What's the best and cheap way to call international in India ?

Ringo Ng · Feb 18th, 2007, 11:16

Just wondering what is the best and cheapest way to call home ( Toronto )from India ? of course call from Hotel will be the easiest but sure $$$$$ , in fact i won't bring my cell phone .

batistuta · Feb 18th, 2007, 11:51

using skype from internet cafes where skype is available would be quite inexpensive.

Nick-H · Feb 18th, 2007, 12:26

Just pick up a phone!

Phone calls are not expensive in India. Even your hotel phone would probably be ok, but best to ask, then make a short trial call and see what they charge you for it.

That does not include picking up your own phone of course; international charges on your mobile would cost you a fortune. I made that mistake just once!

Plenty of information on IndiaMike about getting a local SIM for your own mobile. Get it unlocked first, of course!

So don't worry about the price of phone calls. But if yiou must have the absolute cheapest, I don't think Batistuta's idea could be bettered. If you want to call to ordinary telephones, however, rather than to other PCs (which would be free) you'd have to set up a SkypeOut account for yourself and put it in credit.

kidsan · Feb 18th, 2007, 15:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Just pick up a phone!

Phone calls are not expensive in India. Even your hotel phone would probably be ok, but best to ask, then make a short trial call and see what they charge you for it.

i have been horribly overcharged by hotel phones before so make sure, if you do this, to follow nick's advice and ascertain the charges beforehand.

Nick-H · Feb 18th, 2007, 18:15

Some of the guesthouses and smaller hotels may not even allow you to dial international numbers.

They may not be allowed themselves! When getting a connection one has to specifically request ISD facilities, and pay a larger deposit.

capt_mahajan · Feb 18th, 2007, 18:19

Second the hotel overcharging thing. In a five star hotel in Goa, I ended up paying 20 rupees a minute for a intra India call two years ago. Taxes extra. Maybe 4 times the actual rate.

International Mobile phones are not expensive provided you are not roaming; some of them offer landline rates, which are inexpensive now. STD/ISD booths likewise, but I am told some of them have tampered meters.

kidsan · Feb 18th, 2007, 18:19

better than requesting an STD

Nick-H · Feb 18th, 2007, 18:23

Here you can STDs from PCO booths! Freely available!

Captain... your Rs20 a minute looks like a local call compared to what a British hotel would pile onto the already high international rates!

capt_mahajan · Feb 18th, 2007, 18:29

I paid through my nose for a call to India from a Philadelphia hotel too. I think most hotels overcharge.

nick, 20 rupees a minute may not sound killing, but at the end of five days when you are presented with a nine thousand rupee phone bill (it was a business cum pleasure trip), it kind of rattles your teeth a bit.

Nick-H · Feb 18th, 2007, 18:40

Rs9,000! Sheesh! That's probably almost as much as it cost me the time I used my UK mobile to call home every day! Like I said, a mistake I made only once.

These days, by the way, I think twice about buying anything that costs more than Rs50. So Rs20 a minute would shock me.

ranjan154 · Feb 18th, 2007, 19:57

I will go for Skype or google chat any gud hotel will have a internet facility why not use that..

Ringo Ng · Feb 18th, 2007, 20:13

Really appreciated everyone's great comments , i think the internet phone will be the best choice ,i will keep in mind .

kidsan · Feb 18th, 2007, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Here you can STDs from PCO booths! Freely available!

what does PCO stand for...i've often wondered

just_an_old_boy · Feb 18th, 2007, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by kidsan

what does PCO stand for...i've often wondered

public call office

tasuray · Feb 18th, 2007, 21:15

Hi,
Purchase a IT card and make call from any phone without affecting the bill of that phone.It charges normal STD/ISD charges as per extant rule.Cost of the ITC (Indian Telephone Card) starts from Rs.100/= and Rs.200/=,Rs.500/= etc. are also available.It will also tell you the credit balance in your card at the commencement of the call and at the end.One can make local calls by the same card.It is easily available in cities.Calls to Canada will probably be charged Rs.7.20 p.m.by BSNL,seller of the ITC.

