Zez

Seems to be $10 per month for unlimited texts to uk mobiles and unlimited calls to uk landlines, within my plan limits. It would the family plan package with unlimited calls. Can this really be true? Do they apply usage caps? I won't need a landline at all if this is right! X

kodokan

Yes, I have. I have the $50 unlimited data, phone and text pack (for domestic use), and the add-on $10 a month for international calls to landlines (it might include texting internationally, I'm not sure I've ever checked as my family there aren't natural texters).

I don't have a landline either. I'm not aware of any usage caps, although I wouldn't have come anywhere near them, as I probably only spend 2-3 hours a month on the phone to the English rellies.

I've been completely happy with the service, but shall be switching over in a few months: we're going to get new iPhones when they're out, cascade my current 4 down to my teenage son, and set up one of those family plans where it's $50 for the first device, $30 for the next, then $10 for each subsequent one, all for unlimited data, phone and text (and no contracts on any of it, but you need unlocked phones). At that point, I shall drop the $10 a month international pack, and instead just use a VOIP/ Skype/ thingie, as I'm not a big talker anyway, and it's always whilst I'm in the house so can use the wifi.

cranston

We just switched to the T-mobile, its a great plan. No usage caps at all. Although data gets slowed on the cheaper plans.

Dont have the international service as I use Skype for that

Markoncarp

My wife is on it. Its a great service. First of all, you can bring your UK mobile to it, because they use SIM cards, unlike some US providers.

Secondly, you can use your mobile to call landlines anywhere without cost. Yes, Skype is great, but other people need to have it and, lets be honest a lot of family members dont.

My wife sits on her mobile for an hour or two at the weekend, happily talking to her family and it doesnt cost a cent extra.

kodokan

I haven't looked into it fully, because we're a couple of months off switching to the new T Mobile plan (and because my husband and teenage son are much more interested in tech than I am, so I largely leave detail to them ), but my understanding is that there are wifi-based phone services - the ones called VOIP, perhaps? - where I'll be using my cell, but I'll still be calling a normal landline phone in the UK, all for free over the internet. I think this might involve having an app on my phone that does this. Somehow. But to the person at the other end, I'll still be phoning them, not Skyping them.

Markoncarp

If its not skype to skype, then its not free. Its called Skype out and you have to buy Skype credit to use it.

The T Mobile service is $10 a month - use as much as you want for as long as you want. You also dont need data, you just need a Tmobile connection. Seems to work better I think (by the way, we use Skype as well)

md95065

Another T Mobile feature that I find very useful is WiFi calling which lets you make calls over a WiFi connection. This means that, when you are back in the UK you can make free calls to the US provided that you have access to WiFi.

Steve.M

I like the idea of being able to text internationally but is the "from" number in the SMS seen as a USA number?

If it appears to come from a UK number that's great, if not I'd feel a little guilty when a friend run's up a large international texting charge....

Skype seems to be ok for most of this, but texting a skype number results in the BT computer lady calling you up & reading it out load.