Help with International Cell Phone Plan?

Help!!  I have resisted cell phones for far too long, and find myself clueless.  My fiancée in the UK has been in an auto accident.  Up to now, she's been initiating most of our telephone calls because she has a very economical calling plan.  I have a simple pay-as-you-go cell phone through Virgin Mobile.  The signal is good, but tracking usage and understanding charges is a nightmare.

I am thoroughly confused when I try to research cell phone plays, just for US usage.  When I try to research plans that include calling from US to UK, I become even more confused.  Has anyone else already crossed this hurdle?  With my fiancée recovering from her accident, I am rather desperate to be in better touch with her.

Thanks so much, from a cloudy, dreary day outside Washington, DC.

Teddy

Do you have access to a computer? You may want to check out a "Skype Out" account.  You can use it to call mobiles in a number of countries, and the rates are fairly competitive. Otherwise, I used to buy calling cards at CostCo and just use that--that way I didn't need to worry about stupidly high cell phone charges. I did have an "international plan" through At&t at the end, I think it was 3 bucks a month and then decently cheap calls.

My parents used to use Sprint but have recently moved to AT&T because they found the rates more reasonable and AT&T have partners in Europe so my parents can use their phones here, albeit for a fee.

I would also apply for google voice as those rates are pretty good and they will call you (where ever you designate) THEN call out where ever you want.

I have a US skype number all incoming calls free but to call out to the states from here I use my google voice to call me, then call the US - its free ;-)

Cell phones are SUPER expensive to call the UK.  I manage a telecom comapny and get you dial out rates from a 512 number for relativly inexpensive if you are calling landline but I know what it costs for cell coverage.

Let me know if I can help

I guess the main question is what are you wanting the cell phone for? Is it so that you can use it to call her, or that she can contact you more easily?

If it is for you to contact her, would also recommend skype rather than a cell phone. It has been wonderful when I've been in the states and hubby at home.

Calling card are a good alternative and there are some with amazing rates. I think I used one called one world or something. But unless you are calling from a landline you'll be using your minutes as well as the calling card minutes.

either way, in the uk unlike the states, the caller pays the fees. So calling a mobile phone is very expensive so even the best rate phone card will be gone very quickly if you are calling your fiance's mobile. I remember I got a $10 phone card and it lasted something like half an hour.

 If it is so that your fiance can get in touch with you more easily, I know a lot of people that are happy on t-mobile, however their pay as you go rates are quite high, and if you are planning on moving within a year, do you want to be stuck with a contract?

I hope your fiance wasn't injured badly and that she is recovering well.

Pengi.

oh and pstt. I have sprint/nextel before I left and I still had a year left on my contract but SINCE they didnt offer service where I was moving I was let out of it with NO fees.

When I was in the US I used to use phone cards from www.phoneshark.com to call the UK.  They had a ton to choose from, delivered them instantly via email, and I never had any trouble with them at all.  Most of them had local access numbers, so I'd usually wait until I was in an unlimited period to call (i.e. free nights & weekends or whatever), so I only paid the phone card rate (usually 3 cents a minute or so). 

Calling card are a good alternative and there are some with amazing rates. I think I used one called one world or something. But unless you are calling from a landline you'll be using your minutes as well as the calling card minutes.

either way, in the uk unlike the states, the caller pays the fees. So calling a mobile phone is very expensive so even the best rate phone card will be gone very quickly if you are calling your fiance's mobile. I remember I got a $10 phone card and it lasted something like half an hour.

I hope your fiance wasn't injured badly and that she is recovering well.

Pengi.

Thanks, Pengi, and everyone!  Sorting through the various suggestions...

This is the problem with modern life ... too many darn options!  Hmmm...  Well, my fiancée has very reasonable rates calling me.  So it is mainly me that wants to be able to reach her - from here in US to her in UK.  And for maximum flexibility, I was hoping to be able to reach her with my cell phone, when I'm away from home, land-line, and computer. 

Additionally, I have very few people I call long distance in US, and so do not have long distance service on my land-line.  However, I am now finding I would like to have the capability of calling people long distance domestically.  So, that's an added twist.

I have tried using Skype to make the calls.  Our videocam Skype conversations are frequently very degraded, with poor picture and sound.  The few times I've used Skype to call her land-line or mobile number, she frequently is unable to hear me.  So, Skype is really too unreliable. 

The phone cards do sound like the best option, as far as I can tell.  I didn't realize I was paying her fees when I'm the caller to her mobile.  Virgin Mobile is so darn oblique in its charges. 

Her car was totaled when someone being chased by the police zoomed into an intersection.  She was in the hospital for several days, with me frantic because I didn't know what happened to her.     She was just released from hospital yesterday, with her shoulder completely immobilized due to what seems to be a severe muscle spasm.  She's getting twice daily morphine and muscle relaxant injections.     She was supposed to be coming here on Friday the 28th, but now I don't know if she is going to be able to travel.      She was fairly incoherent from the meds last night, but insisting she was going to come regardless.  I am still in shock.  So helpless... 

If she can't come, this will be our second delay.  She was supposed to come here on May 7th, but her flight was canceled because of that darn naughty volcano in Iceland.      Sometimes, it seems like the universe is engaged in a conspiracy to thwart us...  We had hoped to get married during her visit.

Thanks for all the suggestions...

Teddy

I didn't realize I was paying her fees when I'm the caller to her mobile.  Virgin Mobile is so darn oblique in its charges. 

Just so you know, it's not just Virgin Mobile; all UK cell phones work the same in that the caller pays for the call.

I know how it feels to be thousands of miles away from your partner when they are ill or injured.  And not being able to reach them makes it 10 times worse.  I'm glad she's home and hope she gets well soon!

