Net to phone options in India

IndianByDefault · Post by **IndianByDefault** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:11 pm

Typically I spend a 1 month vacation every year in India. But this year I am planning on a 2-3 month working vacation later in the year. I have broadband setup through AirTel from my home in chennai to VPN remotely and work. However, I am also looking at what my options are to have a low cost phone setup either through net or otherwise so I can make calls to US as needed and also participate in conference calls etc. Can anyone with experience in this area give some good suggestions. Vonage is not an option for me I think because I don't want to buy any special equipment to take from here to India unless its worth the trouble. Any suggestions?

karmayogi · Post by **karmayogi** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:47 pm

You can buy an account with Skype or Yahoo for calling out. With Skype you can also get a phone number where people can call you from US.

There are many other services similar to Skype that allows you to make calls through internet from an app on your pc.

But please remember that none can promise Quality of service as internet itself works on a "best effort" basis.

I found skype to superior in voice quality to others.

IndianByDefault · Post by **IndianByDefault** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:49 pm

karmayogi thanks I browsed their website but had couple of questions.

1. Can I open a skype account in the US and then use the same account from an internet connection/computer in India?

2. How will calls be billed if I make a US call from there? Am I making an international call or a local call?

karmayogi · Post by **karmayogi** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:02 am

IndianByDefault;58721karmayogi thanks I browsed their website but had couple of questions.

1. Can I open a skype account in the US and then use the same account from an internet connection/computer in India?

Yes. In fact I opened an account in my fathers name and gave my credit card number. It is set to auto charge so if the balance falls below certain minutes.

IndianByDefault;587212. How will calls be billed if I make a US call from there? Am I making an international call or a local call?

You are essentially carrying a US phone to India. Because of the magic of internet though your physical presence is in India you are still connected to the US servers. So you will be making a call as if you were in US. I think for domestic US call it is about 2 cents/minute.

IndianByDefault · Post by **IndianByDefault** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:16 am

karmayogi;58727You are essentially carrying a US phone to India. Because of the magic of internet though your physical presence is in India you are still connected to the US servers. So you will be making a call as if you were in US. I think for domestic US call it is about 2 cents/minute.

Does the skype service not detect your IP address and where your call is originating from? Is this considered legal or is this a hole in the system? This sounds too good to be true?

karmayogi · Post by **karmayogi** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:33 am

IndianByDefault;58733Does the skype service not detect your IP address and where your call is originating from? Is this considered legal or is this a hole in the system? This sounds too good to be true?

I am not aware of any IP restrictions like that. It is perfectly legal in India to carry a US telephone - restriction is that you should not connect it to Indian telecom phone.

Today the way I talk to my parents is that, when they come online - first they check if we are online and then call us directly to our messenger. if we are not only then they ring our home phone, followed by my cell phone through the yahoo messenger window.

So it is doable. When they call us to our cell phones the call quality is not that great but ok. Again this where I have had some good reviews on Skype.

IndianByDefault · Post by **IndianByDefault** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:30 am

karmayogi

thanks for info. I will set this up and try it out on my parents computer.

I also find this thread http://www.r2iclubforums.com/clubvb/showthread.php?t=622&page=6&highlight=skype
in another forum that has lot of useful information. Thanks.

hisathish · Post by **hisathish** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:56 am

karmayogi;58748I am not aware of any IP restrictions like that. It is perfectly legal in India to carry a US telephone - restriction is that you should not connect it to Indian telecom phone.[/quote]

You mean, (in India) we are not allowed to take incoming calls on that VOIP phone (that we take from here), and then fwd it to someone else (within India), as a local call..... right? Is that what you mean?

Desi_by_Nature · Post by **Desi_by_Nature** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:58 am

Skype is cheap. No setup cost.
I think it's 2 cents/min to US. My folks use that to call me - but yeah it's one way calling (not like Vonage etc.).

karmayogi · Post by **karmayogi** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:04 am

hisathish;58791You mean, (in India) we are not allowed to take incoming calls on that VOIP phone (that we take from here), and then fwd it to someone else (within India), as a local call..... right? Is that what you mean?

Yup that is correct.