oh2doula

Skype does not offer phone customer service so I am asking for help from fellow Fodor's. I will be leaving for London in 6 days and planning to use Skype to keep in touch with family at home in the US. Does anyone have experience using Skype in London to video call to US?? If I am understanding correctly if I video call from iPad in London Skype account to Skype account in US it will be free.

IF I were to use skype to call a landline THATS where charges come into play. Is this correct?? Dont want any surprises and want to be able to let family know we made it and are safe each night. Thanks!!

Weegie

Skype to Skype is free.

zippo

Once you have paid for your internet connection Skype is free.

Tulips

It's free - so is Viber. I use that to phone my family when I'm abroad. As long as you have Wifi it doesn't cost anything.
Put Viber on your phone, and ask your family at home to do the same.

greg

SKYPE to SKYPE implementation of any kind, provided the underlining internet infrastructure is paid for.

SKYPE direct calls to land line/cellphone voice/cellphone SMS require balance in your SKYPE account.

HOWEVER, there is a way to make VOICE land/cell calls WITHOUT building a balance in you SKYPE account. SKYPE calls to toll free numbers don't require SKYPE balance. I still have a US phone card from ancient times. I call that toll free number from SKYPE, then using the calling card's procedure, connect to land/cellphones via the calling card.

BarbAnn

Using Facetime iPad to iPad (using email addresses) is also free. I've used both to contact friends worldwide. Gotta love technology!

Heimdall

Skype calls through wifi are free. If you both have iPad 2 or later you can also use FaceTime: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4319. With either Skype or FaceTime you both need to be at a wifi connection. Sometimes when broadband is too slow for video a voice call works better.

sf7307

<<<SKYPE direct calls to land line/cellphone voice/cellphone SMS require balance in your SKYPE account.>>>

I put $10 in my Skype account when we last went overseas, so I could use Skype to call my kids' cell phones (as opposed to calling computer-to-computer, which requires that they be on the computer, whereas they always have their cell phones with them and on). Calls cost 2.7 cents per minute. I had a balance of $9 when I got home. I used the Skype app on my iphone to call out (has to be connected to WiFi) and their regular cell phone numbers to call them.

sf7307

P.S. Of course, those were not video calls, for that you need to do Skype to Skype or Facetime.

Dukey1

The only problem with Skype is Skype..the calls can get dropped and the service can be uneven BUT it is obviously cheaper than using your phone in the end especially if you are somewhere your wi-fi connection is free.

oh2doula

thanks everyone!! didnt want to come home to charges or not be able to use it once there - last time we bought a card.

enzian

For iPad to iPad or iPad to iPhone, FaceTime works very well, and is totally free on wifi. Plus it is very easy---even I can do it!

sf7307

<<<the calls can get dropped and the service can be uneven>>>

That's likely not Skype, but the quality of the WiFi connection, so it would affect Facetime, etc. as well. We never had a problem calling eastern and western US from Southeast Asia.

Heimdall

<i>That's likely not Skype, but the quality of the WiFi connection, so it would affect Facetime, etc. as well.</i>

That is correct. You will have no problem finding a good wifi connection in London. I have been getting FaceTime and Skype calls from Africa recently, where broadband speeds are often slow. Usually the video calls go through, but if not, a voice call works fine.