Online number vs. Skype to go number

[jbpepperboy]

I am needing some assistance. What exactly is the difference between getting an online Skype number and the Skype to go number? I want to be able to call my girlfriend in China, and I want her to be able to call me here in the U.S. Can anyone give me some advice on which of these two is the best option? Thanks.

[wd9ewk]

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jbpepperboy wrote:

I am needing some assistance. What exactly is the difference between getting an online Skype number and the Skype to go number? I want to be able to call my girlfriend in China, and I want her to be able to call me here in the U.S. Can anyone give me some advice on which of these two is the best option? Thanks.

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An Online Number allows other people to call your Skype account from telephones.  A Skype To Go number allows you to access your Skype account from a telephone, where you can place calls to predefined contacts or dial almost any telephone number.  You can click on "Online number" and "Skype To Go" at the bottom of this page for more details on each.

If you want your girlfriend in China to call you, the cheapest way would be for her to use Skype.  If this is not possible, you could purchase an Online Number and have her call that Online Number.  The number could be a US-based number, or from one of the other countries that Skype offers those numbers.  Unfortunately, those numbers are not available in China.  One option for you could be to purchase an Online Number in Hong Kong.  it would still be an international phone call for her, but the shorter distance from China to Hong Kong compared to the US may make for a cheaper phone call. 

[jbpepperboy]

Okay, thank you very much for the information.  I really appreciate it.  So if I understand correctly, my girlfriend can either just use Skype to call me from China or we can purchase a U.S.-based Online Number or one in Hong Kong that would allow her to call me here in the U.S.  Correct?  If we purchased a U.S.-based Online Number (for example, in San Diego). she would be able to call me from China?  As you mentioned in your previous e-mail though, it would probably be cheaper for us to get a Hong Kong Online Number so that she can call me.  Also, if I want to call her in China, I would have to purchase a Skype to Go number?  Is this correct?  In other words, I will have to make two purchases...I will need to purchase an Online Number for her to call me since I live in the U.S., and I will have to purchase a Skype to Go Number for me to call her since she lives in China.  Correct?  Thank you again for your assistance.  I look forward to your quick response.

- Justin

[wd9ewk]

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jbpepperboy wrote:

Okay, thank you very much for the information.  I really appreciate it.  So if I understand correctly, my girlfriend can either just use Skype to call me from China or we can purchase a U.S.-based Online Number or one in Hong Kong that would allow her to call me here in the U.S.  Correct?  If we purchased a U.S.-based Online Number (for example, in San Diego). she would be able to call me from China?  As you mentioned in your previous e-mail though, it would probably be cheaper for us to get a Hong Kong Online Number so that she can call me.  Also, if I want to call her in China, I would have to purchase a Skype to Go number?  Is this correct?  In other words, I will have to make two purchases...I will need to purchase an Online Number for her to call me since I live in the U.S., and I will have to purchase a Skype to Go Number for me to call her since she lives in China.  Correct?  Thank you again for your assistance.  I look forward to your quick response.

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If your girlfriend can get the Skype software and set up a Skype account, the two of you can have Skype-to-Skype chats (subject to the limitations on Internet usage by the Chinese government and/or Chinese Internet service providers) for free.  Otherwise, you would need to make two purchases....

1. An Online Number for her to call you on.  If you get a Hong Kong number, it will ring your Skype account wherever you happen to be logged in.  This may make for cheaper calls from China.  Or you can get a number in San Diego - or numbers in both places.  You can actually have up to 10 Online Numbers. 

2. If you want to call her phone via Skype, you would not purchase a Skype To Go number.  A Skype To Go number is just another way to access your Skype account, and does not grant you any privileges for calling telephones with Skype.  You would need to purchase either Skype Credit or a subscription.

If you won't be making lots of calls, you could just add Skype Credit to your account.  With Skype Credit, calls are charged on a per-minute basis, with a connection fee added for each call.  Click on "Pay as you go" below to see the pricing on a per-call basis.

If you think you will call a lot, you could go with a subscription covering calls to China.  Depending on how much you would be on the phone calling her, there are 4 options specifically for calling China - 60, 120, 400, or 800 minutes per month (800 minutes/month for US$ 9.99/month).  China is also covered by Skype's Unlimited World subscription, which allows for calling to about 40 different countries (including China).  You have some options there.  The Unlimited World subscription could come in handy if you go to China and want to call back to the US, since it also covers calling to US numbers, for US$ 13.99/month (or with a 15% discount, if purchased a year at a time).

If you decide that you want one of the subscriptions for calling China, and you purchase that subscription before you purchase an Online Number, you can get a 50% discount off the prices for Online Numbers.  Then you could get a Skype To Go number as a way to call your girlfriend, and have that call use either your Skype Credit or subscription. 

