9 minutes ago, norfolkandchance said:

Yes. There seems to be different rates on the App and Website. I'd rather pay 3.99 then 7.99.

Yes the website shows more choice

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Yes the website shows more choice

When my pensions stop paying me for no Cert of Life I'll just sign up for a month.

https://www.mytello.com/en_TH - 0.4  Baht to UK landlines + the cost of calling Bangkok on your mobile

https://xpatfone.com/

 

try expat phone, you can port your old uk number to it so its free for people to call or message you on your old number

you also get 600 minutes free to uk numbers

 

so far so good for me,

4 hours ago, JFHuaHin said:

https://xpatfone.com/

 

try expat phone, you can port your old uk number to it so its free for people to call or message you on your old number

you also get 600 minutes free to uk numbers

 

so far so good for me,

Says you have to port your uk mobile number over, don't want to do that, prefer just user ID as that number

On 2/4/2025 at 4:23 AM, scubascuba3 said:

Says you have to port your uk mobile number over, don't want to do that, prefer just user ID as that number

in the FAQs it appears you have the option to get a new one.

https://xpatfone.com/faqs

Quote

To get a virtual UK mobile number, sign up and download our app (compatible with iPhone and Android), and choose a plan that suits your needs. You can either port your mobile number or get a new one.

However it is £8.99 a month so a tad pricey if only needed to make the odd call compared even to the Skype fees mentioned above.

If I use Skype to my bank and/or US Gov do they know it's not a regular phone call?

Or, can I make Skype to show my US phone number?

I use laptop and have VPN.

 

Just starting to learn these.... never used yet.

 

 

1 hour ago, GypsyT said:

If I use Skype to my bank and/or US Gov do they know it's not a regular phone call?

Or, can I make Skype to show my US phone number?

I use laptop and have VPN.

 

Just starting to learn these.... never used yet.

 

 

With Skype you set your ID as your desired number, it's possible now it is displayed with some kind of VOIP code first, you'll need to check

1 hour ago, GypsyT said:

If I use Skype to my bank and/or US Gov do they know it's not a regular phone call?

Or, can I make Skype to show my US phone number?

I use laptop and have VPN.

 

Just starting to learn these.... never used yet.

 

 

I cannot comment on the USA but HSBC UK   DO KNOW if you are on Skype etc and will ask you to call back on a direct line.  The reason is non telephone security!

40 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

I cannot comment on the USA but HSBC UK   DO KNOW if you are on Skype etc and will ask you to call back on a direct line.  The reason is non telephone security!

They know if it's a general Skype call, but they don't know if you've paid for a UK landline number.

There are plenty of ways to call, even using your Thai number the cost is still not that expensive. The great thing about Skype is the My Skype Number which gives you a number with any area code you want and allows people to call you just like a regular phone. I had no problem receiving codes from banks etc. it didn't work for the My SS site (US) but could use my Thai number for that. The lack of communication from Skype about the changes is the problem, no more top up option I can deal with. What I want to know is if you can renew the My Skype Number when my current term expires? You can no longer get a new My Skype Number at this time.

On 2/14/2025 at 10:41 AM, scottiejohn said:

I cannot comment on the USA but HSBC UK DO KNOW if you are on Skype etc and will ask you to call back on a direct line.  The reason is non telephone security!

 

That's crazy as Openreach are replacing all copper phone connections in the UK so eventually ALL phone connections will be VOIP (Voice over internet protocol). Also, just about ALL corporate phone systems are VOIP already. 

 

1 hour ago, walt1 said:

 What I want to know is if you can renew the My Skype Number when my current term expires? You can no longer get a new My Skype Number at this time.

 

So far, the answer is yes.  I received an email from Skype just this morning with this as part of the message:

 

 

Thanks for the info. If I can keep that working, it will be great.

mytello a lot cheaper than Skype subs services.

13 minutes ago, Digitalbanana said:

mytello a lot cheaper than Skype subs services.

 

For some it may be.

 

I looked at Mytello's website and it appears that the cost for a phone call to the US is $0.01 per minute. I paid $30.50 last July for 12 months of unlimited calls to the US on Skype.  

 

I checked my Skype account and I have used 299 minutes in the past 30 days. This is my typical usage and at this level Mytello would cost $35.88 per year.

 

Skype is a flat annual fee for unlimited calling. Mytello is metered.

I have to call landlines (in the UK) frequently and Skype has been very useful and good value for me. I am disappointed it is ending. It is much cheaper than using DTAC's "cheap" international number, a fraction of the cost.

 

When it ends I will try one of the companies suggested in this thread.

 

Thanks to @scubascuba3 for keeping this thread focused on calls to landlines overseas.

49 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

I have to call landlines (in the UK) frequently and Skype has been very useful and good value for me. I am disappointed it is ending. It is much cheaper than using DTAC's "cheap" international number, a fraction of the cost.

