Calling cards

[noelscot]

If anyone can help me with this, I would be eternally grateful. I need to purchase a calling card so that my lady friend can call me FROM Ukraine TO USA (with a cell or landline). I've googled until I'm blue in the face, and I'd like to hear it straight from the experienced folks.
 
Thanks,
 
Noel

[mendeleyev]

Noel, does she have a computer for Skype? Calling cards are so 1980 when comparing prices. Money wise, they're not that cheap over time but certainly more economical than if she had to pay from her phone.

Each card has built in features to penalize your wallet so read and select carefully. Here is just one source: http://www.comfi.com/

If you've built up an in person relationship and she is the one, think of a Vonage unit with a voltage converter. Vonage to Vonage is free.

Personally we have Vonage and for $39 monthly have unlimited calling to 60 countries, Russia included. Unfortunately Ukraine is not a part of most world plans due to excessive government tariffs.

[ML]

Majic Jack allows free calls from anywhere in the world to USA and Canada; but not vice versa.

http://www.magicjack.com/plus-v05/

[GQBlues]

Majic Jack allows free calls from anywhere in the world to USA and Canada; but not vice versa.

http://www.magicjack.com/plus-v05/

For the price of a calling card or two, you can get magic jack ($30-35) and send it to her after initiating from your home (you pick your own number). The 'plus' model ML listed doesn't require computer connection that the first generation required. All she would have to do is connect it in her DSL line. Then all calls to you, wherever you are in the US or Canada, is 'almost' free (you pay something like $20/yr, or less if multiple years). If she ever gets here, she can then leave it in Ukraine for her folks to use.
 
Of course, the latest generation of iPhone (3G/4S - not 4G. Maybe the latest Droid/HTC also dunno) also added a feature that accepts Skype app, and she can call you anytime via Skype on YOUR iPhone complete with a video. She not only gets to see you via videophone, you can also show her wherever you are...
 
Tango is another good Videophone app for iPhone (smartphone) users. It allows you to send/leave video messages...if she already have a smartphone and is Tango/Skype capable, then all the better (not sure if Ukraine charges for their cellular data transmission) and your worries are over.
 
My wifey called her parents from Novosibirsk, her sisters from Germany & Toronto, through Skype from her iPhone (and they to her) when we were in San Francisco, and they even got to see Alcatraz, Golden Gate, etc during New Year's eve/NY...at no cost.
 
It isn't a calling card tip and if you insist on one anyway, then what Mendeleyev showed above is likely your best bet.

[noelscot]

I really appreciate all of the suggestions. Due to various factors, Skype, Magic Jack, Vonage, the Internet-based phone stuff, etc. are not a viable solution at this juncture.    Once she moves back to the city from her parents in the village and her work picks back up, it'll be a different story.


We plan to go to Crimea in either July or August, and we talked about celebrating Kupala (sp?) before heading to the beach. I'm booking the plane ticket as soon as I get my tax return and year end bonus. So this isn't pie in the sky stuff now.


Thanks, guys.


P.S. I know I'm a hypocrite, because at one point in time I was butt-hurt from dealing with a local Russian gal, and had completely sworn this stuff off, but I am just going to use this as a nice vacation opportunity. If it works, great. If not, I'm just going to enjoy myself and have a blast.

[GoodOlBoy]

I know I'm a hypocrite, because at one point in time I was butt-hurt from dealing with a local Russian gal, and had completely sworn this stuff off,....

You know what they say..."Once you go Russian, you can never go back!" 
 
GOB

[noelscot]

You know what they say..."Once you go Russian, you can never go back!" 
 
GOB

I went from Russophile to Russophobe in the span of a week. Rudyard Kipling's "The Stranger." That's all I'm sayin'.

[Muckraker]

Here is one with a Ukraine access number. I haven't used this card though. I have used this company for its Jupiter cards (Moscow access number), no problems.
 
http://talkcheap.pushline.com/Phone-Card/Lucky%20Minutes/Global-Access/UKRAINE


 

Regards,

Muck

[Faux Pas]

We plan to go to Crimea in either July or August, and we talked about celebrating Kupala (sp?) before heading to the beach. I'm booking the plane ticket as soon as I get my tax return and year end bonus. So this isn't pie in the sky stuff now.

Keep in mind booking a flight too early can be just as expensive as booking too late.

