Cheaper phoning abroad-UAE from u.k. landline?

Question

I have received my B.T. telephone bill and they are charging me 77p per min. to phone a mobile in Dubai, is there something cheaper and if so who ends up paying. I am ringing a sick friend and i don't want her to pay? Help please!!!

Answer 1

investigate phone cards

you can do this from the net - just search on phone cards uk and go for the card with the cheapest UAE rate

this one http://www.skinttariffs.com/cheap-intern...

seems to be 9p per minute but look around and youll find cheaper

Answer 2

check out a site called telestunt i  use it all the time to call spain  25p were as virgin were charging me 55p  just click on  were youwant to call and it gives you a code to ring , dial the code then your usual number  i been using this for 18 months  and it is cheaper hope this helps

www.telestunt.co.uk

Answer 3

further to the earlier answers, if its a uk mobile your friend picks up most of the call charge. in relation to the calling cards, check to see if they include calls to mobiles.

Answer 4

If you don't mind using your PC to make VoIP calls to landlines in UAE, then here are a few options:

CallCentric - has the lowest rate I have seen so far to UAE at 18.5 cent/min $US.  

http://www.callcentric.com/find_rate.php...

No monthly fees or contracts, just pay for what you use.  They have a Free downloadable softphone for your PC

http://www.callcentric.com/support/devic...

But, I have read that UAE is Blocking access to some Internet VoIP services in their country.  For example, they apparently block access to Skype:

http://support.skype.com/index.php?_a=kn...

In which case, if CallCentric or Skype calls do not work to UAE, then perhpas try Efonica.  Efonica has offices in Dubai, UAE, as well as in USA.  So, their service may be ok in UAE:

Efonica rate to UAE is 23 cent/min:

http://www.efonica.com/efonica/site/rate...

Their softphone is also free... only pay for what you use for calling time.  

Pay-as-you-go, just like Skype and CallCentric.  

All you need is a headset with built-in microphone and your PC to get started.

InPhonex is VoIP too, but they offer * Calling Card Access * from locations around the world.  

The London access number is: [phone]

Birmingham, UK access number is: [phone]

http://www.inphonex.com/support/calling-...

InPhonex offers Pay-as-you-go VoIP and *Calling Card* access.  No contracts or monthly fees.  Only pay for what you use...

Just sign up for their Pay-As-You-Go account and purchase "Prepaid Calling Credits" (just like Skype) for $10.

http://www.inphonex.com/services/pay-as-...

Once you have your account, you can download free softphone and make calls from your PC.  

http://www.inphonex.com/support/express-...

Or, buy an ATA from them and make VoIP calls without a PC.

http://www.inphonex.com/products/voip-ph...

* Or, in your account administration page, you can setup *Calling Card* Access, and set your access PIN... there is no extra charge for this feauture.  All calls are charged at posted callout rates.

It's the best of both worlds....

And, of course all services above offer Free In-Network calling between their account holders...

I have accounts with all the above VoIP services, and of course others too.

----------------------------

Thanks, Andrew M. for mentioning the point about Mobiles....

I double-checked, and

* InPhonex call rates range from 26-29 cent/min depending area

* Efonica land-line and Cellular rates are the same at 23.8 cent/min.

* CallCentric rates to Mobiles remain the same as landline at 18 cent/min $US.

Of course, we have no way to know what the person receiving a call in Dubai is paying for receiving calls on their cell service.... that of course would be the case no matter how Audrey L. calls....