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rayitodeluna

Jan 16, 2012, 1:21 PM

Post #1 of 20 (3496 views)

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Best way to call the US from MX

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I tried the search function, either it is my slow internet connection or my bad searching skills, but I haven't found the answer yet.

How do you call back to the US (without paying a million dollars in pay per minute from a landline)? I don't have a cell phone, and was only planning on getting one for use in emergencies.

I have internet connection (slow) and a skype account, but today when I tried to call back to the US, it said I didnt have enough credit to call. I thought skype was free?

I also have "facetime" on my iPad, which I can use to call my brother who has an iPhone (or anyone else with the program or and iPad), but my iPad needs a wireless router to work, and mis suegros don't have one and ours isn't unpacked yet! I'm also not 100% sure it will work from here (ie I have never tried it)

I keep asking if anyone here knows about a phone card, and they all just say they don't know... so I am using the landline phone today but I imagine that will be costing me quite a bit , no?

Thank you for any tips!

sioux4noff

Jan 16, 2012, 1:51 PM

Post #2 of 20 (3486 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Best way to call the US from MX

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This may not be your case, but here goes.
We have land line service through Telmex and the plan we have gives us 100 minutes of calling to the US. Even without the plan, it's not horribly expensive. I suggest you check with Telmex, and find out what it would cost you.
With a slow internet connection you may have trouble with MagicJack, Skype or other internet based services.

mcm

Jan 16, 2012, 2:41 PM

Post #3 of 20 (3470 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Best way to call the US from MX

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Skype is free for computer-to-computer calls. If you are calling a landline or cell phone from your computer, the cost is two cents a minute -- you need to make a deposit to your Skype account, via credit card (I'm not sure if there is a minimum -- possibly ten dollars).

esperanza

Jan 16, 2012, 2:43 PM

Post #4 of 20 (3469 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Best way to call the US from MX

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Skype is free if you are calling from Skype on your computer to Skype on another computer. 1-800 numbers in the USA are also free. Otherwise, there is a small charge to call a land line or a cell phone. You need enough calling credit to make the call. I keep about $10.00 USD in my Skype account.

ETA: crosspost with the above.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

(This post was edited by esperanza on Jan 16, 2012, 2:43 PM)

YucaLandia

Jan 16, 2012, 2:54 PM

Post #5 of 20 (3466 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Best way to call the US from MX

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Magic Jack works well on surprisingly slow connections, and will cost $30 a year next week. Magic Jack needs only 75 kbps ( 0.075 Mbps) to work.
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Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

fug

Jan 16, 2012, 2:54 PM

Post #6 of 20 (3466 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Best way to call the US from MX

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For those that are here for a short time, we have callback service here. You call the number in the States, put in your code number that you will be given when you apply and hangup and ten seconds later, your phone rings and you are connected with your party. This service is free, and no contract and no equipment. Use it as much or as little as you wish. It will always be there and there is no penalty for non useage or over useage. You are just charged for your calls. About five cents a minute. Here is the current ad from a woman who has been advertising since I have been here, almost 7 years, and is reputable.

Only 5.9 cents per minute to call US and Canada. No computer needed. Call from ANY phone. Nancy. 01-376-766-3040. This system allows you to call from any phone number in Mexico, as you put in your code and the telephone number where you are located and you get a call back when connected.

fug

(This post was edited by fug on Jan 16, 2012, 3:19 PM)

rayitodeluna

Jan 16, 2012, 8:36 PM

Post #7 of 20 (3382 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] Best way to call the US from MX

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I will definitely check, the landline I will be using for the next 4-5 months is my in laws, so I am not sure of their plan but will certainley have them find out. Good to know that I probably didnt cost them 30USD in phone calls today (hopefully not!!) Thank you.

~~~~~~ Enjoying life in northern D.F. with our family of Americans and chilangos.
Family and expat blog here : http://threecurlygirlys.blogspot.mx/ ~~~~~~

rayitodeluna

Jan 16, 2012, 8:39 PM

Post #8 of 20 (3381 views)

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Re: [mcm] Best way to call the US from MX

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mcm and esperanza , thank you for clarifying about SKYPE. I was confused, I didnt realize that SKYPE-cells/homelines in the states would cost me! But I will use it for the 800 numbers in the future and also for the people who I know have SKYPE accounts. Thank you.

