[perlfather]

Does anybody know of ways to make or receive voice calls from overseas and avoid the expensive roaming charges? With unlimited data plan there are lots of great options for unlimited data from overseas, however, even VOIP services like JaJah seem to incur those expensive roaming charges that are often in the $1+/minute.

[jacobsaa]

Originally Posted by perlfather

Does anybody know of ways to make or receive voice calls from overseas and avoid the expensive roaming charges? With unlimited data plan there are lots of great options for unlimited data from overseas, however, even VOIP services like JaJah seem to incur those expensive roaming charges that are often in the $1+/minute.

It is always best to contact your provider with these questions. For instance, you may be able to tack on an international plan prior to going overseas in order to reduce your costs. Some carriers offer this and will set them up for just when you're over there.

[perlfather]

Well look at ATT roaming in France or Germany. With the ATT World Traveler Rate Discount it is still $0.99/minute. That is a lot!

[TXLady]

Be on TMO. Have an 8900 with UMA. Use WiFi to make and receive calls overseas.

[Jarrod623]

Perlfather,

That is the only way with at&t. That is adding the World Traveler Package and paying the reduced roaming fees.
Only other way, is buy a prepaid phone when you get there.

[UptownGirl]

For voice, I would suggest just making sure your BB is unlocked, and putting in a prepaid SIM card of the country you are traveling in. No need to buy a new handset. Many countries have really cheap calling rates to call abroad, some particularly to call the U.S. The only downside is that your number will be a local number for that time frame, not your U.S. number. If that's not an issue for you, you will do just fine.

[NJBlackBerry]

And can he also get data and e-mail using that method?

[UptownGirl]

The answer, like most things in life is, it depends! Some of the cheaper calling cards only let you access voice. However, there are plenty of calling cards out there now that also support data. I've had good experience with Telestial cards International Cell Phones, World Phones, SIM Cards, Satellite Phones - but the issue is, they are still REALLY expensive for data. So what I do is, when I'm abroad, I will use the prepaid calling card and then surf and read emails using wi-fi. Of course that means you can't get your email pushed - you have to use the web - but for me that's not much of a hassle. It's a workaround solution, but I personally don't want to pay huge amounts to AT&T for international voice and data roaming when I'm abroad, I pay them enough each month as it is.

[NJBlackBerry]

And they don't support BlackBerry Data anyway.

[zulluman]

There is a service I used called Roamforce that allowed me to make really cheap calls when I travel abroad. What is more fascinating is the email on my blackberry works too!!! As has been pointed out prepaid SIM cards do not support blackberry data, they are only good for voice. Roamforce gave me best of both worlds.
In the UK I was receiving free incoming calls. The nice thing about the service is I only paid a one-time fee for the Roamforce International SIM card and they bill me when I use it.

[skosov2002]

Originally Posted by perlfather

Does anybody know of ways to make or receive voice calls from overseas and avoid the expensive roaming charges? With unlimited data plan there are lots of great options for unlimited data from overseas, however, even VOIP services like JaJah seem to incur those expensive roaming charges that are often in the $1+/minute.

Actually I just had a friend visiting me form out of the country and instead of bringing his own phone with him he rented one from some company that rents Iphones with sim cards, he told me that they gave him unlimited data plan. I didnt get the name of the company but i will find out from him hopefully it will be able to help you.

[weath]

Get an unlocked, cheap cell phone for use overseas (probably easier/cheaper to get when you get to your destination. Most other countries sell unlocked GSM phones everywhere). Then, get a Skype account and a Skype number (with US number), and buy SkypeOut minutes. Finally, forward your US phone to your Skype number, and set Skype up to immediately forward calls to your "new" pre-paid local number.

1. Why Skype in the middle? Because most US carriers won't allow you to forward calls to an overseas number.
2. Skype calls to overseas numbers are usually cheaper than your carrier.
3. May work with other similar services (ie: Gizmo).
4. Costs are incurred only as you recieve calls.
5. Still have data on your BB (if you want).
6. SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper local calls. No Roaming charges from your US carrier.

[DJBoozy]

i use something called sim4travel while im away, leave a VM on my berry advising my s4t number, and just use the device if i spot some free wifi to pick up some e-mails.

thats what i did when i went to Turkey in June

[skosov2002]

Weath that seams like a whole of a lot of trouble. I talked to my friend and he told me it was company called iphonetrip. What they do is rent iphones with unlimited data packages whether you are coming to United states or are traveling to Europe they set up Sim cards for your phone with whatever apps you need, like dictionary, travel guides, maps and so on. and for whatever country you need. i havent tried it yet but i will give it a go next time i am traveling to Europe and i need a smart phone.

[weath]

Seems complicated, but it's actually not. It's a one-time effort on your part setting up Skype. Then it's simply a matter of forwarding your calls on your BB when you arrive at your destination, and putting in the "new" local pre-paid number into Skype for Skype to forward your call.

While iPhonetrip may work for others, I have issues with it: 1-My data on someone else's phone (the average user won't take the time to properly wipe and re-install the phone OS, if they even know how). 2-COST. iPhonetrip prices range from US$99-147 PER WEEK in the US and UK, US$109-179 for Europe, and US$129-199 for International. Again, that's PER WEEK. Definitely not cheap, but to each his/her own.