Seems like Skype is blocked, right?

So in lieu of my old go-to for calling back home (USA) what would you recommend?

Google Voice looks like it's out too as Google is blocked in China as well.

Need a way to reach home at an affordable rate.

I always buy a local sim card for my phone and the international calling rate, to Thailand, was quite cheap. You could also call home and hang up and then prearrange for the other party to call back.

If all else fail you can ask Bob for the use of his private communication satellite.

Skype is available in China.

For short trips, I just send text messages using my US SIM. For longer trips, get a local SIM card, if you have an unlocked tri- or quad-band GSM phone.

No unlocked phone here (AT&T/iPhone--so that rules that out.)

Hoping Skype works. News varies on that front...for instance:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolog...e-illegal.html

Billy,

Check this thread on the Skype forum: http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=787337

Note the last post 1 March 2011!

I remember you told me about your locked phone but I really think it's a good investment to buy a second, cheapish type of phone in China and use their local SIM card and prepay plan. Price for a new phone should be around $20 only and IMO well worth it. If you choose to do this then make sure that the prepay SIM, or calling plan, can make international calls.

I used Skype without issues in December. It was cheap and worked beautifully. I did not use the video function and set it up with a one month subscription for unlimited calls to North America for $3.

The link to the Telegraph is from the end of December and Skype was working fine at that point and I haven't heard that it has been shut down yet.


It's also very easy to set up a proxy to get around the internet protections in China. I used one to post updates and photos to Facebook throughout my trip. Just google "China proxy" or similar and set it up before you leave.

pick up phone and dial the number

I double checked with our in China booking agent and was assured that SKYPE is still available in China. Additionally, we have ordered a phone and Blackberry from pandaphone.com, because we run an online business and it's absolutely essential for us to stay connected even while on vacation.

I travel with a laptop,and have used SKYPE in China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia.
Low cost, or free, depending on who I am calling.

PennyTalk worked for me www.pennytalk.com, I've used it in Europe too.

<<<I travel with a laptop,and have used SKYPE in China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia.
Low cost, or free, depending on who I am calling>>>


We used Skype on our recent trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Hong Kong. Before we left, I put $10.00 on my Skype account, which allows you to call not only skype-to-skype (which is free), but also to an actual phone number (landline or cell phone), for just over 2 cents a minutes. Since my kids aren't always at their computers when I wanted to call (especially given the time difference -- they were at work/school), I could call their cell phones and they'd pick up (or not) like any other call. Of course, you have to be on WiFi, which was easy in Vietnam and Cambodia (you can pick up free wifi just walking down the street in Hanoi and Siem Reap, for ex., and the connections are great). It wasn't as easy in Hong Kong, where there are plenty of hotspots, but they aren't free, and I didn't want to get an account. Instead, every morning, I'd go to Starbucks and use my 20 minutes of free WiFi. So, if Skype and WiFi are available, I highly recommend it.

Ok...I'm really stupid when it comes to things like this. Sorry, filmwill for jumping in on your post, but maybe this will help you, too.

So help me...

I'm headed to Bangkok, Phuket and Hong Kong.

I don't have Skype.

I was told to get a Magic Jack and small, lightweight phone. When I sign up for Magic Jack, I get a different phone number. I plug the Magic Jack and my phone into my laptop and "wha-la"... I can call any U.S. number for free. Anyone in the U.S. can call me at that new number for free.

Of course, this is assuming I have a good internet connection, which I've heard in Phuket can be a little challenging.

Would I be better off with Skype? What's the difference...

Thanks!

Well, for starters, Magic Jack costs money, Skype-to-Skype calling does not (if you use Skype to call out to a regular phone in the US, it does cost something, but its like $.02 a minute). Second, if you need the laptop anyway, Skype can be used without any other gadgets (Skype is software that you download to your computer, not hardware that you have to carry with you and connect).

Ah ha! That sounds better than Magic Jack. No need for extra phone. I promise I'm not living in the dark ages, but no one in my family has Skype. But 2 cents per minute is great!

Thanks for the lesson!

jewelhawg, I had never used Skype before my recent trip to SE Asia. But now I'm a convert!

I'm online reading about it now...wow!

I've heard that internet connections in Phuket can be iffy...BKK and Hong Kong should be fine. So, if I understand it correctly, I can just use my mobile phone? I have the Verizon IPhone. But, what about the "locking" of phones.

YIKES!

I've kept researching and it appears I've answered my own question:

From Skype.com:
Can I use Skype mobile™ on my Verizon phone when I'm abroad?
Sorry, but you can only use it on the Verizon Wireless network in the US

So through my laptop only...which will be awesome in Bangkok and Hong Kong.

The Verizon iPhone is CDMA and not GSM. It won't work for regular 2G voice call in thailand, hong kong or china. No point in unlocking it.

Our office just contacted Verizon and they are sending me a Blackberry to use while I'm over there. I still think I'm going to sign up for Skype because the rates are awesome and I can talk a little longer on the phone without racking up enormous charges. But, for those times when I can't get a good internet connection, I'll have the Blackberry as a back-up.

Question: Can they lock my Blackberry?

FYI~ Per Verizon, the Internation Plan that I'll have is 50 cents to send a text, 5 cents to receive one and unlimited data. Phone calls are $1.99 per minute.

The Blackberry they send you is mostly likely locked. Why would they send you an unlocked phone? They want you to pay those high roaming rates.