Cheap International Calls On Your Mobile

When using a cell phone internationally, it's easy to rack up exorbitant mobile charges. Even with the major carriers' international plans, the rates are outrageous. And if you use your phone internationally without such a plan, the bill can be a backbreaker. Fortunately, there are alternatives that allow you to avoid those ridiculous rates and instead make cheap international calls.

In many cases, making cheap international calls on your mobile is a simple matter of setting up your smart phone to leverage the various calling services available online. A call that would cost a $1.50 per minute through your network can cost just a few cents per minute and it might even be free if you have access to a Wi-Fi network, which are becoming more available for travellers.

Savvy Web surfers have been using the Internet to make cheap international calls for some time. Skype is one of the most popular services online. Founded in 2003, the company already has more than 500 million user accounts. Much of the allure with Skype is that as a Skype user you can "call" another Skype user anywhere in the world free.

In order to use a mobile to make cheap international calls, you'll need to consider some things. Can your device access Wi-Fi? Wi-Fi is the best for making international calls not only because of the price but also because it provides greater sound quality since the service can carry your calls over a high-speed Internet connection rather than a 3G cellular network.

Nevertheless, you're not out of luck just because your smart phone lacks Wi-Fi connectivity. There are services for making cheap international calls that work by allowing you to call a local access number. This way you pay just the local rate of your carrier plus the service's surcharge. The final amount is still substantially less than it would be to make the call directly.

The Popular Mobile Options

Skype for Mobile - This Skype is quite similar to the desktop edition, and it allows you to make free calls and even send IMs and SMS messages. Calls to landlines and mobiles are pennies on the dollar compared to an international cell phone plan.

Fring - Fring is an interesting alternative to Skype because the developers have built it from the ground up for mobile users. It provides better service over 3G than Skype does. It also connects to Skype clients as well as Google Talk and MSN Messenger.

Truphone - Truphone Anywhere is an excellent option for those that don't have Wi-Fi connectivity since it allows you access by calling a local number.

Don't ever pay exorbitant international charges on your mobile again. Take the time to assess your situation. It usually doesn't take much to make cheap international calls, and even if you have to buy a new smart phone, the savings often pays for that purchase.

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