Cell Phone Long Distance

[Daknack]

I have been using my cell the last couple months as my primary phone.  Is there a special calling card type or what not that I should get for use with a cell phone to Russia and Ukraine?

[Michelangelo]

You have lots of options Daknack when calling Ukraine or Russia from the US.  I  also use my cell as my only phone.  I added internatioinal service to my plan for five bucks a month (Cingular Service).  That allows me to direct dial Russia for 20 cents a mintute and Ukraine for 28 cents a minute.  I do so for quick calls.  For longer calls, I use a calling card.  This drops the rate down to under a dime a minute.  I also have my cell set so I can bypass putting the pin in, so it's 2 steps--dial and 800 number and then after the click dial 011 380 and number for Ukraine, for example.

The quality varies from phone card service to phone card service, so try several.

And remember, it costs about 3 cents a minture more to dial her cell phone than the phone in her flat.

Good luck.

[Daknack]

Not to sound like an idiot, but is there any difference between the type of card you would use for a land line vs a Cell?

[Michelangelo]

No, you can use the same calling card from a land line or from your cell phone. I will look up the ones I have used and post the info...

[ConnerVT]

Some LD calling cards have a local access number, as well as an 800 number.  These local numbers are typically in NYC and LA for cards that are 'targeted' at Russia/Ukraine callers.

Usually using the local number save 1 cent/min, while rates to FSU markets may be 1 or 2 cents lower.  If US LD is included in your cell plan, calling the local number will save some $$$.

You may wish to look at http://www.ldpost.com for some ideas about this.  I've used them in the past, and they are as good/bad as others I have tried.

[LarsXYZ]

Is there a special calling card type or what not that I should get for use with a cell phone to Russia and Ukraine?

 

Hi, since you have a computer, you can save some money by using VoipStunt instead of, which offers lower rates:

http://www.voipstunt.com/en/rates.html

Russia landline: 1,5 EUR cent/min

Ukraine landline: 9 EUR cent/min

regards Lars

[ConnerVT]

Voipstunt is just Voipbuster re-branded.  They have the best gimmick, price-wise, right now, but reliability is all over the chart.  They keep changing their marketing plan, and what seems like a bargain today might get more expensive (or exasperating) tomorrow.

Voxee has some of the best rates for VOIP termination (5.5 cents Russia, 11-12 cents Ukraine), and has been one of the more stable discounters.  I've been using my Packet8 VOIP service for 7 cent Russia calls, usually without issue.

What I've found is no matter whom you use, or which technology you rely on, you MUST have several methods of making a call.  The more you save, the more you can talk, but money is being wasted if you can not hear the person on the other end of the line...  "Hello?... Hello?..."

[Daknack]

can I use any calling card for long distance?

[Son of Clyde]

http://chempion.pushline.com/

There are several options on this site.

[ConnerVT]

Not all calling cards are created equal.  There are so good bargains out there, and there are also ripoffs.  There's a bunch of info out there, it's worth the time to gain a little education about this.

Trust me, if you marry a woman from the FSU, you will be spending more on long distance than you do now, not less.

Here's an interesting page about calling card scams to get you started:

http://money.howstuffworks.com/phone-scam7.htm

[al-c]

Check out www.alosmart.com.  I use them to call St. Pete for 3 1/2 cents a minute, and the calls are always crystal clear.

Just don't get a big denomination because the card will expire in 90 days, so use it or lose it.

 

[Daknack]

what is the number calling sequence for Ukraine and Russia.  Thanks.  Im sure its posted somewhere Im just a dumbass as well as lazy

[Son of Clyde]

Yahoo messenger has a free pc to pc dialing service. If it is anything like Skype the reception will be  crystal clear, like you are in the same room as the other person. You will need a headset or microphone, and the service is totally free for pc to pc calling. As long as the other person has access to a pc everything should work fine.

[catzenmouse]

what is the number calling sequence for Ukraine and Russia.  Thanks.  Im sure its posted somewhere Im just a dumbass as well as lazy

Sorry I don't know Ukraine. Russia is 011 - 7 - City Code - Phone Number

 

[Daknack]

do I dial a one first like long distance here or just the 011-7?

