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I have searched and searched for an alternative to Skype, but so far have mostly failed. My situation: - I use Linux on all my desktops/laptops. - I have an
by phillc73 14y ago
I have searched and searched for an alternative to Skype, but so far have mostly failed.
My situation:
- I use Linux on all my desktops/laptops.
- I have an Android phone.
- My mobile phone bill is usually in excess of £100 per month.
- I am usually located in the UK, sometimes elsewhere but almost never in the US.
My use cases:
- I want to make cheap calls to mobile phone numbers in Ireland, Austria and Australia
- I want to make landline calls to the same countries.
- I want to send SMS messages to the same countries.
- I want to make free person to person VOIP calls.
- I want to make video calls.
- Security and privacy is a factor.
Currently, I have Skype working reasonably well on my 64-bit Debian based Linux machines. However, call quality can be very patchy when calling mobile phone numbers. Video quality is often poor and the call drops out when communicating with others in Australia.
I have tried Ekiga, Jitsi, SflPhone and a few others. I have a Diamondcard.us account for making chargeable calls. Almost always the call-out quality of these services is poor. I've been told it sounds like "I'm talking through a pillow."
I have been using Google Voice recently. It does work from my UK registered Google Account for making calls to mobile phones and landlines. The call quality is very good. The mobile phone pricing is generally a little more expensive than Skype. Unfortunately, landline calls are significantly more expensive that Skype and the full Google Voice experience (SMS messages, registering a number and thus using on my Android device) isn't available outside the US.
Is there any other single unified service worth considering, which does meet at least the majority of my use cases?
- EwanToo 14y agoThe first 3 of your requirements would possibly be better served with just a good International calling package on your mobile. Lebara charge £39 a month for "unlimited" calls to 39 countries, including Ireland, and Australia, and cheap(ish) calls to Austria (and other places). Their call charges are pretty comparable to most VOIP services. It's certainly worth considering if you're spending >£100 a month on calls.
- phillc73 14y agoWorth considering for sure and a good idea to investigate similar services more thoroughly. Unfortunately for Austria mobiles (all rates include VAT): Lebara: 19p/min Skype: 11.2p/min (in the £38.99/month for 400 minutes package) Google Voice: 8.4p/min Out of the three countries I listed, Austria is the only one I call daily, usually for a minimum of 10 minutes, up to about 20 minutes. Ireland I call infrequently, but SMS up to 10 times per day. Australia I usually call once or twice per week, up to about 45 minutes.
- joering2 14y agoFor the past 6 years, I've been using VOIPDiscount [1]. Their rate is "unlimited" for 10EUR a month (you can setup auto payment). The nice feature is that they give you about 200 so called "free days", which means that landlines to most countries will be totally free of charge (mobiles have low rate but you have to pay) up to 200 days from the moment of your purchase. I can confirm this works as I have called my home country in Europe every weekend for couple hours a day talking with family on multitude occasions. They have Android and iPhone app as well. If your folks oversees have landlines, this is a clearly best choice (I do not work for them, just been happy with their service). [1] http://www.voipdiscount.com/ http://www.voipdiscount.com/