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-   -   CALLING HOME! (https://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-57/calling-home-458085/)

veronica jayne Jun 13th 2007 7:03 am

Re: CALLING HOME!
 

Originally Posted by anotherlimey (Post 4909960)
If you want a calling card try Masterbell.com, you can refill them online.


Wow, you are all good. I wish I had checked with you before I got my cell phone a few days ago, you can't text message on my plan or send your photos to e-mail. Well it seems I can but it would be 50c per photo and 50c per text message apart from the $50 per month:o

lolly Jun 14th 2007 2:01 am

Re: CALLING HOME!
 
We have a plan with AT&T its around $40 a month for all calls to UK lands lines.

Tootsie Frickensprinkles Jun 14th 2007 2:32 am

Re: CALLING HOME!
 
I use the UK's newest VoIP service provider, got me wifi mobile, free peer to peer, walkabout USB for at home and NO call charges either.

That's cos my brothers the CTO tho :p

On a serious note, it's a great improvement on Skype, and cheaper. I find peer to non-peer much better quailty and whereas Q-Tel seems to sod about with Skype they hadn't caught onto Mobiboo.

Shameless plug I know ! :o

paddingtongreen Jun 14th 2007 2:35 am

Re: CALLING HOME!
 
I use 10 10 297, 39c connection and 3c per minute.

http://www.1010297.com/1010297_index.asp

Hove Jun 14th 2007 2:48 am

Re: CALLING HOME!
 

Originally Posted by veronica jayne (Post 4909518)
I need to get another phone company. I have Verizon and there are things on there I never know about like $5 per month for directory assistance, I almost never use help from directory!!:curse: They keep upping the charge for UK calls and you have to pay $4 per month to have that service.

Time Warner (I have them for TV cable and PC cable) are $45 per month and 7 cents per min for UK. I am sure it is more, just got a mobile and they said plan was $39 per month BUT when I saw the sample bill the taxes change the $39 to $50 Plus the $40 activation, plus 7 days they say will take me to first billing month so they said my first bill will be about $110:curse::curse: Anyway, back to TW, they have good service

Vonage, they seem to be lower per month and have FREE calls to the UK but they outsource and I cannot understand the woman I spoke to, every question I asked her she would tell me they had great service but did not answer my question, she keeps calling me to sign up but I am nervous about their service.

HELP:ohmy: Please give me your advice on what I should get, calling UK is my main worry.

I use AT&T for long distance its either 5 or 6 cents a minute.Dont buy a phone card they charge 11 cts .I bought a 400 min phone card when I went to call the UK it went down to 175 minutes.I just use it now to call my kids here in the U.S.
Lynne in Isaho:thumbup::thumbsup:

veronica jayne Jun 14th 2007 4:15 am

Re: CALLING HOME!
 
I just changed to Vonage, took 2 hours and I already hate them:curse: We will see how it goes, it means I lose my 'good' phone and can only use the one by the computer, if I understood correctly. They billed me the first $45 before I even agreed, I was in my bank site while I was talking to them, lol I saw first $1 charge and then another $45 (for activation) It will take 5 days for then to send it.

It comes with unlimited free calling at anytime to UK and the US.

I will keep you posted. Meanwhile, until it kicks in I will us that number a few of you have posted. I used it yesterday to call an old aunt who had just been served a hot dinner by her daughter so I did not chat:rofl: She called me back after she ate. I love her, she is 87 and the nicest woman in the world. (IMO):thumbup:

veronica jayne Jun 14th 2007 4:16 am

Re: CALLING HOME!
 

Originally Posted by Tootsie Frickensprinkles (Post 4913590)
I use the UK's newest VoIP service provider, got me wifi mobile, free peer to peer, walkabout USB for at home and NO call charges either.

That's cos my brothers the CTO tho :p

On a serious note, it's a great improvement on Skype, and cheaper. I find peer to non-peer much better quailty and whereas Q-Tel seems to sod about with Skype they hadn't caught onto Mobiboo.

Shameless plug I know ! :o


Shameless indeed but, nice one:)

fatbrit Jun 14th 2007 4:58 am

Re: CALLING HOME!
 

Originally Posted by veronica jayne (Post 4914243)
I just changed to Vonage, took 2 hours and I already hate them:curse: We will see how it goes, it means I lose my 'good' phone and can only use the one by the computer, if I understood correctly.

You have two options with a VoIP phone:

Plug a cordless phone into the ATA (the box they send you) by the computer and use cordless all over the house.

OR

Disconnect the phone company from the main box (this is IMPORTANT -- don't miss this step!) and wire your ATA into your home circuit so all your phone jacks throughout your house are all live. Don't panic -- it isn't as difficult as it sounds and doesn't require a screwdriver! Shout if you go for this option and I'll go find a help page for you.

wtkp0u Jun 14th 2007 7:58 am

Re: CALLING HOME!
 