[catzenmouse]

Just the 011 - 7

[Albert]

For Kyiv landphones, from USA dial:

011-38-044-xxx-xxxx

For UMC cell phone dial:

011-38-050-xxx-xxxx

For KyivStar cell phone dial:

011-38-067-xxx-xxxx

For Golden Telecom cell phone dial:

011-38-039-xxx-xxxx

[dorogoyroberto]

More for the list...

Jeans:   011-38-066-xxx-xxxx

Wellcom: 011-38-068-xxx-xxxx

and UMC is also: 011-38-095-xxx-xxxx


Roberto
Kiev, Ukraine

[LarsXYZ]

Voipstunt is just Voipbuster re-branded.  They have the best gimmick, price-wise, right now, but reliability is all over the chart.  They keep changing their marketing plan, and what seems like a bargain today might get more expensive (or exasperating) tomorrow.

Voxee has some of the best rates for VOIP termination (5.5 cents Russia, 11-12 cents Ukraine), and has been one of the more stable discounters.  I've been using my Packet8 VOIP service for 7 cent Russia calls, usually without issue.

What I've found is no matter whom you use, or which technology you rely on

Hi VoipStunt & VoipBuster, VoipCheap + at least 15 other brands comes from a Swiss company, I don't remember the name right here.

Apparently Voxee don't have as low price as VoipStunt. Regarding quality, I use VoipStunt for my business for calls within the EU & here it is fine. With Ukraine quality varies as it does with many other solutions :-)

For comparison of VoIP solutions see more here:

http://www.myvoipprovider.com/

regards Lars

 

[LarsXYZ]

Russia landline: 1,5 EUR cent/min
Ukraine landline: 9 EUR cent/min

FYI, Ukraine landline calls, now dropped to only 1 EUR cent/ min with Voipstunt:

http://www.voipstunt.com/en/rates.html

regards Lars

 

[bucbud]

I "call" a lady on Yahoo every night that I am home. At first she had no idea what Yahoo was, but after the download (computer at home- time limited internet access) and a talk with the neighborhood teenager, she got hooked up ok. I mailed her a microphone and headset. The only problem is her lousy phone line :X and modem, the conversation is clear when the *$*#@# thing stays up but her internet provider sucks! we keep getting cut off and she has to sign back on 3 times in a 15 minute conversation. I'm getting used to it, and the price is right!! Also remember the time difference.

[ronin308]

Something to note is that if you use a GSM service like T-Mobile the dialing sequence is different.

For example on my T-mobile phone I dial +38-050-xxx-xxxx for a UMC number as an example.  The 011 is a standard international access code for calls in the US but since GSM is global it can be different.

The T-mobile was also nice as anyone from the US could reach my 661 number while I was in Egypt, Ukraine and Germany the last few weeks.  The downside is that most of them were dumb about the timechange so we'd get calls at midnight or later.

[viking]

Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) works well if both parties have a high speed connection. Most people over there have dial up and the quality is poor when it works at all. SOme may use Skypr and some other freebies but it is marginal at best. Use a regular phone.

I have been using NOBEL (www.nobel.com) and it works fine. There are different plans but about $20 gets you maybe 5-6-7-8 hours of talking depending where you are calling.

When you set it up, its pretty simple, you can specify your dialing number, I use my cell, and that is then placed into their system. They recognize the number you are calling from so you do not need a pin. They then give you a 800 number to call. A voice gets on and tells you your balance and how much longer you can talk and then prompts you to punch in you ladies number, 011-xxx-xxx. T

Thats it. Never had a problem except womans day when every phone in Russia was busy including the overseas lines.

 

[dorogoyroberto]

Gentlemen,

We have Volia cable internet, and we pay for traffic beyond a certain  point; we are on the 500 UAH/month plan. There is a 1,000 UAH/month  plan which we may switch to soon as I want to watch/listen to MLB...

But phone calls have to take a back seat. Have heard enough stories on  how Skype uses your high-speed ISP to the tune of big bills...

Roberto
Kiev, Ukraine

[Albert]

Some guys keep trying to promote the use of VOIP calling to the gals, stating it is free to both parties with PC to PC calling.  In USA, many of us have monthly Internet connection with unlimited time, so to us it is free.  But, where the gal on the other end is paying for Internet connection by the minute, it is not free for them.  So by using PC to PC calling, we are merely transferring the cost of the phone call from ourselves to the lower earning gals.  Doesn't seem very nice to me.