simply curious, very happy with skype sound/video quality. In particular I like the deal for a moderate monthly subscription charge I can call time unlimited any number of land lines in 1 country of my choice . Calls to other countries are also very reasonable.

And google voice??

Is Google Voice available in Thailand?

It has been available, but I think you need to pay to call. Simple way around this is to use a proxy that shows you're somewhere where it is free, then the calls will be free.

Use GoogleVoice in combination with the GrooVeIP App and you can make and receive calls to the US/Canada for free but your results may vary like mine did while a couple other Thailand-based folks had very good results. I never had a problem in the GoogleVoice/GrooVeIP voice quality; it was only the reliability of incoming calls making my smartphone ring. In my case, using the GrooVeIP/GoogleVoice combinatio worked whether on VPN with a U.S. IP address or without using VPN...however, in my case GrooVeIP would only reliably/consistently ring to incoming calls when on VPN.

Take a look at the latter posts in the Magic Jack Plus thread also in this Internet forum area for discussion on a couple of Apps, especially GrooVeIP, along with NetTalk and Vonage Apps allowing free calls to and/or from the US/Canada. You can do international/other calls also but there will be a charge. I'm in Bangkok.

try smartvoip.com free to call from your computer to any land line or mobile number in USA, Canada and Thailand plus some other countries.

Viber.com..... works for me

Viber.com..... works for me

But doesn't Viber require the person you are calling to also be running the Vibor App on their smartphone? Can you call someone's landline/mobile number, a bank phone number, someone's mobile number, etc., without them having to have Viber running also and communicating through the Viber App?

try smartvoip.com free to call from your computer to any land line or mobile number in USA, Canada and Thailand plus some other countries.

Looks pretty nice. I'll give it a try!!!

There is no such requirement with skype (w. autom recharge) = the other party must neither sit on the PC, i.e. can take the free call on any landline, nor is the other party obliged to have the same program running (Viber)

This my freedom, I can choose the time of my call without prior coordination.

try smartvoip.com free to call from your computer to any land line or mobile number in USA, Canada and Thailand plus some other countries.

Is this another one of those deals where "free" isn't really free???

From their Google Play Store app info:

With SmartVoip you'll get the first 90 days of calls to selected destinations for FREE after buying 10 euro credit! You'll only start using your bought credit after these 90 days have expired.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=finarea.SmartVoip

Google Voice remains free through 12/31/12, no word on 2013.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Voice

AFAIK, you can only get a 10 digit telephone number in the U.S.

There are some Android apps which utilize or front-end GV: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.googlevoice&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gvoip&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5ndm9pcCJd

There are some ATAs which support GV: http://www.amazon.com/OBi100-Telephone-Adapter-Service-Bridge/dp/B004LO098O

Google Voice remains free through 12/31/12, no word on 2013.

Google Voice will remain free through 2013.

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/free-calling-within-us-and-canada.html

http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/26/gmail-google-voice-free-2013/