Wife going overseas, help me call her for free (or cheap) using our smartphones

[oboeguy]

We both have Blackberry Storm2 phones that we've used overseas on Verizon's international data plan to BBM, use Google Maps, etc. What doesn't work (at least in the country to which she is traveling) is Skype Mobile, so Skype-to-Skype is out of of the question. Trying to even start the Skype app over there doesn't work, with a dire warning about only being able to use it in the US popping up. What are our other options *using the smartphone*? there's not going to be any time where time-zones match-up to use a laptop / hotel computer. Thanks in advance.

P.S. for whatever reason Skype Mobile worked in Iceland, just not other countries -- see my thread about that trip from last Spring.

P.P.S. I find this situation ridiculous. Artificially keeping Skype from opening, seriously, WTF?

 

[LostPassword]

What about fring or other voip apps? I agree about Skype. It sucks like that.

 

[oboeguy]

What about fring or other voip apps? I agree about Skype. It sucks like that.

Sure, fire away with suggestions. I don't know about apps that allow voice. Fring? I'll give it a look. What about Google Voice? How's that on the Blackberry?

 

[preslove]

Does she not have a computer with her? Normal Skype > *

 

[oboeguy]

What are our other options *using the smartphone*? there's not going to be any time where time-zones match-up to use a laptop / hotel computer.

Does she not have a computer with her? Normal Skype > *

Looks like you missed this bit.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Is upgrading to an android phone an option? I've used sipdroid to call home from overseas on wifi and it works pretty well.

 

[oboeguy]

Is upgrading to an android phone an option? I've used sipdroid to call home from overseas on wifi and it works pretty well.

Nope, not for another year, but it this sort of issue may push us in the warm embrace of Android.

 

[DivideBYZero]

You can send voice notes with BBM

 

[oboeguy]

You can send voice notes with BBM

Heh, did not know that. Walkie-talkie-esque, I suppose but a decent backup.

 

[darkewaffle]

Friend of mine uses Ventrilo from her phone at times, if you've got a TS or Vent server available you could check out the apps for those perhaps.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Heh, did not know that. Walkie-talkie-esque, I suppose but a decent backup.

Yeah, it's actually pretty fun, and you can send little messages for them to find later. Me and my wife do that sometimes when we are away travelling for business.

 

[oboeguy]

Well, there goes Google Voice. My phone sometimes thinks it's outside of the US (I'm guessing something to do with the "world phone" nature of it) so I sometimes can't start Skype even while physically in the US. As it happens when I tried to install Google Voice, I received a message saying that Google Voice doesn't work in other countries. Bah. Up next, Fring. Any other suggestions? Pretty please?

 

[DivideBYZero]

Hey, try this:

http://www.truphone.com/blackberry/

It's also on App World, apparently, but maybe Verizon gimp your App World choices. If so just download it from the site above. Gotta love open OS' that allow sideloads!

EDIT: Scratch that...

The Tru App works with all GSM SIM cards. However, please note that Truphone is not currently suitable for use with CDMA networks (For example Verizon and Sprint in the USA)

Verizon are ****s

 

[DivideBYZero]

OK, next up is Vonage Mobile:

http://www.vonagemobile.com/phones_BlackBerry-info.html#

But that looks like $24.99 for the month. A bit pricey.

 

[oboeguy]

Hey, try this:

http://www.truphone.com/blackberry/

It's also on App World, apparently, but maybe Verizon gimp your App World choices. If so just download it from the site above. Gotta love open OS' that allow sideloads!

EDIT: Scratch that...



Verizon are ****s

Interesting! From this:

Will it work on my BlackBerry?


The Tru App for BlackBerry is currently compatible with BlackBerry OS4 (greater than 4.2.1), BlackBerry OS5, and BlackBerry OS6.

The Tru App works with all GSM SIM cards. However, please note that Truphone is not currently suitable for use with CDMA networks (For example Verizon and Sprint in the USA)

It looks like *maybe* she at least call *us*, which is good enough. Will investigate further!

 

[DivideBYZero]

Yeah, it'll probably work when her device is running in GSM mode. In that regard you're lucky. When I'm in the US my UK Storm 2 cannot use CDMA, even though it's in the guts somewhere in there, and it doesn't have US 3G frequencies, so I'm stuck in the slow lane of EDGE until I get back to my shores for full 3G again.

 

[Binky]

You could look at apps like the Rebtel app. They have it for BB, Android, and iphone. Rates are competative but not free. There are other similar apps on different VOIP providers.

 

[NetGuySC]

tel3.com works well for me calling family in south korea

 

[Rayb]

It looks like somebody ported Fring to BB. As long as your wife can find a a wifi hotspot it'll work.

 

[oboeguy]

It looks like somebody ported Fring to BB. As long as your wife can find a a wifi hotspot it'll work.

Given the URL I have to wonder if it will work with the Storm2. Site's down anyway, but I'll check again later.

While on the topic of WiFi, why does it work so poorly with BB?