~~~~~~ Enjoying life in northern D.F. with our family of Americans and chilangos.
Family and expat blog here : http://threecurlygirlys.blogspot.mx/ ~~~~~~

rayitodeluna

Jan 16, 2012, 8:45 PM

Post #9 of 20 (3380 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] Best way to call the US from MX

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OOOh, I hadn't thought of MagicJack! I went to their site just now, and they have something called MagiJackPlus advertised on their homepage, and it is 19.99/year, I wonder what the difference is? It also says magicJackPlus can plug directly into the wall (which wont be an option for my inlaws house, since they have service here that they probably want to keep).

Thank you, I will be waiting till next week . Why will the price be different then, do you know?

~~~~~~ Enjoying life in northern D.F. with our family of Americans and chilangos.
Family and expat blog here : http://threecurlygirlys.blogspot.mx/ ~~~~~~

TijuanaMax

Jan 17, 2012, 8:26 AM

Post #10 of 20 (3325 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Best way to call the US from MX

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Skype has a plan for unlimited call to US and Canada for $2.99 a month. I used to subscribe this service. It was useful when I traveled outside US. But the call quality is not really great if the Internet connection is not fast enough.

joaquinx

Jan 17, 2012, 8:56 AM

Post #11 of 20 (3314 views)

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Re: [TijuanaMax] Best way to call the US from MX

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In Reply To

The plan is Unlimited Mexico for 5.99 which gives you free calls to the US and Canada and discounted calls to landlines and mobiles in Mexico. However, I can't find it on the Skype site. It could be discontinued and I just grandfathered in. They do have an Unlimited US plan only for free calls to US and Canada, but I don't know the cost. To check prices go to http://www.skype.com/...ices/pay-monthly/#US
_______
My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.

Glenn

Jan 17, 2012, 10:41 AM

Post #12 of 20 (3286 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Best way to call the US from MX

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Do a search for MJ plus for more comments and info.

RickS

Jan 17, 2012, 6:20 PM

Post #13 of 20 (3231 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Best way to call the US from MX

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"I wonder what the difference is (between MagicJack and MagicJack Plus)?"

The original MJ needed to be plugged into the USB slot on a computer and the computer had to be up and running in order to make/receive a call. Turn the computer off and you have no phone. MJ Plus removes this requirement.... one can plug it into an AC source (wall socket) and, of course, an Internet connection.

YucaLandia

Jan 18, 2012, 5:33 AM

Post #14 of 20 (3184 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Best way to call the US from MX

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The $19.95 a year quoted from Magic Jack Plus (no computer needed: just an ethernet cable internet connection and 120V power) is a bit of a come-on, because it is a service-only price. The equipment (a little circuit board in a cigarette pack sized box) + first year's service costs about $63 - $70. Subsequent years of service is $19.95 a year.
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Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

Vichil

Jan 18, 2012, 6:34 AM

Post #15 of 20 (3170 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Best way to call the US from MX

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I have family in France , Africa and Asia and I communicate with them on Skype from my computer to land lines. I have the world progrram it cost something like 14 dollars a month and I can call any day any time as long as I want to. I believe the US are included in the program.
I use to go broke keeping in touch with my family, no more..
Skypes works most of the time some days are better than others depending on the speed of the internet and who knows what else but I can be a littlepatient considering the cost of calling via Telmex.

(This post was edited by Vichil on Jan 18, 2012, 7:58 AM)

sfmacaws

Jan 19, 2012, 9:49 AM

Post #16 of 20 (3086 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Best way to call the US from MX

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We've had the older Magic Jack for about 5 years. We just leave it plugged into an older laptop and it stays on all the time. The good thing about Magic Jack is you can plug any phone into it, we have a wireless phone plugged into it and it works just like a regular house phone. We can call the US and Canada for free and we have a US phone number that our friends can call anytime.

