What are the best plans or calling cards to call Russia?

[RESQU]

I apologize if this has been covered before, I have been trying to search the past posts for this info.  I am interested in what calling plans or callong cards people recommend for not only cost but quality as well.  Does the area of Russia make a difference which one I should use?  Thanks for your help.

[BC]

Have had decent experience with skypeout when travelling with laptop.  I use an Italian provider at home - 5 eurocents per call regardless of time on phone.

[Voyageur]

We use LD Post for calling Russia. You can find this service doing an internet search. It is inexpensive with (generally) good connection quality.

Of course, the least expensive way is to use Skype, but you need to have a good, fast internet connection on the other end  .

[BC]

Of course, the least expensive way is to use Skype, but you need to have a good, fast internet connection on the other end  .

You can call normal numbers with skype..  € 0.045 per minute for RU.  I've even done skype conference calls with mixed internet/normal numbers.  Works great for birthdays to get folks all over the globe all on the same line.

http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/

[ConnerVT]

How does FREE sound?  

My wife averages about 40 min/day on the telephone, speaking with her family and friends back in Russia.  We have been using one of the several web companies run by Betamax Voip Services.  To make it more "wife friendly" I purchased both a wireless WiFi telephone (looks like a Nokia cellphone) and a wired USB telephone (which, now that I think of it, also looks like a Nokia cellphone).  You basically pick up the telephone and dial.  That simple.  Most of the common calls we make are now in the speed dial.

With these betamax companies, several allow 300 min/week of calling to several countries.  After that, they charge you 1 Eurocent/min.  You need to put $10 Eur in your account every 90/120 days, depending which service you go with (so read them all) You can learn more about them here: http://www.myvoipprovider.com/Free_VoIP/

[beattledog]

this was great information

beattledog

[RESQU]

Thank you BC, Voyageur, and Conner.  My gf is trying to get high speed Internet.  It is not available where she is located now(at least not easily), only dial up.  I have been using phone cards up till now and as I am sure you are aware, they kinda rip you off on minutes and charges.  My GF is always concerned with how much it is costing me to call.  And if this leads to marriage I want her to feel comfortable to call her family and friends in Russia often.  These betamax phones sound interesting I will have to check them out.

[Bruno]

Thank you BC, Voyageur, and Conner.  My gf is trying to get high speed Internet.  It is not available where she is located now(at least not easily), only dial up.  I have been using phone cards up till now and as I am sure you are aware, they kinda rip you off on minutes and charges.

She have dial up !!! A 56 kbits modem is enough for skype... with skype, you can speak each other for almost nothing ( just the price of your internet connection )... no limit of time... some wireless phone exist for skype but mainly they are limited to 300 meter from the station ( computer )

[ConnerVT]

Voipcheap, etc, do not need her to have any Internet service (or even a computer).  You just call her landline telephone number (no cellphones for free).

If she does have a computer (and Internet), she can log on to your Voipcheap acct, and they have a callback service -- enter the telephone numbers of both parties, and the phone system rings them both up.  Once both pick up, they can begin talking.  A way for someone in Russia to call the US (always the more difficult direction to make a call, but recently has become easier...)

[LatinSwede]

Don't laugh, but I just use the Wal-Mart and Target phone cards.  Ofcourse the amount of minutes is reduced, but I get on average 30- 45 from the 90 to 120 minute cards.  Which reminds me, I plan to have a phone card new phone card ready for my Dyevoshka.