Feb 18th, 2007, 11:16	#1
Ringo Ng Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 40	What's the best and cheap way to call international in India ? Just wondering what is the best and cheapest way to call home ( Toronto )from India ? of course call from Hotel will be the easiest but sure $$$$$ , in fact i won't bring my cell phone .

Feb 18th, 2007, 12:26	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,849	Just pick up a phone! Phone calls are not expensive in India. Even your hotel phone would probably be ok, but best to ask, then make a short trial call and see what they charge you for it. That does not include picking up your own phone of course; international charges on your mobile would cost you a fortune. I made that mistake just once! Plenty of information on IndiaMike about getting a local SIM for your own mobile. Get it unlocked first, of course! So don't worry about the price of phone calls. But if yiou must have the absolute cheapest, I don't think Batistuta's idea could be bettered. If you want to call to ordinary telephones, however, rather than to other PCs (which would be free) you'd have to set up a SkypeOut account for yourself and put it in credit. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Feb 18th, 2007, 19:57	#11
ranjan154 Amateur Photographer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Greater Noida (India) Posts: 848	I will go for Skype or google chat any gud hotel will have a internet facility why not use that.. __________________ Rakesh Ranjan -------------- http://www.flickr.com/photos/travinfoindia/

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Feb 18th, 2007, 11:51	#2
batistuta Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,729	using skype from internet cafes where skype is available would be quite inexpensive.

Feb 18th, 2007, 18:15	#5
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,849	Some of the guesthouses and smaller hotels may not even allow you to dial international numbers. They may not be allowed themselves! When getting a connection one has to specifically request ISD facilities, and pay a larger deposit.

Feb 18th, 2007, 18:19	#6
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	Second the hotel overcharging thing. In a five star hotel in Goa, I ended up paying 20 rupees a minute for a intra India call two years ago. Taxes extra. Maybe 4 times the actual rate. International Mobile phones are not expensive provided you are not roaming; some of them offer landline rates, which are inexpensive now. STD/ISD booths likewise, but I am told some of them have tampered meters.

Feb 18th, 2007, 18:19	#7
kidsan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: heading for Mauritania... Posts: 689	better than requesting an STD

Feb 18th, 2007, 18:23	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,849	Here you can STDs from PCO booths! Freely available! Captain... your Rs20 a minute looks like a local call compared to what a British hotel would pile onto the already high international rates!

Feb 18th, 2007, 18:29	#9
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	I paid through my nose for a call to India from a Philadelphia hotel too. I think most hotels overcharge. nick, 20 rupees a minute may not sound killing, but at the end of five days when you are presented with a nine thousand rupee phone bill (it was a business cum pleasure trip), it kind of rattles your teeth a bit.

Feb 18th, 2007, 18:40	#10
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,849	Rs9,000! Sheesh! That's probably almost as much as it cost me the time I used my UK mobile to call home every day! Like I said, a mistake I made only once. These days, by the way, I think twice about buying anything that costs more than Rs50. So Rs20 a minute would shock me.

Feb 18th, 2007, 20:13	#12
Ringo Ng Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 40	Really appreciated everyone's great comments , i think the internet phone will be the best choice ,i will keep in mind .

Feb 18th, 2007, 21:15	#15
tasuray Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kolkata Posts: 310	Hi, Purchase a IT card and make call from any phone without affecting the bill of that phone.It charges normal STD/ISD charges as per extant rule.Cost of the ITC (Indian Telephone Card) starts from Rs.100/= and Rs.200/=,Rs.500/= etc. are also available.It will also tell you the credit balance in your card at the commencement of the call and at the end.One can make local calls by the same card.It is easily available in cities.Calls to Canada will probably be charged Rs.7.20 p.m.by BSNL,seller of the ITC.

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