Skype To Go from US to China [ Edited ]

[babypelican]

Hi, I want to setup Skype To Go number so that I can call from United States to China. I learn that I would be charged by both my mobile phone company and Skype. Here is the story.

1. My mobile has 700 minutes monthly

2. I subscripe the "Unlimited World" in Skype

This is what I understand: When I make calls from my mobile phone to China using the Skype ToGo number, I will not be charged from Skype (under "fair usage") because of my subscription, and my call minutes will be deduted from that in my mobile phone monthly plan. So it seems that there will be no extra charges on both sides, right? As far as you know, is there any other possible fee from mobile phone company, except for the fee I pay for the 700 minutes, I need to pay to make such calls? Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks.

[LonNW1 · Accepted solution]

To be on the safe side, it is always good to check with your mobile operator whether you will be charged any extra fee for calling a Skype To Go number.

Skype To Go numbers in the US are just regular landline numbers, so in most cases they just use up your monthly minutes when you call them. And yes, your Skype subscription applies - so in your case calls to China are "free", using your mobile free minutes and the Skype subscription.

[rheann]

What about making calls from China to the USA? I will be in China this fall for 3 weeks. What is the most economical way to call the USA using my mobile and/or my computer? I have tried searching for this answer and welcome the personal response. Thanks!

[LonNW1]

Unfortunately, there are no Skype To Go numbers for China at the moment.

Hence the best solution would be getting Skype on your mobile (e.g. Skype for iPhone, Android or Symbian) and making calls to the US using your mobile's WiFi connection. Or get Skype on your computer and make calls to the US from there.

[rheann]

I appreciate your timely advice!

[rheann]

My Droid x has a Skype ap. Is there a fee for making a skype mobile call from China to the US in a Wifi zone? Does it cost my caller if he/she is mobile? landline? xie! xie!

[babypelican]

Got it. Sounds great. Thanks for your reply. 

[babypelican]

rheann brings up a good question.

We associate our phone to Skype and that's why Skype identity us in the United States, and thus the Skype To Go number is a US number, beginning with our area code. Now imagine this scenario, if Skype To Go is available in China, you need to switch your associated phone number to a China number (beginning with +86) so that Skype can allocate a local number for you. There are two things I am concerned about.

1. Is there any restriction on the frequency of changing the associated phone number under the Skype policy?

2. Skype have to negotiate with Chinese phone carriers and even the government on the number assignment, which I think is one of the main obstacles for now.

And of course, I'd love to see the Skype To Go in China can be available as soon as possible, but in the near future, the most economical way would be a subscription using wifi as suggested, or a skype-to-skype channel.

[babypelican]

 Is there a fee for making a skype mobile call from China to the US in a Wifi zone? Does it cost my caller if he/she is mobile? landline?

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It doesn't cost money if you have a subscription, or you'll be charged at a standard rate. Wifi, rather than 3G or 4G, is the only way that allows you to make calls to a mobile / landline number from Skype on your cell phone.

Your caller will be charged as much as a normal call (minutes for cell phone or nothing for landline). 

Hope it helps.

[The_Cynergist]

I've been reading this thread, and I don't think I'm getting this.  I'm in Canada, and I wanted to set up skype to go to call my daughter in Germany and friends in the U.S.  The instructions say I need to register my phone in the country I'm calling; is that right?  How do I do that if I plan to call more than one country?  And if I go to another country and call back to Canada, being that my phone number is already Canadian, would that mean that I don't have to do anything in terms of registering my phone in Canada?  And wouldn't my phone carrier have to be involved in such a process?  Also, is using skype to go any cheaper than just using my credits and dialing directly from my computer? 

Thanks