what apps do you recommend for calling overseas from Thailand.

[Maestro]

On 4/8/2025 at 9:16 AM, LatPhrao said:

...The VOIP  hardware died...

 

What makes you say that the VOIP hardware died? Over the past four weeks, I made several VOIP calls from Switzerland to landline numbers in the USA and Japan and a mobile number in Switzerland.

[LatPhrao]

On 4/12/2025 at 4:27 PM, Maestro said:

 

What makes you say that the VOIP hardware died? Over the past four weeks, I made several VOIP calls from Switzerland to landline numbers in the USA and Japan and a mobile number in Switzerland.

The Vonage issued  modem? device stopped working/went dark could not be reset/restarted.  aka it died

[LatPhrao]

On 4/8/2025 at 2:38 PM, spidermike007 said:

That is simply not a helpful reply for the question the OP had. It is very difficult to get through to Wells Fargo customer service using Whatsapp. 

 

I use Fanytel. Their prices are reasonable for incoming and outgoing calls internationally, and they also have incoming and outgoing SMS which can be very convenient. Plus you're able to get a dedicated phone number. 

Never heard of it and name Fanytel never came up in searches for a voip provider, BUT google searching the name it showed up with detailed info and positive reviews.  who knew.

[LatPhrao]

While waiting Vonage to send new hardware replacement, I cast about for telephone service provider and went with NuaCom. Operating out of Ireland customer service called my Thai cell number to consult.   I went with them, a pricey one month contract of U$58 got me software to install on cellphone and computer.  And follow up customer support.   It ain't pretty, the telephone pad for dialing/receiving and,  overpriced but it does work.  I could port my Vonage telephone over to NuaCom number, so able to receive incoming calls to Vonage number.    New Vonage equipment should arrive before end of month and will then discontinue NuaCom, a useful if pricey emergency solution.   And FYI, Vonage would only ship replacement equipment to a US address.  Getting it from US to Thailand via Fedex was on me.  

[Maestro]

4 hours ago, LatPhrao said:

The Vonage issued  modem? device stopped working/went dark could not be reset/restarted.  aka it died

 

Seeing that the use of the Vonage VOIP service needs a modem or some kind of adapter or other device issued by Vonage, it would be an unlikely substitute for the OP as a replacement for the Skype service he currently uses.

[stupidfarang]

23 hours ago, Maestro said:

 

Seeing that the use of the Vonage VOIP service needs a modem or some kind of adapter or other device issued by Vonage, it would be an unlikely substitute for the OP as a replacement for the Skype service he currently uses.

True, with the small amount of calls to landlines (banks, Tax man etc) I would not go with Vonage. I have started using Viber and it is very good reception and no problems with the line connection (mobile to landline in the UK). 

[sometimewoodworker]

On 4/9/2025 at 9:13 AM, PomPolo said:

I stand corrected on this team just done a web search and can't see anything about existing Skype credit being transferred to teams, but there have been a few other AN topics on the go about Skype and fairly sure someone has said that previously it would which I think is where I got that idea from.

The Microsoft email said

”Existing calling and Skype Number subscriptions will continue to automatically renew until 3 April 2025. After May 2025, those with active Skype Credits and subscriptions can continue to enjoy these paid features and use the Skype Dial Pad from the Skype web portal and within Teams Free. To transfer your Skype Number, contact your new network provider or learn more here.”

[sometimewoodworker]

On 4/7/2025 at 6:07 PM, PomPolo said:

the main issue teams have is you can't have a Skype Number so someone can call or SMS you which is the main reason I am looking for something else,

Can’t you? 
 

Quote

Existing calling and Skype Number subscriptions will continue to automatically renew until 3 April 2025. After May 2025, those with active Skype Credits and subscriptions can continue to enjoy these paid features and use the Skype Dial Pad from the Skype web portal and within Teams Free. To transfer your Skype Number, contact your new network provider or learn more here.

I haven’t investigated as I don’t use one but this section of the email suggests you may be able to.

[Photoguy21]

Use Signal. It is the most secure option at the present and it is free to download and install.

[LivingNThailand]

18 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

The Microsoft email said

”Existing calling and Skype Number subscriptions will continue to automatically renew until 3 April 2025. After May 2025, those with active Skype Credits and subscriptions can continue to enjoy these paid features and use the Skype Dial Pad from the Skype web portal and within Teams Free. To transfer your Skype Number, contact your new network provider or learn more here.”

I installed Teams on my phone and cannot find the Skype Dial Pad or the Skype web portal.  

Has anyone found this access?

 

[Ralf001]

3 minutes ago, LivingNThailand said:

I installed Teams on my phone and cannot find the Skype Dial Pad or the Skype web portal.  

Has anyone found this access?

 

 

Did you use your skye creds to sign in ?

[LivingNThailand]

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

Did you use your skye creds to sign in ?

yes.  My email.  I deleted the Teams app and checked the Skype app for my ID, which was my email,  then re-loaded the Teams app.  No Skype portal only an option for chat.  

 

Is there a contact for Microsoft / Skype to send email or message?  I have about $7 credit, which is a lot of calls to the US.  

Microsoft cheated me out of my old credits years ago when they took over.  I'm hoping they won't cheat me again.   Hope!

