How to Make Cheap Overseas Phone Calls From the US

The cost of making international phone calls has dropped dramatically in the last 20 years. However, before you pick up the phone and start dialing overseas, do a little research, and you could save a lot more. Today, there are may ways to make phone calls overseas. Read on to decide which one is the best for you.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A computer with a microphone and web cam
• An international calling card
• A subscription to a VOIP service

1. Find out if the person you wish to call has access to a computer with high-speed Internet service. If so, consider using Skype to make your phone call online for free. This option is ideal for making personal calls. If this is a business call, you may wish tor try another option. Both, you and the party you wish to call, need to install the free Skype software on your computers. You each also need to have a microphone installed on your computers. If you both have web cams, you can even make a video call. Visit the link to Skype below, to learn more.

2. Buy an international calling card. Search online to find out which card has the best rate for the country and city you wish to call. Keep in mind that in some countries, placing calls to a cell phone is more expensive than calling a land line. Make sure you know which rate you will be paying.

3. Consider a VOIP service like Vonage or Time Warner Digital Phone, if you need to make a lot of International calls. These services usually offer much better international rates than your regular phone company. However, be sure to check the rate for the country and city you wish to call. There are exceptions.

4. Contact your phone company and find out what the rates are for an international calling plan. Compare these rates with other phone comapnies, as well as with VOIP services.

Tips & Warnings

• Always know exactly what your rate will be before you make an international call. Keep in mind that in some countries, it is more expensive to call a cell phone than a land line.

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on 9/27/2009 Get a pre-paid TracFone at any Walmart and call over 100 countries for as little as 15 cents per minute and $7 a month to service. The beauty of this option is the fact that you pay as you go, meaning no two year contract, no hidden costs and no restricted times and days of the week. For kids studying abroad, for business travelers and hard core travelers the best way for their friends and family in the US to contact them is through a TracFone. If the traveler is staying put in Canada and Mexico, they can even establish up to three local lines to stay in touch with a TracFone in the US for the same local fees. Talk to me about that!