordered a NetTalk for her Mom, they have a deal going now $100 for lifetime service (limited time offer). So for $20 per month (cost of PLDT Land line with DSL) we'll have unlimited calls between our cell phones (just add the NetTalk number to our AT&T A-List) and Mom in the PH. Of course she locked the PLDT Land line so others can't make toll calls.

oh yeah,they are evil! lol but calling within the us is good though so i cant complain lol

I use AT&T for my cellular service. I get to send and receive free texts (including to honey in the PI) and free long distance in the anywhere in the USA and my friend in Canada.

Hoping that the PinoyTawag stuff works well so calling the PI will be cheap as well... Quality of the call is what most concerns me after price is considered.

Customer service is WAY different with the providers here.

What messaging plan gives you free international SMS? I get charges 25 cent per txt (send or receive) and I have the unlimited messaging plan!

i dont know what service your getting but i use pinoy tawag 45$ a month and they sent my fiancee a sims card for her phone and i call a local new jersey number and her phone rings there and when she wants me she rings and lets my phone ring then hangs up and i call her i waited 3 weeks for her chip sims but i talk unlimited since may,and no problems and there u.s. office cristelcom is in florida the mother company the company i use is 18002918275 they have a sim card or a phone they send i use the the sim card and she put in her phone 45$ not 50$