Does anyone know of companys that provide cheap phone calls to the UK ? The ones that you dial a number to rather than subscribe to ? Thanks

You should try skype - I know lots of people that use their monthly fee service.

I was thinking about this today.

We currently get free calls to the UK (I'm in Australia) so my motivation isnt to improve the cost of communication - but to improve the quality.

We've experimented with video hookups via Windows messenger in the past, but the experience has always been underwhelming - grainy, poorly lit laggy video, laggy audio and cramming around a laptop to try and have a conversation. In all its easier to hang up the laptop and pick up the phone (where theres no lag and audio quality is brilliant).

However, I'm wondering if technology has moved on sufficiently that some other video hookup solution couldnt be workable now?. Does anyone know whether skype protocols are inherently more efficient than Windows Messenger? Is limited bandwidth a problem? (I have a nice big fat ADSL2+ connection with a 1Mb/s upload - but my parents are stuck with a 256k/s upload).

Are current 'cheapish' webcams with onboard microphones of sufficient quality that I can fix one to the top of the 46" LCD in the living room and run audio through the AV Receiver without having terrilbe problems with low-light or audio feedback?

Are my expectations too high? Should I abandon the idea of quality video hookups as purely the realms of big business or science fiction?

Video quality and experience on Skype is much better than via Live Messenger I have found.

Also Skype now supports HD video quality if you have a specific camera (list on their site) and a beefy PC to run it...

Hi,

We use Skype for video calls (laptop to laptop) with no problems at all.

We also have a UK skypeout number from skype. Although this does require a 5 pound per month subscription, it gives you unlimited calls to UK landlines and seriously cheap calls to UK mobiles.

Another big plus is it also enables friends and family in the UK to call us via their landline phone as if they were calling within the UK (you choose where in the UK you want your number set up we have a Manchester number), so if they have an inclusive UK call package they can call you for free or if not at UK local rates. Which means my grandparents who don't have a PC can call us for free with their normal phone!

We bought a skype phone for the skype out number which connects in to our modem and is on all the time so even when the laptop is off it will ring.

Also it will work anywhere in the world via the laptop, even when we're on our hols!

Thanks for all the Skype ideas but I live in the boonies and am only on dial up, I don't think Skype will work for me?

As well as using Skype, we also use Tel3Advantage

Beware in Canada. A few years back I had one of these phone cards where you dial the number on it, followed by the number you are trying to reach. The amount then appears on your regular Bell Canada telephone bill.
Unfortunately the card company folded and didn't tell anyone. That meant that the long distance calls appeared on the bill with Bell's standard long distance charges, which where horrific.
We now use Sprint though a deal with RBC Visa. There may be cheaper options but I want reliability and I'd rather pay a couple of dollars extra a month to avoid falling into that trap again.

I use a Vox card which can be bought in many stores like Macs, Petrocanada etc, or go on www.vox.ca and buy a card.
They do different cards for different parts of the world so buy a Vox Europa and if ringing a UK landline outside of London, it costs $0.001 a min which works out to 1 cent for 10mins.
I have rung a mobile in the UK and it eats your money but a $10 card will last me about 3 months calling landlines.

Check out www.mobile caller.com, 2-3p a minute to the UK. no charges , and very flexible website.

I have Shaw digital phone, which has I think about 1,000 minutes a month to the UK and just about everywhere else in the world (unlimited within Canada and USA) for $55 a month including all bells and whistles. It's considerably less for basic local phone which charges 4 cents a minute for long distance to the UK I believe.

http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca/ProductsSer...hone/HomePhone

I use Noblecom from the UK to Canada and they are very cheap. £20 gets me about 1400 minutes and they have freephone numbers.
They also have minutes from Canada to the UK although they aren't as cheap as the other way.
The Fiancee and I use skype regularly now and find the connection is pretty good and sometimes spend 3-4 hours on it.

Depending on your usuage and how much you make the calls it might be worth looking at Rogers...if you are already with them that is. They offer a package for $24.95 a month which gives you free calls to UK landlines (unlimited) and $0.39 to mobiles.
If you buy cards which add up to more than that a month might be an idea investing in that??

skype!!! its fantastic.u put credit on it just like a mobile..i did mine on the skype website. you then go to 'skype to go number' section and set up a number you put in your mobile ...you can add up to 6 contacts(you can change them any time) the costs are sooo cheap..under 1p per minute...

My OH uses these cards for when he cannot Skype me and last time he was there we talked for hours and my OH could not believe the card still had minutes on it - it was like a bottomless pit.
BTW, even if you cannot get video on Skype (although we do on quite a poor wireless speed in the UK) you can still call without paying and just hear and speak to the other party.
I would rather have small scale laptop sized Skype with its good call quality than go for something lesser quality on a massive screen!

Shaw do 4 cents a minute for international and try cherry call, just google it