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Big Zoo/Calling The UK

Big Zoo/Calling The UK

Old Dec 2nd 2004, 2:02 pm
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Default Big Zoo/Calling The UK

I have spent the last year using Big Zoo to call the UK. Their service was great and their prices were excellent - 2.6 cent a minute to call the UK with no connection charges.

However, they have just announced they are shutting up shop!

I'm sure other member are in the same boat as me, so what other recommendations do you have?

Thanks.
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Old Dec 2nd 2004, 2:20 pm
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

You beat me to it! What are we going to do now? I don't know what we'd have done without Big Zoo over the last 4 years. I'm gutted. Anyone have any alternatives?
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Old Dec 2nd 2004, 2:30 pm
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

Originally Posted by Rockgurl
You beat me to it! What are we going to do now? I don't know what we'd have done without Big Zoo over the last 4 years. I'm gutted. Anyone have any alternatives?
I've been using Onesuite for at least two years to make overseas calls from the US.
Here's the link-
http://www.onesuite.com/default.asp

Currently, their toll free rate to the UK is 3.4 cents p/min and if you can use a local access number, the rate to the UK is 2.2 cents p/min.

I've never had any problems with them and use them from hotels and public phones.

Their rates for long distance within the US are amazing too. I always stop anyone calling to sell me long distance phone service dead in their tracks when I mention the Onesuite rates (2.5 c or 2.9 c p/min)!
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Old Dec 2nd 2004, 2:32 pm
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

Great! Thanks a lot. I'll check it out.
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Old Dec 2nd 2004, 2:45 pm
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

www.acculinq.com

2.9 cents a min

also, my local telco (bellsouth) gives me unlimited calling to the UK for $40 a month
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Old Dec 2nd 2004, 5:02 pm
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

Damn shame about BigZoo Thanks for the links.
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Old Dec 2nd 2004, 5:34 pm
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

Originally Posted by ireland132
I have spent the last year using Big Zoo to call the UK. Their service was great and their prices were excellent - 2.6 cent a minute to call the UK with no connection charges.

However, they have just announced they are shutting up shop!

I'm sure other member are in the same boat as me, so what other recommendations do you have?

Thanks.
www.gorillamobile.com

Works great and auto-recognizes your phone!
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Old Dec 2nd 2004, 6:24 pm
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

Slightly off-topic, but I switched from using BigZoo to Lingo a few weeks ago. In fact, I'm on a call using the Lingo VOIP box right now. $20 a month gets you unlimited USA, Canada and UK calls (fixed line only for UK - mobiles are extra).

Cheers,

Pat
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Old Dec 2nd 2004, 6:38 pm
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

Hi,
We use [email protected]. You get 666 minutes when calling th UK for $20. You can use the card to call anywhere in the world.

There service is excellent. We just send a check to their office in California and 3 or 4 days later you get your pin number via e-mail.

We've got through a lot of cards in the pass couple of years. Sometimes they have 800 minutes on, which is really cool.

Sue
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Old Dec 2nd 2004, 10:06 pm
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

I'm with SBC at the moment and shopping around - depends how much you call but for $60 a month it works out at 3c a minute.
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Old Dec 3rd 2004, 1:04 am
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

Originally Posted by ireland132
However, [Big Zoo] have just announced they are shutting up shop!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :scared:

I LOVE Big Zoo! They are awesome -- great service, great rates. Oh, I'm so sad.

Thanks for giving the heads up -- I just put another $10 in my account last week, and they probably emailed my old email address which I don't check too often. If you hadn't posted this, I would've been very confused come January!

I'll have to try out these other options people have posted -- thanks for that, too.

~ Jenney
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Old Dec 3rd 2004, 3:14 am
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

Originally Posted by ireland132
I have spent the last year using Big Zoo to call the UK. Their service was great and their prices were excellent - 2.6 cent a minute to call the UK with no connection charges.

However, they have just announced they are shutting up shop!

I'm sure other member are in the same boat as me, so what other recommendations do you have?

Thanks.
If you have a broadband connection at home, Vonage charges about 3c/min to the UK - 6c/min to Ireland though and is cheaper than most other domestic US services.

Shame to see BZ go....
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Old Dec 3rd 2004, 11:47 am
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

Originally Posted by ireland132
I have spent the last year using Big Zoo to call the UK. Their service was great and their prices were excellent - 2.6 cent a minute to call the UK with no connection charges.

However, they have just announced they are shutting up shop!

I'm sure other member are in the same boat as me, so what other recommendations do you have?

Thanks.
I too have been with BigZoo for quite a while and receive their "thats all folks" email .... I have also used noblecom www.noblecom.com who have a selection of calling cards (best seems to be 3c/min no maintenance or dialling fees) However havent yet found any other providers that allow for speed dialing like BigZoos Blastit thingmajig .... so much easier to dial 111 instead of another 10 numbers.

Jan
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Old Dec 3rd 2004, 2:06 pm
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

Originally Posted by jan_michigan
I too have been with BigZoo for quite a while and receive their "thats all folks" email .... I have also used noblecom www.noblecom.com who have a selection of calling cards (best seems to be 3c/min no maintenance or dialling fees) However havent yet found any other providers that allow for speed dialing like BigZoos Blastit thingmajig .... so much easier to dial 111 instead of another 10 numbers.

Jan
Having looked at some of the options on offer. Onesuite.com seem to be pretty similar. They've been recommended by NC Penguin who's a trusted memeber of the forum so that's a good sign.

At least Big Zoo are doing the decent thing and offering refunds.

It's still sad to see a good thing go.
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Old Dec 3rd 2004, 3:08 pm
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Default Re: Big Zoo/Calling The UK

Originally Posted by superpat
Slightly off-topic, but I switched from using BigZoo to Lingo a few weeks ago. In fact, I'm on a call using the Lingo VOIP box right now. $20 a month gets you unlimited USA, Canada and UK calls (fixed line only for UK - mobiles are extra).

Cheers,

Pat
Thanks for the link- I'll probably sign up with Lingo. Looks like a good deal..and the option of a secondary international number (for $10 extra) is great.. since all my family and friends in UK are on a plan where they get free calls to any UK number after 8pm and all weekend, they could phone me for free!!
Only snag is I'd probably have to keep my ordinary phone service on (cut down to basic, cheapest service though) unless I find a way to connect Direct TV/Tivo and security alarms to the service. Does anyone know of a way to do this??
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