Avoid Skype for International calls- use LINE premium

[samsensam]

horses for courses. skype works well for me - and my mum know how to use it!

the military are welcome to listen in on my calls, read my messaging and e-mails

[nuolan]

I've tried Skype, LINE & LINE Premium calling and find Skype to be better for both calling other uses and phone lines. Out of all the apps/services I've tried, Google's Hangouts has had the most stable connection either user to user or user to mobile. I can call U.S. mobile phones for free as well. I should also note that my connection is capped at 512 kbps through AIS.

FWIW, LINE made a statement regarding the military's ability to screen communication via their app: http://asiancorrespondent.com/129304/line-denies-thai-juntas-claim-it-is-monitoring-popular-chat-app/

[Anthony5]

The OP is talking about calls to landlines and mobiles overseas, not skype to skype or line to line, and in that case Line beats skype hands down in call quality.

I am talking about Skype to PSTN (that's why I made the distinction when I mentioned Line) - on an average day I spend around half the time speaking to manufacturers and vendors all over the world over Skype to PSTN, the other half Skype-to-Skype with colleagues, and a (very) little time on VOIP. Skype call quality has been always excellent. I'm not using 3G/4G however.

Wanted to add, Line shows your Sim card number when making a call to an overseas phone, while Skype and most other VOIP sevices show a one time number, so in case that the other party isn't able to answer your call they can see who called.

Skype shows your real number if you spend a couple of minutes to validate it

Skype call quality has been always excellent. I'm not using 3G/4G however.

And that is actually what the OP and I are talking about, using Skype or Line from a mobile device to PSTN, which obviously uses 3G/4G. Since Skype uses a lot more data for the same call, more than 3 times over Line actually, you need a good connection. With an ADSL connection this is of no issue of course.

[2008bangkok]

Facebook messenger i have found has the best quality for calls and it wont be long before they roll out video calls in thailand as its available in other countries already

[clokwise]

I'm confused by people reporting they're paying $10 or even $14 per month to Skype for the "Unlimited World" subscription. I have been paying $30 per year for several years for that service, most recently renewed just 2 weeks ago. You guys might wanna look into paying a year in advance because it's highly discounted that way.

It's maybe worth repeating, there are several excellent and convenient options for calling North America for free now. Nobody should be paying anything to anyone to call the USA these days, if that's all you're using Skype for. I find Skype Unlimited quite handy for calling Thailand from elsewhere because it's unlimited and free, for example, I use it in conjunction with Google Voice so that I can have a local USA number which will ring my mobile here in Thailand for free.

[kkerry]

The difficulty with this thread is there is no best answer. We all have different requirements. Some people want to use their mobile to ring land-lines and mobiles, others only require a desktop solution, computer to computer. What works for someone mainly wanting cheap or free calls between the US and Thailand doesn't always work for someone in Australia or Europe e.g. the differing rates for calls to land-lines and mobiles. Same with Gmail options, free calls and messaging but limited to certain carriers in certain countries. Skype works for many people as it is the most popular international option, but Thais in Thailand prefer Line over Skype.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I'm confused by people reporting they're paying $10 or even $14 per month to Skype for the "Unlimited World" subscription. I have been paying $30 per year for several years for that service, most recently renewed just 2 weeks ago. You guys might wanna look into paying a year in advance because it's highly discounted that way.

I wonder if we're talking about the same things. AFAIK, the Skype Unlimited World plan is only available via monthly, automatic billing. I've never seen an annual subscription offer for that.

What does it cost?

The Unlimited World subscription is monthly; your subscription will be renewed automatically. We’ll set up a recurring payment so you can continue enjoying the new features for as long you like. To determine the monthly cost of your subscription, go to the subscriptions page, enter the name of the primary country you wish to call, and scroll down to Unlimted World.

https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA34442/what-is-the-unlimited-world-subscription

On the other hand, I know you can do an annual subscription to pay for a Skype phone number. But that's a different thing. And you get a discount on the Skype phone number if you combine it with a Skype Unlimited World calling plan.

If you have some link for annual subscriptions for Skype Unlimited World, please post it here...

[clokwise]

I wonder if we're talking about the same things. AFAIK, the Skype Unlimited World plan is only available via monthly, automatic billing. I've never seen an annual subscription offer for that.

I am 1000.00% certain that I'm paying $30 for an annual "Unlimited World" Skype subscription. I've tried to find a link for you but Skype's website is broken in all of my browsers and I can't get past the page which asks me where I want to call. The last time I checked pricing was about 1 year ago and the Annual plan definitely did exist then.

I'm ALSO paying annually for a Skype #, so I'm well aware of the distinction, and perhaps that's the reason for the discount.

