Calling UK from Italy
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Depends what you mean by "good value", doesn't it - "good value" for one person could be "a right pain" for someone else.
"Good value" for me, which is what I'll be doing when I visit Italy in a couple of weeks, is to use my mobile. Absolutely zero hassle, just take it out of my pocket and press the same buttons I do when I'm back home. Cost? - not enough to worry about, therefore not a problem (I really won't notice a couple of pounds on the phone bill given the overall cost of a weekend in Italy).
If you have a different cost/hassle ration coming into your definition of "good value" you might end up with a desktop computer at each end wired into a broadband connection and then use some form of VOIP. Hassle factor enormous, if you're visting rather than living there, but the marginal cost of each call is then zero.
"Good value" for me, which is what I'll be doing when I visit Italy in a couple of weeks, is to use my mobile. Absolutely zero hassle, just take it out of my pocket and press the same buttons I do when I'm back home. Cost? - not enough to worry about, therefore not a problem (I really won't notice a couple of pounds on the phone bill given the overall cost of a weekend in Italy).
If you have a different cost/hassle ration coming into your definition of "good value" you might end up with a desktop computer at each end wired into a broadband connection and then use some form of VOIP. Hassle factor enormous, if you're visting rather than living there, but the marginal cost of each call is then zero.
Está servira para distraerle.
I forget what the Italian equivalent of T Com or Vodacom is but one used to be able to buy a sim card from these people with pre paid top up facilities. This enabled one to make comparatively cheap calls from one's mobile.
You can also buy a dongle for use in the computer which is unblocked and so will accept any sim card loaded with a pre paid data bundle. I think that these are illegal in England which is not surprising considering how convenient they are. The simplest and easiest choice of course is to follow the advice already given and stick with your own mobile but with one caveat. I have a feeling that if you call another mobile, as in the UK, from your mobile in Italy, the recipient's mobile gets charged a fee as well. You could perhaps check that with your air time supplier.
You can also buy a dongle for use in the computer which is unblocked and so will accept any sim card loaded with a pre paid data bundle. I think that these are illegal in England which is not surprising considering how convenient they are. The simplest and easiest choice of course is to follow the advice already given and stick with your own mobile but with one caveat. I have a feeling that if you call another mobile, as in the UK, from your mobile in Italy, the recipient's mobile gets charged a fee as well. You could perhaps check that with your air time supplier.
Thread Starter
Folks
Thanks for the advice and comments.
I shall be there for over a year, and so my UK mobile is not a reality to call the UK on a frequent basis. That's why I was asking if anyone knew of an alternative to Skype etc, for when I am on the road, and not near a computer.
Thanks again ............
Thanks for the advice and comments.
I shall be there for over a year, and so my UK mobile is not a reality to call the UK on a frequent basis. That's why I was asking if anyone knew of an alternative to Skype etc, for when I am on the road, and not near a computer.
Thanks again ............
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I would suggest get yourself a UK Vodafone contract with a nice bundle of minutes and sign up for Vodafone Passport - you can take your English contract phone anywhere in Europe and for a fee of 75p per call (inc VAT) it pretends you're in the UK, for example you could call a mobile in the UK for one hour from Italy (assuming using inclusive minutes) would cost you a total of 75p - to receive a call is 75p also. Obviously this makes sense for longer calls as it is a flat rate from 1 second to 1 hour. Prepaid minutes are much cheaper so it makes sense to get a contract that as accurately as possible reflects your planned usage.
One tip while using it in Europe is if calling people in the UK hang up after 6 rings if they don't answer to save spending 75p to call a voicemail box.
My girlfriend is Maltese living in Malta at the moment, I am in England; I gave her a UK Vodafone contract SIM with VP, we speak about 1300 minutes a month average mobile to mobile Malta to UK and vica versa, also included on the bill is my UK vodafone smart phone package; total per month for both phones is about £200. Without VP it is about £1 per minute mobile to mobile Europe to UK for me.
Finally I am not sure what you do for a living, but as a pilot it is ace because I can calll England cheaply wherever I am, so if downroute I need to sort something out in the UK, it is no problem. Just make sure you don't use mobile data roaming!!! That is expensive!
One tip while using it in Europe is if calling people in the UK hang up after 6 rings if they don't answer to save spending 75p to call a voicemail box.
