- Purchase an unlocked phone from a third-party manufacturer, rather than from a provider. Since unlocked phones come without calling plans, you can then purchase a prepaid SIM card with a local phone number in the country of your choice. To insert the SIM card, open the back of the unlocked phone and pop the SIM card in. SIM cards stop you from running up high roaming charges. When the SIM card is out of time, just purchase a new one at a price within your budget..
- Download Skype, a free voice-over-Internet program (VoIP) onto your computer, and talk to loved ones overseas who also have Skype installed on their computers. Use the video call feature, and you can even see each other. When using Skype to call mobile phones and landlines, it's not free, but is available at comparatively affordable per-minute rates.
- Prepaid calling cards are an effective way to control how much you spend when calling overseas, since after the balance on a phone card runs out, the card can no longer be used. There are a wide number of phone card brands. Some can be refilled online or over the phone. Others allow you to transfer funds from one refillable card to another. Surcharges can be applied when phone cards are used from public phones. Phone cards are available at most convenience stores, and it's important to carefully compare cards before buying one.
- Unless you're planning calls to the Caribbean, Canada or American Samoa, you don't need a long-distance plan. For calls to the rest of the world, contact your phone service provider to request one. There are long-distance plans for occasional international callers and for frequent international callers. The rates you're charged and geographic areas your plan covers depend on your phone service provider.
SIM Cards
Skype
Phone Cards
Long-Distance Plans
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