Best way to communicate from Iraq

Question

It looks like my unit will be deploying to Baghdad in a few months, what is the best cell phone / IM / email service to have over there? I want to keep in touch with my fiance and family, but it sounds like Verizon has a cruddy plan for "worldwide" plans... anyone have experience in this??

Answer 1

My husband set up internet once he got to Iraq. They had some sort of internet provider for the soldiers, if they wanted internet for their room.

I knew some people had cell phones, but that will get expensive.

I think it's best to stick to phone cards and internet (IM, webcam, and e-mail).

Answer 2

You will have access to the internet. Probably not regularly, but often. You can email from your AKO account or Yahoo. Download an internet phone service like Skype for calling.

Good luck and thank you for your service.

Answer 3

Letters or e-mail would be pretty good methods.  

Answer 4

Through our 3 deployments, Yahoo IM is our favorite. We are able to talk almost every day (as long as the internet, that can be weak at times, holds up and then there are blackouts). Where my husband is now, he has internet in his room and he did last deployment too. If that isnt an option for you, there are MWR computers and haji cafes. We tried to use Vonage, but the internet just wasnt strong enough to hold the calls. There are land line phones (calls can get expensive), and cell phones, but your unit may not allow you to have a cell phone. There have been issues with some soldiers placing/receiving calls during a black out, so that is why.

So it wont be like home, but in order to communicate as often as possible for the least amount of money, good ol' instant messenger is the way to go! That way, you can hook up the webcam and see each other!