 

When it ends I will try one of the companies suggested in this thread.

 

Thanks to @scubascuba3 for keeping this thread focused on calls to landlines overseas.

New thread here specifically about UK, the other Skype threads currently going were mainly about US

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1353255-replacement-for-skype-to-call-uk-only/#comment-19628784

Sonetel might be worth looking at:

 

 

I thought I would come back to this thread with a report.

 

My report is specific to calling UK landlines and occasional mobiles.

 

I have been using Webcall Direct. I have no complaints. You get an effective discount if you happen to have an existing phone number from any European country, including the UK, of course. If so, you get 60 free days following each top-up when calling a UK landline is free. After the 60 days, a very low rate applies.

 

So I deposited £10.85 (the charge is in Euros) and in 60 days, I have spent 8 pence in 60 days. That was on calling UK mobiles.

 

I have been calling from my laptop but I also have the app on my mobile phone and it works fine too, also at no cost to landlines. Fortunately when calling businesses in the UK with non-geographic landline numbers, these too get the free rate. 

 

The graphics are nowhere near as good as Skype but that is not important.

11 hours ago, Briggsy said:

You get an effective discount if you happen to have an existing phone number from any European country, including the UK, of course.

Yes but if you don't have that their site suggests a charge of just over 11p a minute to landlines in the UIK calling from Thailand - which is not at all cheap.......

https://www.webcalldirect.com/calling_rates/         

 

Even with an existing number they are quoting 5.5p per minute to a "main mobile" whatever that means or nearly 30p a minute to others.

 

Unless of course I am reading the rates wrong?

@topt

 

Indeed, without a European phone number, it is not worth it. Even more so if you are regularly phoning UK mobiles. I have a UK phone number.

 

That is why is stated 

22 hours ago, Briggsy said:

My report is specific to calling UK landlines and occasional mobiles.

I have an elderly relative in the UK who can only use a landline. Also most businesses and government departments in the UK have a landline number. That is why it works for me.

 

I don't know what main mobile means either. The few times I have phoned a mobile it has been at the lower rate. 

Almost as if on cue, I received this email this morning

 

"You can now subscribe to monthly plans for unlimited calls to a country of your choice.

Now available for your account: United Kingdom Subscription.

Unlimited calls to landlines and mobiles for only EUR 2.00 per month.

Log in to your online account to find the available subscription(s).
Only the shown subscriptions can be activated. It is not possible to change the country or use the subscription for calls to other countries. "

 

I will probably go for that at some stage.

Has anyone signed up with Sonetel?  I did and it was big mistalke. The USA number I purchased does not always show up on caller ID. Also, the connection drops constantly and there is always static.  Because the my registered number did not show up when I called my US bank the fraud detection department classified my call as "suspicious" and locked me out my accounts for 24 hours.  I had to call the bank on my True phone number to get access to my accounts again.  Now I am looking for another VOIP company.

 

Has anyone signed up with Phone2? 

1 hour ago, sqwakvfr said:

.Has anyone signed up with Phone2? 

 

I have Phone2 and now use it instead of Skype to make calls to the US and it seems to work well enough.

 

My bank in the US does not use SMS for 2FA, so I can't say how reliable it may be for that purpose. Note that Phone2 only allows outgoing SMS service on business accounts which require uploading a copy of the business license to subscribe.

 

I think a better solution is Tello, where you get an eSIM and access to the T-Mobile network in the US. Cheaper than an AIS international roaming package. I subscribed recently and used it in the US last month. I think that Tello now requires activation while in the US. Not sure if there is a work-around for that.

Another member tried Tello and appeared somewhat disappointed. I guess you can search for that post.

 

I suggest the long established https://www.localphone.com/ Calls to the U.S.A.  0.5c per minute(US$0.0005) Toll Free numbers are Free.

 

Some people have been put off by the message stating that one of the services isn't available in Thailand. That's not an issue, as the message only refers to the Local Number service, which you don't need.

 

 

20 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

 

I have Phone2 and now use it instead of Skype to make calls to the US and it seems to work well enough.

 

My bank in the US does not use SMS for 2FA, so I can't say how reliable it may be for that purpose. Note that Phone2 only allows outgoing SMS service on business accounts which require uploading a copy of the business license to subscribe.

 

I think a better solution is Tello, where you get an eSIM and access to the T-Mobile network in the US. Cheaper than an AIS international roaming package. I subscribed recently and used it in the US last month. I think that Tello now requires activation while in the US. Not sure if there is a work-around for that.

Thanks.  My bank sends the authentication code to my True number so this has not been a problem.  I just need consistent connection while I am calling some important numbers like my bank, pension agency and investment companies.  Sonetel has not been the answer. I will try Phone2 and see how the quality of calls are.I never realized how reliable Skype was and how much I depeneded on it to call the US.