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When I arrived here, I have a girlfriend back at home town. I spend a lot on phone calls. Often those calls are only few minutes and I don’t think it matters until the bill arrives. It sky rocketed and that is the last bill I paid (and most expensive). I started to search for alternative ways to call back. Calling back on landline (Telstra) or Optus (mobile) is not a efficient way to spend your money. Today, I will share a few tips on saving money on phone calls.
Calling cards
You can save huge amount of money by purchasing calling cards. These rates are incredibly low compare to normal landlines and I encourage you to use this service often. You can buy these calling cards in lots of places around Brisbane. I always get mine from Sunnybank. Different calling cards company offer different rates. Depending on which country you wanted to call.
Tips: Some company offer off-peak rates. Last time I only use my calling card at off-peak and I am able to get 8000 minutes talk time for AUD$50 calling card credit. I talk to sleep every night since then, hehe.
Skype
This is my second favourite too. Back then Skype was not available, so I used calling cards. By using Skype, you can call for free between Skype users. I advice you to setup Skype in parent’s computer (if they are not tech savvy) and teach them to only “receive call”.
On top of that, you are able to call back to landlines with a small amount of money. You go to Skype website and buy some credits. Trust me, this application rocks! I can even send sms with this application.
Skype Official Website here.
Online MSN messenger
If your parents or friends have Windows Live Messenger (MSN), you are able to call them up directly. Similar services available on most communication software nowadays. Such as Google Talk.
VOIP
TPG, iiNet and several other internet service providers now provides VOIP service. I am aware of the service but I do not have experience with this. All I know is, you make phone calls through internet. If your line is not good, you will have “lag” between conversations.
Feel free to drop comments and share your tips! I would love to know other alternatives to save money on phone calls.
I stop using calling cards because is still expensive if you call many times and long hours. I subscribed TPG internet (naked ADSL2+) for AUD60 a month for 50GB of download quota, you can choose cheaper package if you don’t use that much. With naked ADSL2+, I do not need Telstra home phone. I, then subscribed Engin (World package) where I pay AUD15 for rental a month. Engin provide VoIP service, like Skype but the it uses ‘real’ house phone to call, no need to turn on laptop. Only 20cent/call for 20 different countries. It’s very cheap to call national as well. Quality is superb. Being using it for 6 months now, no complain. However, I got the whole package of homephone and modem for only AUD1 when Engin had promotion last few months. Now maybe need to pay a bit more but it’s still worth the money because the set of housephones is costing around AUD80. Hope this information may help some people save some money.
-cheers-
Let me summarize your comment, it’ll help readers to skim through easier.
1) Use naked plans (apply internet without landline)
2) Subscribed to “Engin” to enable international calls $0.20 each call.
3) Uses real phone to make calls without turning on computer.
Thanks for sharing these useful information! Cheers!