Pre-paid International Calling Cards
 

Has anyone used an international calling card to call the U.S from Italy? Is one better then the other? I will only have access to a cell phone on my trip. Thank you for all reply's

If your cell phone is a smart phone, install the Google Hangouts Dialer app and call the US for free - even landlines - at least while you are on WiFi. (If you get a SIM you can use mobile data, of course, but if you stick to WiFi you don't need a SIM.)

Hi Andrew-
I have a i-phone 6S and AT&T is the carrier. I would not incur the $1.00 per min charge if I use this app? Thank you!

Do you even need to do anything beyond enabling WiFi calling if you haven't already done so and connecting to hotel WiFi?

According to ATT wireless, your phone is WiFi calling capable:
https://www.att.com/cellphones/iphon...sku=sku7730375

With that you can make a call over WiFi
https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/fe...i-calling.html

Here is how it works when overseas:
http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/23/11...-wi-fi-calling

Here is how to set it up if you already haven't done so:
https://www.att.com/esupport/article...less/KM1063258

Unlike other app based calling, you continue to use the same U.S. number using the same way to receive and make calls as if you never left home.

No cost from AT&T. Google lets you buy credit (like Skype) in $10 USD increments and lets you make cheap calls outside the United States using Google Hangouts. But calling the United States is free, from anywhere, at the moment.

I used it in May and June in several European countries to make free calls home. I have never bought any Google credit. (They give you 10 cents to play with, enough to make a 1 minute call as a test to some other country.

You can install and use Google Hangouts Dialer now from the US. Try this: put your phone into airplane mode. Then turn on WiFi (which means you can't make or receive any AT&T calls). Assuming you are connected to WiFi, now try using Google Hangouts Dialer to call someone. It will work the same way in Europe. As long as you are in airplane mode, you won't incur any AT&T charges for data or voice.

You can also receive calls free with Google Hangouts. But you must first sign up for a Google Voice phone number (free). On my Android phone (which is Google-based) I sign into my Google account pretty much automatically, so I receive Google calls on Hangouts (if I turn that on) - it's all connected. Not sure how that works on an iPhone.

If you don't care about receiving calls, skip Google Voice - just install Google Hangouts dialer to let you make calls.

(Sorry, I wasn't responding to Greg's post when I said "No cost from AT&T." I was talking about Google. For AT&T WiFi calling in Europe? Maybe that is free - not sure.)

I used Google Hangouts with T-Mobile, and I was able to use it to make free calls using mobile data too, not just WiFi, and calls were still free. But if you can live with WiFi-only calling, maybe the AT&T WiFi Calling feature is all you need.

Andrew & Greg-
Thank you! I am looking into all your suggestions! You have been a great help!

If you go the ATT WiFi calling route, be sure you know when the WiFi calling is enabled. There is probably an icon indicating this. If you don't pay attention you end up getting hit with a big bill if you make/receive calls from the U.S. assuming you are using WiFi calling when it is not. The WiFi set up depends on hotel. For some hotels, 0nce you connect, you automatically reconnect back when you return. For other hotels, you have to enter authorization code every time you get connected. Don't assume.

From Italy, if you are properly connected to WiFi calling, calling a U.S. number is like at home, area-nnn-mmmm, 10 digits. If this does not work, you are not connected to WiFi calling.

To make sure you use only wifi calling, you can put your phone in flight mode, which impedes data network access but allows wifi connections. The only possible drawback is that in flight mode you can't use the phone for normal phone calls, but maybe you don't want to.