If you're not seeing it, perhaps they've recently discontinued the Annual plan and I've been grandfathered in?? Or perhaps you need to buy a Skype # then you get the annual option?? I dunno.

Edited May 1, 2015 by clokwise

[Anthony5]

I wonder if we're talking about the same things. AFAIK, the Skype Unlimited World plan is only available via monthly, automatic billing. I've never seen an annual subscription offer for that.

I am 1000.00% certain that I'm paying $30 for an annual "Unlimited World" Skype subscription. I've tried to find a link for you but Skype's website is broken in all of my browsers and I can't get past the page which asks me where I want to call. The last time I checked pricing was about 1 year ago and the Annual plan definitely did exist then.

I'm ALSO paying annually for a Skype #, so I'm well aware of the distinction, and perhaps that's the reason for the discount.

If you're not seeing it, perhaps they've recently discontinued the Annual plan and I've been grandfathered in?? Or perhaps you need to buy a Skype # then you get the annual option?? I dunno.

I'm 1000% sure that if you're paying for something that you have a receipt and that it is in your Skype profile, so it shouldn't be difficult to take a screenshot of your receipt without privacy details exposed.

[clokwise]

I'm 1000% sure that if you're paying for something that you have a receipt and that it is in your Skype profile, so it shouldn't be difficult to take a screenshot of your receipt without privacy details exposed.

I'm 1000% sure I COULD do that, but I'm also 1000% sure I could fake the receipt too, if I needed to. So why bother? I'm not trolling, I was just trying to help, so, sorry, I won't post screenshots just to satisfy the TV mob. I'm sorry that the Annual rate is not available for you, but it is for me. I can offer no explanation why. Perhaps a google search will help you out...

[spidermike007]

Try Facebook messenger. Absolutely free. Good reception as long as the connection is good.

[thaimite]

From memroy. in the past Skype has offered some generous promotions whch are no longer available, but if you subscribed at the time you are still able to avail of these rates which often gavce generous discounts.

At one time while working abroad I availed of such a package . I cannot remember the details, but it was cheap and although the promotion only lasted a few months I was able to use it for the full 4 years of my contract when I needed it

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

One Skype discount I'm familiar with is that if someone has a monthly subscription to Skype Unlimited World, and then decides to add a Skype Out number with a one-year subscription, they supposedly get 50% off the cost of a Skype Out number, which I believe reduces the cost of the Skype Out number $30 per year.

But as for the Unlimited World plan itself, when I look the Skype website now, it indeed has changed since the last time I logged in, and even further back from when I originally signed up more than a year ago for Skype Unlimited World. And right now, they are indeed showing 3 month and 1 year subscription options.... But only with a 5% discount for the 3 month package and 15% off for the 1 year package, which brings it to $142.70 per year. That's a LONG way from the rate you're talking about at $30 per year.

[Anthony5]

Try Facebook messenger. Absolutely free. Good reception as long as the connection is good.

So you can make calls to mobiles and landlines using FB messenger?

[ghworker2010]

What is all this about PAYING.

My wife uses LINE when talking with her daughter in the US....for FREE and they Yack away for ever.

I use SKYPE for lengthy calls to Australia...also FREE!

yes, but I guarantee that your paying high rates to ring your bank in oz or any other number....

Skype is not the go

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The thing that both the free version of LINE and Skype have in common is they both allow FREE voice calls to other users of the same service, assuming both parties have access to the required application.

So, Skype users can call other Skype users using the Skype app for free. And LINE users can call other LINE users using the LINE app for free.

But, if you're on Skype or LINE and you instead need to call a REAL phone number, whether mobile or landline, then you've got to be paying in some form or fashion.

===============

My wife and I both have smartphones that can run the LINE and Skype apps, as well as PCs that can do the same. And we both have access to Internet at home and work. So we can do voice calls to each other at will for free using Skype, LINE, Google Hangouts and more.

My wife's mother only has a regular mobile phone. No apps, no internet. Just a Thai mobile number, period. The only way my wife can call her Mom is to use one of the paid approaches, included the paid services under Skype, LINE and others.

Edited May 1, 2015 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[jdinasia]

The amazing thing is that someone thinks that I should avoid a product that works well and that I am satisfied with

[topt]

The amazing thing is that someone thinks that I should avoid a product that works well and that I am satisfied with

Agreed - and the OP even wanted it sent in the daily email..........

Also they seem to have switched allegiance since - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822208-i-prefer-using-whatsup-application-on-my-phone-instead-of-line/

[BudRight]

Who cares if the Thai government is monitoring LINE calls? They can't even find anyone to answer the phones who can speak English. They don't have a room somewhere full of Thais who understand English perfectly, going through thousands and thousands of hours of boring conversations between westerners and their friends, just in case they say something about the Junta. It's preposterous.

Google voice is great. Skype is shit.