Many villages also have internet access. How do you communicate with her now?

[noelscot]

Many villages also have internet access. How do you communicate with her now?

Phone.

[JR]

If anyone can help me with this, I would be eternally grateful. I need to purchase a calling card so that my lady friend can call me FROM Ukraine TO USA (with a cell or landline). I've googled until I'm blue in the face, and I'd like to hear it straight from the experienced folks.
 
Thanks,
 
Noel

How about you have her google it and send you the info? )))

[noelscot]

How about you have her google it and send you the info? )))

The funniest and most practical suggestion of the whole thread.

[celluloidheros]

For the price of a calling card or two, you can get magic jack ($30-35) and send it to her after initiating from your home (you pick your own number). The 'plus' model ML listed doesn't require computer connection that the first generation required. All she would have to do is connect it in her DSL line. Then all calls to you, wherever you are in the US or Canada, is 'almost' free (you pay something like $20/yr, or less if multiple years). If she ever gets here, she can then leave it in Ukraine for her folks to use.
 
Of course, the latest generation of iPhone (3G/4S - not 4G. Maybe the latest Droid/HTC also dunno) also added a feature that accepts Skype app, and she can call you anytime via Skype on YOUR iPhone complete with a video. She not only gets to see you via videophone, you can also show her wherever you are...

If you both have magic jacks, then magic jack to magic jack is free.  The new MJ plus does not need a usb/computer all it needs is AC power and a router rj45 plug.  I think the magic jack ac plug is 120 VAC and 60 hz.  So the best bet is to use the computer USB port. 

[newjason]

Hey noelscot, 
So you have run into this problem too?
I had to tackle this also.
I assume that since she is in the Village that she has no/limited internet, so skype and magic jack and all that does you no good at all. 

Here is the main Problem when calling from inside Ukraine -- TAXES.

The Ukrainian Government knows that most people do not pay taxes on their work because a lot of the economy is cash based.  No way to track it , so no tax revenue.  However, Everyone in Ukraine does have a Phone, so it only makes sense that since that can be tracked, and is tracked, there are HUGE tariff (taxes) on phone calls. 
What does that mean to you?

- ANY call made from inside Ukraine to access the north american telephone network has a $.95 tariff This tariff is just for placing the call.

-There may (wll) be per minute charges and on average they are about $1.00/min for MTS, KievStar,  Ect.

- You can buy International calling cards for an advertised rate, but beware, there are a lot of conditions. Like - to get the ad rate, you must use the entire card amount on ONE call.
Three Minute Call Rounding.  No connection fee means on the First CALL. Next call charges a connection fee. Toll free access- means no per extra per minute toll, but there is a .01 - .95 cent per minute Surcharge.
So, in summary ANY call made from Ukraine to the North America network is $1.95 minimum. There is just no way around it. So you should call her instead.

I found that while you can use calling cards from the usa, but the call quality sucks, and you need to dial a string of numbers that is insane and you still are only going to get 20 min per $5.00 card.

But, you want her to call you when she wants, not wait for you to call her, right?

Here is what I found as the best method.
Instead of having to call you, have her send a sms either to your phone number (expensive) or to your email address.
Set your email up to foward text alerts to your phone. 

BOOST mobile offers a $50/month pre paid calling plan , true unlimited talk, text, mobile internet and PTT (walkie-talkie)
Then you put extra $ in your boost phone and call her directly back for about .12 cents per minute. The call quality is awesome, and you just dial her number from your phone .. eg.  (011 380) 123 456 789

Depending on what Mobile phone she has, she may need to set it up to accept international calls if you are calling and cant get connected.


So, from then on,  she simply sends a sms to noelscott @ your email
your email sends a text to your phone saying you got a message from her...
You call her back...



 
I hope this helps and will save  you some $$$

If you need help setting this up, let me know and I can give you step by step instructions.

[noelscot]

Thanks for the info, buddy.
I'm in Ukraine listening to David Allan Coe's "Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile"...so calling the women is a breeze over here with a Ukrainian mobile. Was gonna go on a date with a woman to the opera tonite, but her voice was sort of gruff on the phone, and I told her I could not attend. I agree with Bret Easton Ellis, when he was evaluating the whole Charlie Sheen meltdown, "empire is dead," and I don't wanna attend any events where I cannot be a country boy and where blue jeans. lol.