What are good (cheap) way to phone Phil?

[Scottmn 0]

Is there any reasonably priced way to call the Phils? I have AT&T cell service, I haven't check intl rates, but I have high speed internet.. maybe there's another way? Thanks in advance.

[We Are The Art 46]

Is there any reasonably priced way to call the Phils? I have AT&T cell service, I haven't check intl rates, but I have high speed internet.. maybe there's another way? Thanks in advance.

Check out Pinger We've been using it for over a year, it's completely free and pretty reliable. Good luck.

[Bumbero 130]

Do a search for Globe International Duo. If your SO or family member has Globe for cell service, you can pay $25 a month to assign them a US based number along with their PI number. Unlimited calling from your cell phone in the US! Well it will charge you minutes during the day but it's free nights and weekends!

I've done this for 2 months now and it is amazing! Great quality! No stupid international delays in the conversation. Plus I'm saving about $75 a month on long distance charges.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Do a search for Globe International Duo. If your SO or family member has Globe for cell service, you can pay $25 a month to assign them a US based number along with their PI number. Unlimited calling from your cell phone in the US! Well it will charge you minutes during the day but it's free nights and weekends!

I've done this for 2 months now and it is amazing! Great quality! No stupid international delays in the conversation. Plus I'm saving about $75 a month on long distance charges.

:thumbs:

I've used this for almost a year now. If you want a per minute for 7 cents, go for Startec.com. The unlimited one is for $39 but not sure if they still have it.

[Bumbero 130]

:thumbs:

I've used this for almost a year now. If you want a per minute for 7 cents, go for Startec.com. The unlimited one is for $39 but not sure if they still have it.

Yeah, I'm really impressed with the International Duo. It sounds like a typical cell call quality wise. My fiancee does not have a computer, so that took all the Skype and computer based calls off the table. Had to improvise! I plan on doing this for her family when she moves out here so she can call them anytime! Hopefully cut down a little on homesickness

I used AT&T Call International App for my iPhone but even that was 16 cents per minute and the call quality was horrible! I still was paying about $100 a month on LD for this service.

[Dolly&Dan 11]

I bought my fiance a android phone. We installed the sim from her smart bro into the phone. I have a android phone also. You simply install the viber app on both phones for free. You can call and text 24/7 for free. We talk and text all day every day for free. In the setting you can also email your text history to yourself and print out for your interview. I also took screen shots of calls to her number as viber will keep call log in your default cell phone log with all other calls you make. It was very easy to just do so every few days and had plenty of proof of relationship.Sure there was a start up cost for her phone but she loved the present . You can also use skype, ym etc on the smart phones. Can also use iphones and i think blackberry has viber now. Im always on the go so it worked perfect for me. Also you can connect to wifi if its available. Smart worked best where my fiance lives . Depending where you live globe or sun may work better . Works great for us.

[madtownguy 164]

Yeah viber works well, but they seem to have problems with it in Philippines so I've started using Tango. Will work on any cell with internet which is pretty much every cell now adays.

[ChrisB0707 4]

Tango and Skype are both good. We sent 2 Magic Jacks to the Philippines. 1 in my wife's parents house and 1 in my wife's grandparents house. They both have US phone numbers and only cost about 20-30 dollars a year. They need DSL Internet or higher to work. We have been using them for 3 years nov and never had a problem. They can call anywhere in the US and Canada and no charge. You can call the MJ and its a local call because the number is a US number. They har a new MJ out now that doesn't require the computer to me on to use it.

[glenmar 34]

Yeah viber works well, but they seem to have problems with it in Philippines so I've started using Tango. Will work on any cell with internet which is pretty much every cell now adays.

Yeah, I also bought my fiancee an Android. We have been using Viber & Tango for a year now. There has always been connection and voice quality issues but hey, its free and unlimited. We talk or see eachother twice a day every day for as long as we can. My fiancee is currently working in Macau but will be going home in a couple of weeks to finish out our vj wait. I hope the internet quality in the Philippines (Manila area)is better than what we have in Macau.

Cheers

[Hank_ 9,174]

Tango and Skype are both good. We sent 2 Magic Jacks to the Philippines. 1 in my wife's parents house and 1 in my wife's grandparents house. They both have US phone numbers and only cost about 20-30 dollars a year. They need DSL Internet or higher to work. We have been using them for 3 years nov and never had a problem. They can call anywhere in the US and Canada and no charge. You can call the MJ and its a local call because the number is a US number. They har a new MJ out now that doesn't require the computer to me on to use it.

OBI (with Google voice) is a million times better sound quality then MJ. I had a MJ for about 3 years and then tried the "new" MJ + and they totally sucked so returend them for a refund that is when I discovered the OBI-talk box, which after buying the box for under $50 is a free service and it does not need a computer. I took one to the Phils my last trip and plan to bring a few more over next time we head that way. Now family in the Phils can call anywhere in the U.S. and Canada for free, and that means no monthly or yearly fees either.

I use the OBI at home also and highly recommend them, something I would never do with MJ.

[ChrisB0707 4]

What does the OBI box work with if there is no Internet needed? I may check this out

[CJ8611 6]

OBI (with Google voice) is a million times better sound quality then MJ. I had a MJ for about 3 years and then tried the "new" MJ + and they totally sucked so returend them for a refund that is when I discovered the OBI-talk box, which after buying the box for under $50 is a free service and it does not need a computer. I took one to the Phils my last trip and plan to bring a few more over next time we head that way. Now family in the Phils can call anywhere in the U.S. and Canada for free, and that means no monthly or yearly fees either.

I use the OBI at home also and highly recommend them, something I would never do with MJ.

Oh wow, another option. Is it easy to use? Currently researching on what to install here at home for my mom and aunties to use. So far I've only researched/gotten feedback about MJ and Vonage.

Thanks!

[Mogambi 96]

We signed up for Vonage Philippines about six weeks ago. It has been brilliant. $30 a month and my wife can call ANY Globe or T M line in the Philippines, land or cell. Unlimited minutes, anytime. Also comes with unlimited calls to over 60 countries, and we just use it as our main phone line. Call quality has been good. A few disconnects, and she just calls back.

I had Ooma, and this is working much better, and I love having to never track minutes anymore.

Obi and MJ are fine, as are Viber and Tango. But once your fiancé or wife is here, something like Vonage trumps them all by FAR in that she'll (or he) will be able to call nearly anyone in the Ph. And if they don't have a Globe or T M sim card, they can get one for like 30 pesos.

And no contract, so you can always cancel it if you're unhappy. But so far, we are loving it. Makes my wife feel so much better to know she can call her friends and family there anytime, and never have to worry about the bill.

[Hank_ 9,174]

What does the OBI box work with if there is no Internet needed? I may check this out

It does not need a computer, the OBI plugs into the dsl modem or router with a CAT5 cable (I see they now have WI-FI versions). They even have apps for smartphones http://www.obihai.com/

I did calls to and from the States while there and the clarity of the calls were excellent. My wife makes calls to the Phils daily, all for free.

Edited October 31, 2012 by Hank_

[Hank_ 9,174]

Oh wow, another option. Is it easy to use? Currently researching on what to install here at home for my mom and aunties to use. So far I've only researched/gotten feedback about MJ and Vonage.

Thanks!

I have used MJ and Vonage, you couldn't pay me to use either now. The OBI is extremely easy to use - basically plug 'n' play, also has its own browser page for accessing the unit. I have done firmware updates on the unit in the Phils from here in the States... now that is way cool.

http://www.obihai.com/

http://www.obitalk.com/obinet/

Edited October 31, 2012 by Hank_