Unlimited Calls to Philippines ?

[Randyandyuni 2,682]

52 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

 

My wife is from Ozamiz City Mindanao where internet is OK. So we don't have a concern as the two of you have.

Location location location, lol

[Hank_ 9,174]

2 hours ago, Randyandyuni said:

Worse almost $30 and about $12 in mystery fees, not cheap but a good combination of price and reliability 

You need an OBI and Google voice.  OBI device is $49 .. Google voice is FREE.    Calling a Philippines landline is .10 or .11 /minute through Google Voice (being they don't have good internet).   (calling a mobile number is slightly more)   

 

Take that $42 currently paying to Vonage and apply it towards international calling at .10 or .11 per minutes and that is 381 minutes or 6 HOURS ... so basically free in comparison.    

 

Reliability is EXCELLENT.

 

 

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 hour ago, Greenbaum said:

I wish I had known about obi as I just bought a new MJ for my wife to take with her to the PI next month to replace the old one. Now I know. Well we have widdled our way down in pricing to help the OP, to what I think is the best option which is yours. 

I have been using an OBI with Google Voice as my home phone, like said since 2011.  I had a magicjack before that, wasn't that happy with it   ... you could not get me to go back.

 

Not only can you setup the google voice to the OBI for a house phone, but you can add the app to your smartphone then use it when in the Philippines to call for FREE to the USA also.   Thing with the smartphone is it has to be setup while it has cell service in the USA as Google sends a texts to verify .. after that it doesn't matter.     Plus you can text using Google Voice also.   

 

I like the Google Voice app for in the Phils as I can receive and make calls while out and about, don't have to rely on the OBI

[Stevephoto 230]

Joan now uses Facebook video chat (seriously!!!). We used to have Boost Mobile for her and it was about $10.00 extra for every hour and and half or so to call the Phils. We've also tried the $5.00 calling cards, but they would invariably cut out mid-call. Facebook video chat is FREE and we can see each other when we "call." Of course, there needs to be internet connection on the other end.

[Hank_ 9,174]

45 minutes ago, Stevephoto said:

Joan now uses Facebook video chat (seriously!!!). We used to have Boost Mobile for her and it was about $10.00 extra for every hour and and half or so to call the Phils. We've also tried the $5.00 calling cards, but they would invariably cut out mid-call. Facebook video chat is FREE and we can see each other when we "call." Of course, there needs to be internet connection on the other end.

Ya, that is the issue they are dealing with .. no internet .

 

Cheap calling plan is their only hope

[Stevephoto 230]

2 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

Ya, that is the issue they are dealing with .. no internet .

 

Cheap calling plan is their only hope

Sorry, missed that part!

[lbounds 16]

Thanks for all the  comments and suggestions

 

Now I have https://www.callnroam.com/

 

I'll make note of some of the other suggestions in case it doesn't work out for whatever reason 

[BluesDancer 147]

On 7/14/2018 at 11:28 AM, Hank_ said:

You're paying $35 for yearly phone service!!?  Yikes!!       I stopped using MJ back in 2011.  FREE Trumps annual fees.       

 

Google voice phone service , with an OBI device, is free ...  I have one in the Philippines with a U.S. phone number assigned .. they can call anywhere in the USA or Canada for free, and anyone in the USA can call them as if local.  Did I mention FREE .. there is no fee.

 

The OBI device can be used with a variety of VOIP providers, and is the only one I know of that works flawlessly with Google Voice.   Not locked into one VOIP service.    

 

But .. they do not have reliable internet so this is all for naught 

 

 

We have two google voice numbers that we are using with an OBI phone. The best ever. It is also great when we are traveling in the Philippines because we can receive or call home to the USA for free if our smartphone has internet service.

[Hank_ 9,174]

5 hours ago, BluesDancer said:

We have two google voice numbers that we are using with an OBI phone. The best ever. It is also great when we are traveling in the Philippines because we can receive or call home to the USA for free if our smartphone has internet service.

Yes Google Voice works great .. best kept secret for sure.      As noted earlier, I have the GV phone numbers linked to two OBIs also.   But it needs internet and that is a limitation for some in the Phils.

 

 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

On ‎7‎/‎14‎/‎2018 at 1:28 PM, Hank_ said:

You're paying $35 for yearly phone service!!?  Yikes!!       I stopped using MJ back in 2011.  FREE Trumps annual fees.       

 

Google voice phone service , with an OBI device, is free ...  I have one in the Philippines with a U.S. phone number assigned .. they can call anywhere in the USA or Canada for free, and anyone in the USA can call them as if local.  Did I mention FREE .. there is no fee.

 

The OBI device can be used with a variety of VOIP providers, and is the only one I know of that works flawlessly with Google Voice.   Not locked into one VOIP service.    

 

But .. they do not have reliable internet so this is all for naught 

 

 

Just bought one for my wife to take next month to the Phil for her brother in UAE. Thanks for the tip.

[Hank_ 9,174]

7 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

Just bought one for my wife to take next month to the Phil for her brother in UAE. Thanks for the tip.

Did you get a google voice phone number to link to it?

 

There is a cool feature with the OBI, you don't need a phone number if you are calling from one OBI to another, each device has a set of numbers on the back to "direct call" between OBIs.

 

Have questions just zing me an email.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

1 minute ago, Hank_ said:

Did you get a google voice phone number to link to it?

 

There is a cool feature with the OBI, you don't need a phone number if you are calling from one OBI to another, each device has a set of numbers on the back to "direct call" between OBIs.

 

Have questions just zing me an email.

I just purchased it from Amazon last night and it's supposed to be delivered today. After opening it up I probably will have some questions specifically about attaching the phone number  to the unit. So if I have any problems or questions I'll give you a buzz through email. Thanks

[Hank_ 9,174]

5 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

I just purchased it from Amazon last night and it's supposed to be delivered today. After opening it up I probably will have some questions specifically about attaching the phone number  to the unit. So if I have any problems or questions I'll give you a buzz through email. Thanks

OK    

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

5 hours ago, Hank_ said:

Did you get a google voice phone number to link to it?

 

There is a cool feature with the OBI, you don't need a phone number if you are calling from one OBI to another, each device has a set of numbers on the back to "direct call" between OBIs.

 

Have questions just zing me an email.

Can you post a link to what we need for this set up.

 

I am a tad older and not up on all the latest technology

[Hank_ 9,174]

50 minutes ago, Chris Duffy said:

Can you post a link to what we need for this set up.

 

I am a tad older and not up on all the latest technology

Tad older than what, or who?       Black n White TV was all the rage when I was a youngin'