Cheap phone calls

[jenart 0]

Which is the best company to use for calls from the UK to the US? I used OneTel but since moving and cancelling the account (we are now moving to the US) my son wants to make calls to us and OneTel have been bought out by Carphone Warehouse who charge a monthly rate and their plans are different. We just dialed a number before the number and only paid for the calls we made. US calls cost us 3p per min.

So can anyone recommend another company who only charge for calls made using their number?

Edited November 7, 2006 by jenart

[LVA 0]

We have an English Phone Number here in the USA as well as an American one. Most of my family and friends are connected with NTL and for all calls under one hour calling anywhere in the UK is free. My daughter calls me on the UK number on her mobile as she gets limited free minutes to land lines in the UK. I also use SKYPE, hope this helps

Lyn

[DeadPoolX 9]

I may be wrong, but I don't think you'll find a much better deal than 3p per minute. I tried checking out Vonage (they have seperate services for the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom) and it's £7.99 for unlimited calling anywhere within the UK, and the Republic of Ireland. For calls to the U.S., it's 2p per minute.

The U.S. gets a better deal with Vonage, in my opinion. For $24.99 USD a month, Americans get unlimited local and long-distance calling anywhere within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico -- in addition to the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, and Spain. Canada gets a similar plan for $39.99 CAD a month.

There are also alternatives to Vonage as well. Sunrocket is a lot like Vonage, and some prefer it over the former. Sunrocket, however, might only be a U.S. option, as I can't seem to find any prices in GBP. As it stands, the prices are $199 for the annual edition (that's under $17 a month), or $9.95 for the limited edition (that's less than $10 a month). Another option -- and this one is free for all users, from all over the world -- is Skype. The reason I didn't list Skype first is because it must be used while on your computer; in other words, you need a headset with a microphone and you can't use it with your phone as you would both Vonage and Sunrocket. Furthermore, Skype's calls to landlines and cell phones (within the United States and Canada) will only be free until the end of the year. After that period has expired, Skype calls will be free only when called to another Skype user, anywhere across the globe.

As with all of these VoIP options, there are some problems that should be addressed. The first is that you need a fairly healthy broadband Internet connection to get the best voice quality, to and from your call. The second is that 911 (I'm not sure what emergency numbers are like across the Atlantic) is set up differently using VoIP. The third and final issue is that if (and when) the power and/or your Internet connection goes out, so does your ability to place calls. This is why you should have a backup, such as a cell phone or a regular landline as well.

I hope some of this has been at least a little helpful. If not, well...I'm sorry. But there's a not a lot I know about phone companies in the United Kingdom, but I figured I'd give it all a shot.

[govols 0]

When Tony was in the UK, he used http://www.toucan.com/. The cost was 9.99 pound per month. We talked for hours! Worked well for us!

[Englishsammy 17]

I used toucan to!! It was great!! only 9.99 unlimited including cell phone numbers etc!!! My mum still uses it and we speak for at least an hour everyday sometimes more!! I would highly recommend it!!

[BlueRaiderUK 0]

I may be wrong, but I don't think you'll find a much better deal than 3p per minute. I tried checking out Vonage (they have seperate services for the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom) and it's £7.99 for unlimited calling anywhere within the UK, and the Republic of Ireland. For calls to the U.S., it's 2p per minute.

The U.S. gets a better deal with Vonage, in my opinion. For $24.99 USD a month, Americans get unlimited local and long-distance calling anywhere within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico -- in addition to the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, and Spain. Canada gets a similar plan for $39.99 CAD a month.

There's a feature that my dad told me about with Vonage - virtual phone numbers, for £2.99 (or $4.99 if Vonage user is in the US) a month he can get a secondary "virtual" number, so when we (in the US) call this number is re-directs to his UK number at the price of a local call from here in Arizona.

http://www.vonage.co.uk/features.php?featu...al_phone_number

[KaiserD 12]

SKYPE! SKYPE! SKYPE!

I have a below average broadband and it works fine with mine. I did buy a voip phone especially though, it's clearer than the normal thing

[govols 0]

Just wondering, does anyone currently using SKYPE have a "delay" when talking? I had heard from a couple of people that there is a small delay. Certain calling cards have caused delay with us in the past. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to have a serious conversation and feeling the need to say "over" when finishing a sentence!

We just liked using toucan.com. There was no such delay and the cost was very reasonable.

[KaiserD 12]

I can't say I did with mine (at least, I don't remember), but it helps if I shut off other IM programs to keep the message clear or it can get a bit choppy.

[Paul and Melanie 0]

We use onesuite.com 2cents per minute

ops, that's from the US to UK

[minda 0]

wengophone.com

or try glophone.com

you can call to usa free with icall.com

wish it will work

Hichamminda

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

We have an 0844 (local rate) number my family use. It's through Firefly Telecom.

[edsperfect 25]

Which is the best company to use for calls from the UK to the US? I used OneTel but since moving and cancelling the account (we are now moving to the US) my son wants to make calls to us and OneTel have been bought out by Carphone Warehouse who charge a monthly rate and their plans are different. We just dialed a number before the number and only paid for the calls we made. US calls cost us 3p per min.

So can anyone recommend another company who only charge for calls made using their number?

I don't know about from the uk to USA but i use IBN inter telecom to call russia all the time. i think it costs me 3 cents a minute.