Has anyone used Skype over their mobile to call the US from Europe? How does it work?

My work phone is with Verizon Wireless. I am trying to figure out how it would work and what charges would apply. In other words, if I just used my normal cell to make a Skype call, do data charges apply? What about Wi-Fi?

I had originally planned to just get a calling card in Edinburgh and use that - but there's a significant time difference from the east coast of the US, so having a mobile to carry with us would probably be easier, especially if we can use Skype. Leaving Dad at home - he and Mom have never spent this long apart in 34 years.

We are gone for a little over 2 weeks - enough to want a phone, not long enough to go through a huge headache for one. There is also the option of buying a pre-paid phone. Would one bought in Edinburgh also work from London, Paris, and Rome?

What kind of phone do you have? Can you download apps?

Currently a blackberry, though I may be getting a different one.

I used skype with my small computer, worked well and really cheap. If calling another computer, it is free.

I'm looking for alternatives to calling computers. There's a five hour time difference; by the time my father is home, we'll be in bed! If we could touch base during the work day, it would be better.

I may be getting a phone on a Droid platform - wanted to do some quick research since I was thinking Droids were a kind of phone, but it looks like it is the operating system?

You can pick up very inexpensive cell phones in the UK using the pay as you go type deals.

In my case the solution that best suited me balancing price/ease of use/cost of calls back to North America was http://callineurope.com Click the link for "Pass UK". 29 cents a minute, calls billed you your credit card so you never run out of minutes and they'll sell you the SIM card and phone for 58 bucks. Plus it's in your pocket before you leave home. Easy, simple, quick
and one less thing to worry about.

Rob

raven-I have an iPhone and have downloaded the Skype app for an upcoming trip. From all I have read, I am expecting it to work well and be a very inexpensive way to make calls. Just do your research and you will come up with what is best for you. Happy travels.

You can get your own Skype phone number in the same area code where you live (or your parents live, or anywhere, really). When they call this number, it will "ring" on your laptop or phone that is logged in to Skype, no matter where you are in the world. Of course, Skype only works for incoming calls (from another phone or a computer) if you are actually on the internet - probably WiFi while overseas with a Blackberry. A Verizon CMDA phone won't work by default over there except for WiFi, which is universal (WiFi in the US is the same as WiFi overseas for the most part; the frequencies are slightly different but your wireless device will figure it out).

If you buy a Skype phone number for incoming calls (about $18/3 months - incoming only) you also get voicemail with that, so if someone calls when you're not on WiFi you can check messages later and call back, via Skype

But getting a local cell phone still might be easiest. I used Local Phone, a forwarding service, to forward calls from a US phone number to my Italian cell phone last fall for about 15 cents/minute - and my Italian cell phone had free incoming calls...

I have a Skype on a Verizon Android phone. In the U.S., it operates on 3G internet. In the U.S., it is ok since the phone is on an unlimited data plan.

You don't want to operate Skype over 3G in Europe. You can get hit with a breathtaking data charge.

Use Skype on your phone only on WIFI in Europe.