Yes, skype can be very flakey and there is often a delay so you end up talking like you do on a radio.  'i love you, over' lol

When we were doing the long distance thing I used vonage and it was really good quality, but I believe it is no more.  Most cell phone plans have free domestic long distance.

yeah the phone charges were quite a shock!  for example it costs my sister $.27 a minute to ring my mobile, but only about $.10 to ring the landline.

Pengi

I had a hard time with this as well, and I came across Magic Jack.
Basically, it's American, so whichever one of you is in the US is going to buy it.  It's sort of hard to explain, and I didn't quite understand it based on the info that is available out there about it.  But friends of mine in the UK were using it often to call the US.
So let me try to explain I guess...
It uses the internet to make calls and it's free ...you buy the device (its like a USB thing and you get a basic US landline phone to connect to it- I tried to get a UK landline phone to connect to it and the 'jack' part of it is different so it didnt work) anyway, you can get it on their website (magicjack.com) or at Best Buy, Radio Shack, places like that.  I only paid $40 for it...shouldn't cost anymore than that.  It uses the internet to make calls, and you can chose where your call comes from (in the sense of an area code).  You can call anywhere in the US free...so whichever one of you is in the UK will get this device so that when you call the other one in the US, it's like you're making a local call.  I hope this makes sense.  If I sound like I am advertising this or something, I promise I'm not, its just that this thing is like a god send for me and has saved me a lot of money, my husband and I used to spend hundreds every month calling between the US and the UK.
I have read a lot of complaints on the internet about Magic Jack and the service, but I have had no problems and like I said, I think its amazing, its been great.  I hope the explaination makes sense because like I said, I couldnt find much to explain it, and the employees at the stores that sell it don't know anything about it.  Oh, and apparently after the first year its $20 a year but I havent had it that long so I am not clear on that, but still, thats way cheaper.  I was paying $.20/min to call the UK... it added up very quickly.  Good luck, I know how hard it is to be away, expecially in a tough situation

I had a hard time with this as well, and I came across Magic Jack.

Thank you, kellykapow.  I will look into MagicJack and see if works for my situation.

My fiancée had an idea that we are going to try.  The mobile plan that she has in the UK is fairly cheap, something on the order of 7 cents a minute.  She called her mobile provider to find out how she can use her mobile phone to call her children back in the UK while she is visiting here.  I listened to the instructions she was given via Skype while she talked to her provider.  She'll just change the network from automatic to manual on her mobile phone menu, and select Sprint, Nextel, or Cingular.  In that way, she'll be able to use her phone from here in the US to call back home in the UK.  There was no mention of additional charges...  So... She is bringing a mobile phone for me to use when she comes on June 10 (finally, after two delays - one due to the darn volcano, and one due to her accident).  We are hoping that enables me to contact her here from my end without mortgaging the house!

Her accident was almost two weeks ago.  I've been extremely worried during this time, but she is finally back home from hospital as of yesterday.  We discovered that lots of messages were completely lost.  Grrrr....  During this experience, she'd sent me messages letting me know when she was in hospital and what was going on, but I never received half of them, so I've been frantic for most of the time.  I wish what we had was at least reliable.  :-(

Teddy

My fiancée had an idea that we are going to try.  The mobile plan that she has in the UK is fairly cheap, something on the order of 7 cents a minute.  She called her mobile provider to find out how she can use her mobile phone to call her children back in the UK while she is visiting here.  I listened to the instructions she was given via Skype while she talked to her provider.  She'll just change the network from automatic to manual on her mobile phone menu, and select Sprint, Nextel, or Cingular.  In that way, she'll be able to use her phone from here in the US to call back home in the UK.  There was no mention of additional charges...  So... She is bringing a mobile phone for me to use when she comes on June 10 (finally, after two delays - one due to the darn volcano, and one due to her accident).  We are hoping that enables me to contact her here from my end without mortgaging the house!

I am pretty sure she will pay a different tariff for calls made using a UK mobile while in the US, even to a UK number.  It's not the same as a UK to UK call when in the UK.

For example, I do lots of international business travel, so I have an "international roaming plan" and I still pay on the order of 60 pence per minute to make calls back to the UK (using my UK mobile) when in the US.  You will also normally have to pay an additional tarriff for inbound calls when you are roaming in another country.  I think mine is approximately 18 pence per minute inbound in the US.

True that it is very easy to use your UK mobile abroad, but she needs to specifically ask her provider about call tariffs while abroad.  Your standard UK tarrifs almost never apply when you are travelling.

Hope this helps; I don't want her to get smacked with a HUGE mobile bill while she is visiting you.

Hope this helps; I don't want her to get smacked with a HUGE mobile bill while she is visiting you.

Hi MsB - wow, I had a suspicion it all sounded too good to be true!  Thanks you so much for sharing this warning!  You have prevented what could have been a financial catastrophe. 

Still wishing for an easy solution...  Text messages between her O2 service and my Virgin Mobile pay-as-you-go service have been lost repeatedly, and in the most inopportune moments.   

Teddy

Hi MsB - wow, I had a suspicion it all sounded too good to be true!  Thanks you so much for sharing this warning!  You have prevented what could have been a financial catastrophe. 

Yeah, it's definitely expensive to use a UK phone in the US. I'm with Orange (Pay As You Go) and if I want to use my phone while I'm in the US (whether I call a US number or UK number), it costs me £1.30 per minute! If I receive a call, I get charged 70p per minute (plus the caller gets charged too). To send a text message, it costs me 45p, but luckily it's free to receive a text.

If I was on a phone contract with Orange, instead of Pay As You Go, it would cost me £1.10 to make a call, 70p to receive a call, 40p to send a text and free to receive a text in the US.