cheapest landline

Posted by black pearl (347 days ago)

hi, i want to get my maid landline, which network is cheapest and what is montly cost of it.

thanks

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Posted by axptguy38 (347 days ago)

There are cheaper methods than a traditional landline. We don't even have a landline. We use Internet telephony.

We gave our helper a wireless Skype phone. It connects to our wireless internet. There are also wired phones that connect with wired ethernet to your router, then use DECT technology (like a digital home handset) to allow cable free operation.

There's no subscription. All prepaid. Callout cost depends on country but varies from 19.1 cents/min (USA, Sweden, UK, etc) to 1.806 dollars/min for the Philippines.

As an additional service, you can buy a phone number subscription for incoming calls at Skype. A HK number costs about HKD500 a year and allows unlimited incoming calls.


For our own, we have one Skype number in the US and one in Sweden. That way our friends and family can call us at local rates in those countries, but it still rings here. In turn, we can use cheap Skype rates to call them.

I know I'm gushing but Skype has saved us tons in phone bills as we've moved around the world. The only thing you don't get with Skype is the ability to make emergency calls, but since our cell phones can do that we're fine with it.

You can buy Skype phones made by Linksys and others at any good computer store. Make sure you get one that says "no computer required".

For more info on Skype, check www.skype.com. The services described above are "SkypeOut" and "SkypeIn".

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by frenchfamily (344 days ago)

I know this is slightly off the original topic but.....

We have been using Skype (between computers or computer to landline) to phone the inlaws in New Caledonia and we always have terrible delay which makes a conversation virtually impossible.
It has put us off investing any more in the Skype technology (ie buying a phone that you mention) because even though it is v cheap it is frustrating to not be able to 'chat' .
Can anyone advise us as to what we are doing wrong or do people just suffer for the sake of a cheap call? Is it better with the Skype phone?
Many thanks and sorry for going off at a tangent from the original question.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (343 days ago)

Well, Skype is dependent on the Internet connection end to end. There is a certain minimum needed. My guess is that somewhere there is a bottleneck. Most likely this is at your end or theirs.
- Are they or you using dialup? This is normally too slow.
- Is either connection busy doing something else (big download, etc)? This can also be a virus. If the connection is busy, Skype gets less or no bandwidth.
- Typically connections will be slower on Christmas and so forth since lots of people are calling.
- Having said all the above, sometimes it just doesn't work with a location. New Caledonia is probably not the best served when it comes to Internet trunks so the whole place is likely somewhat bandwidth limited.

The Skype phone per se should make no difference compared to a computer. It's just a much more convenient way of calling.

We mostly have no delay. Sometimes there is a very small one (some tenths of a second). It's pretty much like using a "normal" phone. We use Skype Phone and computer. We call Skype to Skype,, US-Sweden, HK-Sweden, HK-Beijing, HK-US, etc... We also use the video call function extensively with hardly any delay, if any.



I would recommend the original poster to download Skype on his/her computer and buy HKD100 of Skype Credit to test the technology before buying a phone. Try calling at different times of day and week.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by frenchfamily (343 days ago)

Thanks so much for the advice. I'll keep trying!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by snoopy88 (310 days ago)

i use www.voipbuster.com to call landlines in a number of places for free. Mobile phone rates are reasonableable.

But you need to pay a EU10/3 mth as a form of subscription.

Used it for long long chat with home & mom is happy to hear from me.

(I am based in Hong Kong)