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Is it possible to have a skype installed on your phone?

How best to manage calling rates on a cell phone?

  • I have this budding (temporarily) long distance relationship where we put a lot of burden on phone calls (and IM and e-mail). Due to numerous factors I will give detail about in the extended, I am looking for cheap short term alternatives to cut down on costs for long distance and would appreciate some advice. Until Summer-Fall of 2012, this will be a long distance relationship. We have been running hot and heavy on phone, IM and e-mail. IM and e-mail are free, but phone is not. I have unlimited domestic US minutes on Vonage, which is awesome and works fine, but I'm travelling a lot and my cell phone is not on an unlimited calling plan. I'm loathe to change it because last time I tried, T-Mobile tried to get me to agree to another 2 year contract, which I want to avoid so I can switch carriers in August without paying the ETF. So, I'm kind of behind the times with respect to phone rates, calling methods and different technologies. Reading some older AskMe questions it sounds like maybe Skype would be cheap (at 2.3 cents per minute). I have an iPad 2 that would work, right (assuming WiFi signal)? I'm assuming the Skype app uses the built-in microphone and speakers on the iPad. Also Vonage has a feature called Extensions which they're pushing for international calls, but it looks like you can also use it to leverage your domestic calling terms? I've installed the Android app on my old Android phone and tested it and it seems to work but I fear that it's not avoiding billing my mobile minutes. I'll check my billing statements on T-Mobile and Vonage to make sure, but any advance information would be helpful about where the airtime charges go when using the Android app. And then there's calling cards, I guess, but it seems like the cell phone would still use minutes if used at the wrong hours even with calling cards. Does anyone have experience with this constellation of technologies and can give some advice about what logistics to consider? Thanks as always in advance.

  • Answer:

    Skype? If you both have it installed on your computers, it's free.

kalessin at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

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If T-Mobile is your carrier and your handset is compatible, have a look athttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlicensed_Mobile_Access which lets you make and receive regular phone calls over a WiFi network. T-Mobile is currently the only U.S. carrier that supports this, and calls made with their http://t-mobile-coverage.t-mobile.com/4g-wireless-broadband-service don't subtract minutes from your plan--assuming your plan supports it--http://consumerist.com/2011/05/t-mobile-adds-free-wifi-calling.html.

RonButNotStupid

You can also make voice-only calls on Skype and Google Chat. Doesn't have to be video.

JanetLand

Google Chat lets you call real phones. http://www.google.com/chat/voice/

advicepig

Well, one free option is the "http://www.google.com/chat/voice/" set-up. Others will have more options, but this works well for me! Get a headset. One for USB and/or the av port. It helps everything.

barnone

Well everyone else got the Skype bit so I'll add, can you take your Vonage box with you on your travels? Anywhere you can plug it into the internet you'd have your normal phone number.

cabingirl

1 got a google voice acct and installed http://snrblabs.com/snrb/grooveIp.aspx on my Android. Using those 2 , I'm able to make calls from my android over my wifi network and have saved a ton of money. The quality of the calls has been great except for a few hours one day when my ping time and packet loss % had some issues.+

buggzzee23

If T-Mobile is your carrier and your handset is compatible, have a look at Unlicensed Mobile Access which lets you make and receive regular phone calls over a WiFi network. T-Mobile is currently the only U.S. carrier that supports this, and calls made with their WiFi calling don't subtract minutes from your plan--assuming your plan supports it--making your calls effectively free. T-Mobile WiFi calling is great when I don't get service in my basement, but it (unfortunately) does count toward your plan.

kylej

So to close this up, I should note that the cheapest solution for me turned out to buy the Unlimited Domestic plan upgrade for Vonage (which does not require a contract extension). The gotcha is that it's not easy to use Vonage Extensions with a 3G phone on 3G, but you can use it with some open wireless networks (the ones that don't block the port). As an example, the open WiFi at PAX did block it, but the WiFi at the hotel did not. And to answer my niggling and unexpressed question, Vonage Extensions does work for domestic calls even if Vonage doesn't make that clear at all in their documentation. We will probably supplement with Skype, though it turns out her computer isn't really up to the task - so we'll see about that. Also it turns out that it'll be easiest for me to go bi-coastal (every couple of weeks), until I can move permanently to her area which will ease the pressure from LDR stuff I think as well. Oh, and what do I need all this connection time for? I'm reading a few books aloud to her over the phone.

kalessin

Has anyone mentioned Skype? (HA!) Also as mentioned - you can talk voice only and type old skool style.

deborah

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