Phone calls to Australia

[chrbb]

Just received first phone bill after a few months of my son moving to Oz, needless to say we need to change phone companies, the bill resembles the one we had when one of my sons discovered chat lines

So anyone know of any companies that do cheap/free calls? Or I've looked at planet numbers, where you dial a number first to get a cheap call, but not sure if it's a scam.

[elsiegee40]

We switched both our landline and broadband to Sky a couple of years ago and have the unlimited call package.

From their website, it looks like you can get Sky Talk unlimited without the broadband: Sky Talk and Line Rental - Phone line and talk packages from Sky

This includes free calls within the UK and to several countries abroad, including Australia... which was very handy when husband got posted there for 7 months.

Unfortunately India is not included, so he's calling us using a call card because it's cheaper!

[MatthewL]

I would be looking at some sort of VOIP solution, Skype if a first on my list.

[elsiegee40]

Yeah, we use skype too (he has it on his iPod touch) However, the internet connection isn't reliable enough in India. He has power cuts every few minutes, or so it feels.

[jedmondson]

a skype to go number? Call the local rate number and it gets transferred to wherever?

[FN-GM]

Hi,

I call the other way from AU to the UK. I have purchased skype credit and use skype on my iphone. I call UK land lines and it costs very little. a 15 minutes call i made last to a UK landline cost $0.50. If i call mobiles its allot more.

Hope it helps.

[chrbb]

Thanks everyone Knew this would be the place for instant answers.

@FN-GM forgot you were in OZ, will pass the info on to my son re skype credit.

[laserblazer]

We use skype to talk to our son in South Korea. Put the laptop on the coffee table and it's like he's in the same room. I can even watch the F1 at the same time.

[Arthur]

Does anyone use SIP as an alternative to Skype with a provider like VoIPCheap? To call Australian landlines from the UK, Skype charges 1.6p per minute whereas VoIPCheap charges £0.008 per minute (which is 200 times cheaper!).

Smartphones such as the Galaxy Nexus also include a built-in SIP client so you don't have to be tied to a PC.

[MatthewL]

My ISP provides me with a SIP service, I am currently shopping around and looking for a good one to use to make calls in the UK to try and not use my BT landline and save some money.