International Phone Rates

Where can I get the best deal on international calling rates specifically to USA. I'm flexible on whether it's a mobile phone rate plane or a land line rate plan...either will work. I do know that IDD offers a plan that is $0.08 per min but that is only until 8 Oct 2005 and then the rates go back up to $0.48 per minute.


Please advise.

I'm sorry to bore you, but I am new to Hong Kong and thought this was the forum to ask these types of questions. I did try the search function and I couldn't find the information I was looking for on phone plans. Perhaps I'm not searching correctly. I tried the search words 'international phone rate' ,'international phone','phone rate','phone plan','international phone plan'.


If anyone can kindly answer my question or direct me where the best place is to get it answered (and any other newbie questions that I'm sure I'll have) I would greatly appreciate it.

why don't u try skype? it's internet telephony and to call out you have to pay by credit card but the rates are very good.

go to www.skype.com

I am using HGC at the moment, which is $68 a month, unlimited IDD calling to 23 countries, including the US and Canada.


Check them out online.

try HKBN's 1666.

I use a phone card. HK$100 for 357 minutes.

If the person you are calling also has a computer why not use Skype http://www.skype.com or Gtalk? All you need is a mic and speaker or a headset to plug into your PC.


You can talk for ages using the internet - all for nothing....or if you want you can call a landline using skype for about 1/2 a HK cent per minute. Cheapest deal around! need a bit of fast connection but it works fabulous!

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm downloading Skype now.

Sorry - I don't use the landline part I just looked at the call rate chart which indictaed it was as cheap as I mentioned - I just use the internet to other Skype users so all my calls are free - which is definitely the cheapest you can get!

Another option is a US or Canadian VoIP telephone service. You get an American or Canadian telephone number from the city of your choosing. I've got an Ottawa Canada phone number. It is either a local call for family and friends in Ottawa to call me in HK or anywhere I travel with an available high-speed internet connection, or long distance only to Ottawa (or the city in Canada/US that you chose for an area code). The service is about $250HKD per month and includes unlimited calling anywhere in Canada/US. They also have cheaper plans without unlimited calling, but outgoing local calls in your area code are counted as minutes used. When you move or travel, your VoIP can travel with you. Same phone number, just plug the router into a high speed internet connection. We've only been using it for two weeks, but we love it and quality is great (although dependant on your internet speed which should not be a problem in HK)


It also makes it easier for us to deal with things at home when you have a Canadian phone number to provide, rather than explaining that I live abroad, and explaining how to call HK.


Many VoIP companies to choose from. I'm using www.vonage.ca but you can also check out www.primus.ca (both are .com for the American websites).


The downside is that they will not ship the router (router is included free with the service) outside Canada, so you'd have to get it shipped to someone and have them ship it to you. Another downside of course is that wrong numbers or telemarketers are calling you at 3 am but we let voicemail (included with the service)handle calls overnight so we aren't disturbed.


Depending on amount of calls you and whether having a US/Canadian area code is useful to you, the other options listed earlier may be cheaper.


If you want an e-coupon for a free month of the Canadian vonage service, send me your email (yes I also get a free months service for the referral). I'm not too concerned about getting a free months service, so I'm more than happy to answer any questions you might have whether or not you want to be referred.

Hi, im a skype user but not skypeout.

i call australia mobile+landline & malaysia mobile+landline a alot, every month $1000 pccw

any sugestions?

skypeout or oher IDD services

thanks

Skypeout rates are HK 16 cents a minute to Australia, landline, $1.50 a minute mobile.

19 cents to Malaysia landline, 45 cents mobile.


Sunday has a good plan for mobile plan - at the moment 30 minutes a month free for 3 months then I think $20 a month after that for 30 minutes for OS calls.


PCCW hada good deal too but I had to register.