It works better the faster the internet service but we have been able to use it on a slow connection, just not reliably. We even used over a satellite internet connection but it was only one way so if both sides talked at the same time they blocked each other. That was the worst but at least it worked when we were in some really out of the way places.

I've never bothered with Skype although lots of friends use it. It seemed redundant and more expensive to me.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

rayitodeluna

Jan 29, 2012, 8:33 PM

Post #17 of 20 (2845 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] Best way to call the US from MX

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Ay, thank you. I hadn't noticed that!

I am having a problem that I'm sure is really silly....

Where can I buy the jack? For the original magic jack? The magicjack.com website only is offering magicjackplus to me, and I was hoping there was somewhere I could buy it locally. We live in northern Mexico City if that matters! Does walmart or Radio Shack (or some other store) carry it?

Thank you all! I will give Skype a second try if I can't figure out Magic Jack, but I only have family in MEX and the US. And really there are about 3 people I will be calling on a regular distance, but those 3 people I talk to a lot :)

SunFan

Jan 30, 2012, 3:37 AM

Post #18 of 20 (2829 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Best way to call the US from MX

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I have a MajicJack I'm not using anymore. I switched to MJPLUS a couple of months ago. Works great on the slow TelMex.

Don't know if you can take over the account but you're welcome to have it. PM me.

SunFan

rayitodeluna

Jan 30, 2012, 8:40 PM

Post #19 of 20 (2740 views)

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Re: [SunFan] Best way to call the US from MX

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Thank you very much! I love the community here, so very helpful. I sent you a PM, thanks again. :)

Ustlach

Jan 31, 2012, 1:36 PM

Post #20 of 20 (2677 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] Best way to call the US from MX

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I disagree...maybe. I have a friend who lives about 80 miles away from me here in Mexico. She calls me at my US Vonage number using her MagicJack. I have two meg of band width and she has five. The connection is always awful, at least my end. Her side of the conversation breaks up so badly at times that I rarely understand her. It takes ten minutes to conduct a two minute conversation because I have to have her repeat virtually everything she says.

I used to use MagicJack when I was in the USA. It was even worse there. More than once I had to completely abandon a call on my MagicJack and use a landline phone, like in a motel. Not so terrible, if you don't have to do it very often or for very long calls.

My Vonage service is a little better. I call people in the USA and of course I give my Vonage number to all those entities, like banks, credit card companies, etc. that insist that I have a US contact number. I have a cordless phone dedicated to the Vonage device and it rings here in my TV/computer room. If I am not here, callers can leave messages. The system sends me an email with the message attached as a audio file and it also attempts to write out the message in the body of the email. It works quite well. I can also call my Vonage number using the same Vonage device/phone and retrieve messages that way.

I have had bad experiences with Skype and gave up on that idea about five years ago. I gather their offerings have expanded, but I have no way to judge the quality of the service otherwise. Once burned, I tend not to put my fingers back in the fire.

The thing that used to work the best for me was using my Mexican home TelMex line to call back to the USA, because my plan gave me 100 minutes free calling to the USA. But it was costing me about 210 pesos more per month for that plan. I never come close to using all 100 minutes on either the Vonage or the TelMex plan, so I dropped it (TelMex), keeping the local and in-country call plan, with internet, and am back to my Vonage device for all my calls to and from the USA. It costs about $18 per month (fee plus taxes) for 100 minutes of calling time. In-coming calls from friends, family, et al do not count against my 100 minutes and there are some other types of free calls, although I have never been able to figure out just how that works.