One area that regular land-line phones have an advantage over cell phones is making international calls. Although it’s still pricey on any dial-up phone line, any international call will be made. Some cell phone plans don’t allow for international calling at all.
However, just as when Vonage, the Voice over Internet Protocol service provider, changed the game for at-home long-distance phone service, it’s now doing the same for international cell phone service. The VoIP company now offers the Vonage Mobile app for iPhone, Blackberry, and iPod touch, allowing international phone calling on any of these models for a great rate.
The concept is simple: After the smartphone user downloads the free app, the user can then automatically dial international numbers. The app will recognize the international call and also automatically route the call through the Vonage network.
Currently the service is available for the following phones:
- Android OS phones
- iPhone
- iPod touch
- Blackberry
How much does it cost?
The Vonage Mobile app is free to download. The user can pre-pay for any amount, and the per-minute charge is automatically deducted.
Vonage World Mobile costs $24.99 per month, which includes unlimited international dialing. There are 60 countries included in the plan for no extra cost, and countries that are not included in the plan have reduced rates when compared to other providers’ calling plans. Vonage World is the best option for those that are international callers on regular bases.
Other features
As long as the phone is in a Wi-Fi hotspot and the calls go to one of the 60 countries included in the plan, outbound calls are free and unlimited. Other features include:
- No adjustments needed to any cell phone plan.
- No hidden fees.
- No calling cards or PIN codes.
- Dial directly from an existing phone address book.
Free calling from Facebook
Android, iPhone, and iPod touch users also have another option for dialing internationally. By downloading the free Vonage Mobile for Facebook app, users can contact anyone in their personal Facebook friends list via a Wi-Fi or a 3G connection, as long as they have the same app. There’s no phone numbers to exchange because the app connects the parties directly over VoIP, even if the friends are abroad. This is great for connecting with friends met through Facebook. Unfortunately, this app is not yet available for Blackberry.
International dialing is always complicated and always expensive, even for cell phones. But with the Vonage Mobile apps, international calling on cell phones just got a whole lot smarter, and a lot less expensive.