cheapest plan for calling australia?

[rosash]

Hi, I'm sure there's been similar noob questions but i cant seem to find one that matches mine

I want to call an australia mobile around 3 times a week, once/week at least. Is it cheaper to 'pay-as-you-go' or buy monthly subscriptions or get an online number for my friend to call me? From the FAQs, seems like online number only works on Australia landlines and they're charged local rates while I don't have to pay for the call itself?

Would appreciate any advice, thanks!!!!

[wd9ewk]

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rosash wrote:

Hi, I'm sure there's been similar noob questions but i cant seem to find one that matches mine

I want to call an australia mobile around 3 times a week, once/week at least. Is it cheaper to 'pay-as-you-go' or buy monthly subscriptions or get an online number for my friend to call me? From the FAQs, seems like online number only works on Australia landlines and they're charged local rates while I don't have to pay for the call itself?

Would appreciate any advice, thanks!!!!

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Depending on how long you are on the phone to that Australian mobile number, it may be cheaper to get a subscription that covers calling to Australian landline and mobile numbers.  You will have to think about how long your calls are, and do the math to compare the per-minute rates with Skype Credit versus subscriptions.  Click on "Pay As You Go" below to get to the per-minute rates when using Skype Credit, and click on "Subscriptions" below to see the subscription options. Make sure to click on the "Landlines and Mobiles" tab when looking at subscriptions for Australia.

If you purchase an Australian Online Number, you could receive calls made to that number with your Skype account for no extra charges.  Callers would pay whatever the rate is to reach that number, depending on where they are calling from.  The Online Numbers are set up as landline numbers in Australia, with the standard area codes depending on where the number is situated.  Your friend with the Australian mobile phone would pay whatever the rate is to call a landline number wherever it is situated.  Numbers are available for Canberra, the mainland state capitals, and areas outside the state capitals of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.  Skype currently doesn't have Online Numbers for Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and areas outside the state capitals for South Australia or Western Australia.  I have a Melbourne Online Number (03 xxxx xxxx), which is useful for allowing people in Australia to ring me without paying for an overseas call to the States.

Can your friend in Australia get on Skype?  That would be another option to cut down on how much you pay to stay in contact.

[rosash · Accepted solution]

Thanks Patrick!

My friend is staying in a NSW regional area and can't get wifi, that is why I am looking at skype credit. Our calls are around an hour each time, so yeah I think a subscription sounds more worthwhile than 'pay as you go' rates. Will probably get an online number as well.

Thank you

[wd9ewk]

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My friend is staying in a NSW regional area and can't get wifi, that is why I am looking at skype credit. Our calls are around an hour each time, so yeah I think a subscription sounds more worthwhile than 'pay as you go' rates. Will probably get an online number as well.

 

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If you are calling a landline number in NSW, there is an Unlimited Australia subscription that would work well.  If you have to call a mobile number, there aren't unlimited subscriptions for that.  Depending on where your friend is in NSW, you may be able to get a number that is a local call - and cost you nothing from Skype to receive those calls. 

Good luck!