Working from China, most of my communication is through online channels. However, I still periodically have to speak to a human. Luckily, VOIP (Voice over IP) makes it very simple and cheap. With just an internet connection, a VOIP service makes it seem as if you were calling from back in your home country.
For the past 5 years (in the U.S.), I have not had a landline. Instead, I used only Vonage and cellphone service. Vonage is nice in that you can plug any ordinary phone into their phone router device and get VOIP service. I have been paying $38/mo for worldwide calling which was a nice deal a few years back. (Vonage's website now shows $25/mo for worldwide calling with a 1 year contract -- I may contact them and see if I can't get that rate for locking back in.)
Nowadays though, there are more options. I now have Skype as my 2nd VOIP line. A worldwide outbound calling costs $110/year when paid at once. And with an outbound calling plan, an inbound number costs $30/year. Pro-rated over 12 months, that's $11.67/mo. Amazing how you can call the world for such a low price.
The only issue is that Skype requires a computer to make your calls. A few computer manufacturers (Belkin, Netgear, Asus, etc) have been producing Skype phones that basically are tiny computers running Skype clients inside them. Just recently, I grudgingly allowed my wife to buy iPhones for us. After a week or two of playing games on the iPhone, I decided to check out more practical uses. I semi-remembered Skype being available so I downloaded that off the App Store and gave it a spin. Not bad ... any place I could get WIFI access, I can now call back to the U.S. for free. Then as I was browsing through Cydia's repository, I noticed there was a VOIP unrestrictor that fooled Skype into working on GPMS/EDGE/3G cellphone internet. Even better .. now that let's me use Skype from anywhere in China with internet cell phone service.
The only restriction remaining in place are the data plan limits. China Mobile's data plan offers 30MB per month for 5rmb (75 cents). Cheap but no where enough data. At 5K up/5K down, 30MB would allow for 50 minutes of talk time over Skype. The other options are 300MB for 25rmb ($3.75) and 500MB for 75rmb ($11). 300MB allows for 8+ hours of Skype talk time, 500MB 13+ hours -- either would be good options. I suspect I can find enough WIFI hotspots where the 300MB/25rmb will more than work out. What about 3G plans? China Unicom starts at 90rmb ($13) for 30MB/mo and I did not ask about the more expensive plans.
(Filed in china)
Phone Service from China
Posted by Mossy
October 9, 2009 12:21 PM
For the past 5 years (in the U.S.), I have not had a landline. Instead, I used only Vonage and cellphone service. Vonage is nice in that you can plug any ordinary phone into their phone router device and get VOIP service. I have been paying $38/mo for worldwide calling which was a nice deal a few years back. (Vonage's website now shows $25/mo for worldwide calling with a 1 year contract -- I may contact them and see if I can't get that rate for locking back in.)
Nowadays though, there are more options. I now have Skype as my 2nd VOIP line. A worldwide outbound calling costs $110/year when paid at once. And with an outbound calling plan, an inbound number costs $30/year. Pro-rated over 12 months, that's $11.67/mo. Amazing how you can call the world for such a low price.
The only issue is that Skype requires a computer to make your calls. A few computer manufacturers (Belkin, Netgear, Asus, etc) have been producing Skype phones that basically are tiny computers running Skype clients inside them. Just recently, I grudgingly allowed my wife to buy iPhones for us. After a week or two of playing games on the iPhone, I decided to check out more practical uses. I semi-remembered Skype being available so I downloaded that off the App Store and gave it a spin. Not bad ... any place I could get WIFI access, I can now call back to the U.S. for free. Then as I was browsing through Cydia's repository, I noticed there was a VOIP unrestrictor that fooled Skype into working on GPMS/EDGE/3G cellphone internet. Even better .. now that let's me use Skype from anywhere in China with internet cell phone service.
The only restriction remaining in place are the data plan limits. China Mobile's data plan offers 30MB per month for 5rmb (75 cents). Cheap but no where enough data. At 5K up/5K down, 30MB would allow for 50 minutes of talk time over Skype. The other options are 300MB for 25rmb ($3.75) and 500MB for 75rmb ($11). 300MB allows for 8+ hours of Skype talk time, 500MB 13+ hours -- either would be good options. I suspect I can find enough WIFI hotspots where the 300MB/25rmb will more than work out. What about 3G plans? China Unicom starts at 90rmb ($13) for 30MB/mo and I did not ask about the more expensive plans.
(Filed in china)
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