 

[Ralf001]

2 minutes ago, LivingNThailand said:

yes.  My email.  I deleted the Teams app and checked the Skype app for my ID, which was my email,  then re-loaded the Teams app.  No Skype portal only an option for chat.  

 

Is there a contact for Microsoft / Skype to send email or message?  I have about $7 credit, which is a lot of calls to the US.  

Microsoft cheated me out of my old credits years ago when they took over.  I'm hoping they won't cheat me again.   Hope!

 

 

 

 

 

[LivingNThailand]

@ Ralf001

 

Thanks for the info.  So after May I can use Teams for my Skype credit.  

 

But I read is that after my Skype credits are used up, I can't use Teams to call.  Teams is not offering calling only chats?

 

I thought I would be able to keep using Teams for calling, but now I guess I have to find another calling app?   Is that true?   A big bummer, that's for sure.

[Digitalbanana]

I asked about Teams dial pad availability after May 2025 for existing Skype credit users, and was told by Microsoft's AI Co-Pilot it will roll out in phases, so there could be a gap whilst waiting of having no dial pad when Skype ends and waiting for it on Teams. Co-Pilot then went on to cheekily offer recommendations of alternative VoIP services to use during the gap period!

[Digitalbanana]

Just now, LivingNThailand said:

I thought I would be able to keep using Teams for calling, but now I guess I have to find another calling app?   Is that true?   A big bummer, that's for sure.

Yes, once the credit is used up, if you even get access to it on Teams, there will be no way to top up.

[Ralf001]

4 minutes ago, LivingNThailand said:

@ Ralf001

 

 

 

I thought I would be able to keep using Teams for calling, but now I guess I have to find another calling app?   Is that true?   A big bummer, that's for sure.

 

That I cannot answer... I have a microsoft 365 business pack which give me calls with Teams already.

[LivingNThailand]

4 minutes ago, Digitalbanana said:

Yes, once the credit is used up, if you even get access to it on Teams, there will be no way to top up.

Yikes.  I guess I'll have to re-read all the comments on the various Skype strings to find a new calling app.  So many choices.  I just need to call my family in the USA once in a while and sometimes my credit card company or SSA.  Something simple.   What is simple?   Thanks.

[LivingNThailand]

2 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

That I cannot answer... I have a microsoft 365 business pack which give me calls with Teams already.

Thanks for your help.  I'm a Mac person.  Maybe Apple has something.  I have enough credit for at least six months.   So no rush, but I need to think about it.  Thanks again.

[bunnydrops]

Maybe this has been said before. I have a dedicated number in Skype that is paid up through the end of this year. I can and will be able to call using the Skype dialpad to make voice calls from the phone until that time, and people can call me using that number.  I do not have any credit left, so I can not send text messages, but I "think" I can still receive them.

For US calls from Thailand, I have been able to use Google Voice with VPN turned on from the phone, set to a US server.

[bunnydrops]

3 hours ago, LivingNThailand said:

I installed Teams on my phone and cannot find the Skype Dial Pad or the Skype web portal.  

Has anyone found this access?

 

I don't know if this will help you, but this is what I did. Install Skype on your phone. On the last page of the setup it will tell you that Skype is ending and that you can transfer to Teams. At the bottom, you get the two buttons, Transfer, down load your data. Under that, you can choose to do neither. That will load Skype with dialpad.

[save the frogs]

havent tried it yet, but this App was recommended by AI when I did a search

 

Talk360

https://www.talk360.com/

 

[LivingNThailand]

25 minutes ago, bunnydrops said:

I don't know if this will help you, but this is what I did. Install Skype on your phone. On the last page of the setup it will tell you that Skype is ending and that you can transfer to Teams. At the bottom, you get the two buttons, Transfer, down load your data. Under that, you can choose to do neither. That will load Skype with dialpad.

So delete the Skype app and then reinstall?  I already have it on my phone. 

[bunnydrops]

3 minutes ago, LivingNThailand said:

So delete the Skype app and then reinstall?  I already have it on my phone. 

That is what I did. I had at first chosen to transfer to Teams. I deleted both. Remember your password.

[jerrymahoney]

As best I can tell you will only be able to make phone calls anywhere to other TEAM accounts.

This was on one of their (many) notices:

Microsoft Teams does not support paid calling plans on the free version of Teams.

[KannikaP]

On 4/7/2025 at 3:35 PM, ChipButty said:

I just use Whats app or Facebook, I call the UK at least once a week, 

Banks, the Inland Revenue etc etc are not on Whats App or Facebook

[KannikaP]

On 4/7/2025 at 4:44 PM, scubascuba3 said:

I'm planning to use mytello when my skype credit runs out

I get 100 minutes a month included in my Microsoft 365 package, as do 5 of my Family. These minutes will be transferred and continued on Teams, so they tell me.

[Ralf001]

Before the internet became a way of life, how did we make international calls ?

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, bunnydrops said:

I don't know if this will help you, but this is what I did. Install Skype on your phone. On the last page of the setup it will tell you that Skype is ending and that you can transfer to Teams. At the bottom, you get the two buttons, Transfer, down load your data. Under that, you can choose to do neither. That will load Skype with dialpad.

This is OK until Skype finishes.

[KannikaP]

Just now, Ralf001 said:

Before the internet became a way of life, how did we make international calls ?

How did we find information about things? Use a bloody big encyclpedia.