My girlfriend is Maltese living in Malta at the moment, I am in England; I gave her a UK Vodafone contract SIM with VP, we speak about 1300 minutes a month average mobile to mobile Malta to UK and vica versa, also included on the bill is my UK vodafone smart phone package; total per month for both phones is about £200. Without VP it is about £1 per minute mobile to mobile Europe to UK for me.
Finally I am not sure what you do for a living, but as a pilot it is ace because I can calll England cheaply wherever I am, so if downroute I need to sort something out in the UK, it is no problem. Just make sure you don't use mobile data roaming!!! That is expensive!
On the topic of buying a local sim, I did read a rumour (on Pprune? I don't remember) a month or two back that in Spain it is now necessary to provide proof of id before doing so. True? Is this liable to spread? With increasing govt paranoia I shouldn't be surprised...
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I've always used calling cards from the likes of cloncom (linky). The idea is that you buy a card from t'internet (or more likely an access number and a pin code) which you use to make your calls. You can either use a toll free access number or a local rate number to access the service. You generally get more minutes for your money if you use the local access number. I've made it sound more complicated than it really is. The bottom line though is that you can get call rates of less than 3p/min.
hope this helps.
ps..forgot to add that you'll get around 500 mins for about £12.
hope this helps.
ps..forgot to add that you'll get around 500 mins for about £12.
Last edited by Flying Serpent; 15th Jul 2010 at 19:53. Reason: added info
Psychophysiological entity
can you get a reduced (or no) pin number for certain locations in Italy?
By this I mean for example - we have to dial a sizable pin when in the UK, unless we're in one of the 5 locations - registered with the provider - that allow just the 800 number to be put in. In those houses no pin whatsoever is required.
I have a friend in Italy that really is not very computer/phone savvy. She buys a card and dials in vast numbers, that may or may not get her connected. I'd really have to talk her through exactly how to do it.
By this I mean for example - we have to dial a sizable pin when in the UK, unless we're in one of the 5 locations - registered with the provider - that allow just the 800 number to be put in. In those houses no pin whatsoever is required.
I have a friend in Italy that really is not very computer/phone savvy. She buys a card and dials in vast numbers, that may or may not get her connected. I'd really have to talk her through exactly how to do it.
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I've not had any experience of pinless cards although I can see the benefits of them for longer term use.
I've just had a quick look for some pinless options in Italy and couldn't see any although of course that doesn't mean there aren't any. I'll keep looking.
Serpent
I've just had a quick look for some pinless options in Italy and couldn't see any although of course that doesn't mean there aren't any. I'll keep looking.
Serpent
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Hi Loose Rivets,
Could these cards suit your friend? Pinless dialing from Italy. 1333 minutes for UD$20.
seems reasonable to me.
Serpent
Could these cards suit your friend? Pinless dialing from Italy. 1333 minutes for UD$20.
seems reasonable to me.
Serpent
Psychophysiological entity
I will forward this information to her. Thanks.
We have used companies for years - mostly prior to Skype - that we purchase on the net with a Visa. Twenty quid a top-up I think. From Texas to the Uk, it's about 2c a minute, and about 2p the other way. A lot cheaper than calling down the road while in the UK.
Breath, is one (oops, now first telecom again) while in UK
Express and Vizon my wife an I use here in Tx. For some reason, they do call them Cards. Never have a physical card though. I use Express cos it's faster and less verbiage. A tad more expensive. Being able to store the 29 didgits in the phone (including the pppp's for the verbiage delay) is an issue. However, as said, almost all our chat is done on Skype now. Soooooo clear that I can hear almost more detail than I want sometimes.
We have used companies for years - mostly prior to Skype - that we purchase on the net with a Visa. Twenty quid a top-up I think. From Texas to the Uk, it's about 2c a minute, and about 2p the other way. A lot cheaper than calling down the road while in the UK.
Breath, is one (oops, now first telecom again) while in UK
Express and Vizon my wife an I use here in Tx. For some reason, they do call them Cards. Never have a physical card though. I use Express cos it's faster and less verbiage. A tad more expensive. Being able to store the 29 didgits in the phone (including the pppp's for the verbiage delay) is an issue. However, as said, almost all our chat is done on Skype now. Soooooo clear that I can hear almost more detail than I want sometimes.