Originally Posted by fatbrit (Post 4914503)
Disconnect the phone company from the main box (this is IMPORTANT -- don't miss this step!) and wire your ATA into your home circuit so all your phone jacks throughout your house are all live. Don't panic -- it isn't as difficult as it sounds and doesn't require a screwdriver! Shout if you go for this option and I'll go find a help page for you.

Our local phone company, also our cable and internet provider, did this - basically forced us to go to VOIP although no other changes to billing/rates, etc. All comes through their black box now and the phone line quality is much better than before (when it wasn't good enough for dial up Internet!).

veronica jayne Jun 14th 2007 12:19 pm

Re: CALLING HOME!
 

Originally Posted by fatbrit (Post 4914503)
You have two options with a VoIP phone:

Plug a cordless phone into the ATA (the box they send you) by the computer and use cordless all over the house.

OR

Disconnect the phone company from the main box (this is IMPORTANT -- don't miss this step!) and wire your ATA into your home circuit so all your phone jacks throughout your house are all live. Don't panic -- it isn't as difficult as it sounds and doesn't require a screwdriver! Shout if you go for this option and I'll go find a help page for you.


Thanks. When the box arrives and I think I need to do what you said I will shout.

Roni

veronica jayne Jun 14th 2007 12:23 pm

Re: CALLING HOME!
 

Originally Posted by wtkp0u (Post 4915573)
Our local phone company, also our cable and internet provider, did this - basically forced us to go to VOIP although no other changes to billing/rates, etc. All comes through their black box now and the phone line quality is much better than before (when it wasn't good enough for dial up Internet!).


I have cable and Internet from the same people but the phone with them would have been 7c per min to UK, Vonage (if it works) is free. I told them to remove that $1 they billed me besides the $45 but they said they did not do it, morons, I watched it pop up:curse:

fatbrit Jun 14th 2007 1:03 pm

Re: CALLING HOME!
 

Originally Posted by veronica jayne (Post 4916443)
I have cable and Internet from the same people but the phone with them would have been 7c per min to UK, Vonage (if it works) is free. I told them to remove that $1 they billed me besides the $45 but they said they did not do it, morons, I watched it pop up:curse:

The $1 is common when you're ordering a service from any US company. As soon as you give them a card number, they reserve $1 on it to check it's kosher. The transaction will then be cancelled. It's a sort of mini credit check if you like. Look at your account tomorrow and it will probably be gone.

You will soon get used to the medieval business practices of the United Corporations of America!

veronica jayne Jun 14th 2007 2:17 pm

Re: CALLING HOME!
 

Originally Posted by fatbrit (Post 4916522)
The $1 is common when you're ordering a service from any US company. As soon as you give them a card number, they reserve $1 on it to check it's kosher. The transaction will then be cancelled. It's a sort of mini credit check if you like. Look at your account tomorrow and it will probably be gone.

You will soon get used to the medieval business practices of the United Corporations of America!

Really!! I never saw this before. Maybe I don't have them just take it directly from my account usually!! Could be as when I opened my phone account it was so long ago we did not have the net to pay by and sent cheques!!:rofl:

rincewind Jun 15th 2007 10:24 am

Re: CALLING HOME!
 

Originally Posted by veronica jayne (Post 4914243)
I just changed to Vonage, took 2 hours and I already hate them:curse: We will see how it goes, it means I lose my 'good' phone and can only use the one by the computer, if I understood correctly. They billed me the first $45 before I even agreed, I was in my bank site while I was talking to them, lol I saw first $1 charge and then another $45 (for activation) It will take 5 days for then to send it.

It comes with unlimited free calling at anytime to UK and the US.

I will keep you posted. Meanwhile, until it kicks in I will us that number a few of you have posted. I used it yesterday to call an old aunt who had just been served a hot dinner by her daughter so I did not chat:rofl: She called me back after she ate. I love her, she is 87 and the nicest woman in the world. (IMO):thumbup:

Vonage rocks!! I was on BellSouth before and the call quality I get on Vonage is a 1000 times better.

No connection issues so far, always crystal clear. Just remember to add a back-up number in your profile. My Vonage gets redirected to my cellphone if the power goes out.

When I call my daughter in the UK, it's like she is sitting right next to me.

veronica jayne Jun 15th 2007 1:20 pm

Re: CALLING HOME!
 

Originally Posted by rincewind (Post 4920184)
Vonage rocks!! I was on BellSouth before and the call quality I get on Vonage is a 1000 times better.

No connection issues so far, always crystal clear. Just remember to add a back-up number in your profile. My Vonage gets redirected to my cellphone if the power goes out.

When I call my daughter in the UK, it's like she is sitting right next to me.


Great, can't wait for it to arrive. Someone said you can have more than one phone, my peeps never said this. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr. I would like to have a phone in bedroom and living room as I have now.


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