Hope that helps!

[jbpepperboy]

I know I have a lot of questions about this, but I am just trying to understand everything because this technology is all new to me.  Okay, so can I purchase one subscription that will allow my girlfriend to call me from China as well as let me call her from the U.S.?  If I purchase the Skype Unlimited World subscription ($13.99/month) will that allow us to be able to call each other using the same subscription or will I have to buy one subscription for her to call me and another one for me to call her?  I look forward to your quick response.  Thanks again.

- Justin

[wd9ewk]

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jbpepperboy wrote:

I know I have a lot of questions about this, but I am just trying to understand everything because this technology is all new to me.  Okay, so can I purchase one subscription that will allow my girlfriend to call me from China as well as let me call her from the U.S.?  If I purchase the Skype Unlimited World subscription ($13.99/month) will that allow us to be able to call each other using the same subscription or will I have to buy one subscription for her to call me and another one for me to call her?  I look forward to your quick response.  Thanks again.

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One subscription for you, another one for her.  She might have different subscription options, since Skype in China is handled by a different company.  But keep in mind the Skype-to-Skype option would be available if you both have Skype accounts, and would be free.  Subscriptions are only needed when calling telephone numbers from Skype.

[jbpepperboy]

I just want to clarify one thing.  When you are referring to the Skype-to-Skype option that is free, you are referring to talking to each other through a computer, right?  In other words, the Skype-to-Skype option is where I access Skype through my computer and she accesses Skype through her computer?  We are already using that option.  I just want to be able to communicate with my girlfriend using my cell phone and get away from the overpriced calling cards that we are currently using because we keep having bad connections during our conversations.  I just want to start using the most affordable Skype option when I call her or she calls me using our cell phones that will allow us to communicate and avoid so many bad connections.  From the exchange of e-mails that you and I have had on this issue...what would be, in your professional opinion, the best option that Skype provides for my girlfriend and I to use?  Thank you for all of your explanations and understanding.  I really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Justin

[wd9ewk]

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jbpepperboy wrote:

I just want to clarify one thing.  When you are referring to the Skype-to-Skype option that is free, you are referring to talking to each other through a computer, right?  In other words, the Skype-to-Skype option is where I access Skype through my computer and she accesses Skype through her computer?  We are already using that option.  I just want to be able to communicate with my girlfriend using my cell phone and get away from the overpriced calling cards that we are currently using because we keep having bad connections during our conversations.  I just want to start using the most affordable Skype option when I call her or she calls me using our cell phones that will allow us to communicate and avoid so many bad connections.  From the exchange of e-mails that you and I have had on this issue...what would be, in your professional opinion, the best option that Skype provides for my girlfriend and I to use?  Thank you for all of your explanations and understanding.  I really appreciate it.

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When I refer to the Skype-to-Skype chat options, that can be done with a device - computer, mobile phone, tablet, or other portable devices like the iPod Touch - on each end of the conversation running the Skype program or app. 

If the Internet connections are not holding up to have a nice chat (not unusual, with one end of the chats being in China), then looking at the subscriptions like I mentioned previously may be a better way to go.  Again, click on "Subscriptions" below and look at the options.  Then consider your planned use for a subscription, before you purchase one.  You can always put some Skype Credit on your account and call her that way, to see if that works better than the computer-to-computer chats you've done previously.

[jbpepperboy]

I have another question.  I heard that a student who was studying here in the U.S. purchased a phone number through Skype that he could use to call his friends back in China.  In turn, his friends who were in China could call this number, and it would ring to his cell phone.  He said it was very easy to use and recommended it.  This is the exact service that I would like to purchase through Skype.  Can you give me some information so that I can purchase this service?

[wd9ewk]

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jbpepperboy wrote:

I have another question.  I heard that a student who was studying here in the U.S. purchased a phone number through Skype that he could use to call his friends back in China.  In turn, his friends who were in China could call this number, and it would ring to his cell phone.  He said it was very easy to use and recommended it.  This is the exact service that I would like to purchase through Skype.  Can you give me some information so that I can purchase this service?

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It sounds like a mix of two different Skype features.

Skype To Go allows a Skype user to dial a phone number from a telephone to access their account.  From there, you can dial from a group of preset contacts (telephone numbers or Skype account names), or you can dial a telephone number using your Skype Credit and/or subscription.  More information is available at the "Skype To Go" link below.

An Online Number is a number that telephone callers can dial and reach you on your Skype account.  Those numbers are not available in China, but in other countries listed on the "Online Number" link below.