Cheap International calls

[nolanbb 1]

I want to cancel my home phone service and add a service that will allow cheap calls from US to and from China while still allowing local US calls. I see services like Vonage and Magic Jack, but I don't know which are best. I don't want a service that requires anyone to be online while a call is made or received, such as Skype, but VOIP is okay. Does anyone have any ideas?

[Darnell 8,478]

I prefer Vonage, for that type of stuff. Still, it requires a VOIP adapter to be jacked into an internet connection.

Then there's the ol iTalkBB box - CFL has some stories about that one. I don't have any experience with it - FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS I used a VOIP service from BroadVox Direct (they were bought out by someone else) and my calls to china were 2 cents/minute. I liked it, this voip box, cause it jacked right into a hybrid POTS PBX i had on my farm.

As to folk calling in from China - you might want to review that iTalkBB VOIP device.

Now that I've gotten less tech-friendly, I rely on a boost mobile windows mobile phone, that I had reprogrammed for BOOST usage. about 3 years ago, there was a 10/month unlimited call to china/hong kong package that was offered at 5/month - I took that, and I use this phone when I wasn't at the farm. It was sweet - regular monthly rate decreased over time, plus 5/month for china, all unlimited usage.

I don't know if what I have with BOOST is reproducible on a new contract, really.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

I used Packet8 (now 8X8) over Vonage. Quit needing it, called to quit, and they offered me $5 per month to keep it going, so I did, for another year. But eventually stopped even that.

2013 VOIP lineup... http://voip-service-review.toptenreviews.com/

[K1fun 0]

If you have a computer with a mic and speakers, you can use google voice (www.google.com/voice) directly from the computer or your mobile. Free to sign-up, low international rates. If you set up an account for you and fiance, you can easily send free text (again phone or computer), but calling from an international number to the US from a phone doesn't work. The computer will always work.

Cheers

[K1fun 0]

If you have a computer with a mic and speakers, you can use google voice (www.google.com/voice) directly from the computer or your mobile. Free to sign-up, low international rates. If you set up an account for you and fiance, you can easily send free text (again phone or computer), but callingvia moile from an international number to the US from a phone doesn't work. The computer will always work.

Cheers