<p>Can someone explain to me how Skype is used and billed for actual phone calls (not through the computer)?</p>
<p>There’s an existing thread from this weekend on Skype, you might check some of the posts/citations there and see if they’re helpful. </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/555791-skype-question.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/555791-skype-question.html</a></p>
<p>I only have the USA/Canada Skype plan so I can’t give you pricing info on Europe, but I’m sure someone can!</p>
<p>[Skype</a> official website – free download and free calls and internet calls](<a href=“http://www.skype.com%5DSkype”>http://www.skype.com)</p>
<p>There are $9.95 / month unlimited calling plans for dialing from your computer to a landline or cell in Europe (SkypeOut), or the per-call cost starts at 2.1 cents per minute. The website has a table of the countries included and a [huge</a> list](<a href=“http://www.skype.com/prices/callrates/]huge”>Skype to Phone plans for low cost international calling | Skype) of all nations to which you can call along with the rates.</p>
<p>[Discount</a> International phone calls with SkypeOut](<a href=“Explore Skype’s new features | Skype”>Explore Skype’s new features | Skype)</p>
<p>You’ll want a headset with earphone and microphone to effectively use your computer to place the calls.</p>
<p>Thanks. I had just found my way to the Skype site too.</p>
<p>Trying to figure out if it’s more worthwhile to go with Skype (and have to be at a computer) or with a Verizon plan.</p>
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</p>
<p>I do not see how a Verizon plan could work better for calling Europe. And unless Verizon changed it, its technology does not work in Europe. </p>
<p>Fwiw, you do NOT have to be SITTING at the computer to use Skype to call other users or landlines. </p>
<p>My parents use Skype via a Philips VOIP phone that is connected directlly through the router. The system bypasses the computers and eliminates a number of small known conflicts with Skype. They use the phone system and have SkypeIn and SkypeOut. The system is totally idiot proof and invisible to other callers. You can also add your current land line and use the phone as a cordless in the house. Here’s a presentation of the phone:</p>
<p>[Philips</a> VoIP 841 Phone Review - VoIP Monitor](<a href=“http://www.voipmonitor.net/2007/08/07/Philips+VoIP+841+Phone+Review.aspx]Philips”>http://www.voipmonitor.net/2007/08/07/Philips+VoIP+841+Phone+Review.aspx)</p>
<p>Note that there are several similar systems and that they are widely available. My parents bought theirs at Amazon. </p>
<p>PS Please note that Skype rates to foreign cell phones are higher.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>My clients who do a lot of business in Europe and Asia are all 100% Skype users. I don’t think any of the traditional phone companies is remotely competitive yet. Taking price into account, it works great for them (which means, not always perfectly, but plenty well enough given the savings).</p></li>
<li><p>A family we are friendly with recently spend a sabbatical year in Europe. They rigged a Skype connection with one of their home lines; if you wanted to call them, you just dialed the local number and they answered from Berlin. Again, it didn’t work perfectly all the time, but it worked darn well. The teen friends in the respective households, who used to have three-hour phone conversations every few weeks to discuss the Meaning of Life, continued to have three-hour phone conversations every few weeks to discuss the Meaning of Life. It was great for everyone.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I have just been introduced to a service where I could make interational phone calls from my cell phone very cheaply - .03 to most mos European countries, .01 to China, and .03 to Mexico (it would be your per min charge plus the international call charge). There is no monthly charges. It only works from the US to other countries, not the other way around. Don’t want to do advertisement for anyone, but if you google it, you should be able to find it.</p>
<p>Verizon told me $1.99 per minute routing charge for my daughter in Netherlands.
Daughter bought International phone in Netherlands, and can receive calls for free. </p>
<p>Just was told today that someone bought a Skype card, for $10, and calls cost 28 cents per minute, but he said that there are better rates via skype-which I would also like to know about.</p>
<p>I assumed his Skype card could be used with any phone, not via the computer, so this is news to me. </p>
<p>As you can tell, I haven’t researched this, yet, myself, because dealing with phone companies is so stressful- hate getting the wireless bill, and trying to decode it all.</p>
<p>
Are you choosing between using Verizon landline, Verizon wireless and Skype to make calls to Europe or are you choosing what device to receive calls in Europe?</p>
<p>Verizon wireless will likely be the most expensive option at either end. Verizon does have "world phones, " but you’ll pay through the nose to use them.</p>
<p>Since most European cell phone plan/cards allow free incoming calls and free incoming messages, a local (European) SIM card with a compatible phone (GSM quad band or 900/1800) would be the cheapest way to receive calls in Europe. Telestial.com has a good explanation of the cell options available, but it is not the cheapest site to purchase phones. If purchasing a European SIM card, you will need to choose between a card restricted to a single country (better rates) and a “world” card.</p>
<p>The easiest way to send free sms messages to a European cell phone is peekamo.com</p>
<p>If you have a European sim card, you can use a “call back service” to initiate calls from Europe at a minimal cost.</p>
<p>I am choosing between using Verizon landline, Verizon wireless and Skype to make calls to Europe.</p>
<p>Here’s the Verizon landline rate calculator: plug in your home state and target country.
[Verizon</a> Long Distance - World Caller](<a href=“http://www22.verizon.com/ForYourHome/LD/WorldCaller.asp]Verizon”>http://www22.verizon.com/ForYourHome/LD/WorldCaller.asp)</p>
<p>Here’s the Verizon wireless rate calculator.
[International</a> Long Distance](<a href=“http://b2b.vzw.com/international/Long_Distance/index.html]International”>http://b2b.vzw.com/international/Long_Distance/index.html)</p>
<p>Here’s the peekamo site for free international text messaging.
[Peekamo.com:</a> Send free international sms.](<a href=“http://peekamo.com/]Peekamo.com:”>http://peekamo.com/)</p>