Using Skype to get round international call charges?

[manic111]

I'm off to the USA in a month or so, and was hoping to set up the following system:

1. Set up a Skype phone number (with a +44 prefix)
2. Leave my phone in the UK
3. Set the phone up to forward all texts and calls to the Skype number, meaning that it costs me UK rates to receive calls/texts
4. Set Skype up to call and text using my mobile number as an ID (so it appears as having been sent by me in the UK)
5. Use my iPad while on WiFi to keep up to date with communications

The phonecalling stuff all looks possible. What I can't suss out is the text messaging - is it doable?

Also, will it mean that I will only be charged UK mobile phone rates plus Skype call/text rates? Rather than getting hit with full on international mobile pricing?

 

[Psycho Sonny]

i normally just get a local sim and use that, works out pretty cheap usually, but then again im normally travelling to much poorer countries (thailand, india, etc).

if you want messaging then whatsapp is free if used over hotel wi-fi, etc.

 

[manic111]

i normally just get a local sim and use that, works out pretty cheap usually, but then again im normally travelling to much poorer countries (thailand, india, etc).

if you want messaging then whatsapp is free if used over hotel wi-fi, etc.

Yeah, I did that in India and it was dirt cheap, even to call back to the UK. The main consideration is calling home from the States though, which will be pretty expensive on a UK or US sim. Calling back via Skype will be much cheaper, but routing it through my mobile will enable me to do that without needing to tell everyone that my phone will be out of action for a few weeks.

 

[Psycho Sonny]

Yeah, I did that in India and it was dirt cheap, even to call back to the UK. The main consideration is calling home from the States though, which will be pretty expensive on a UK or US sim. Calling back via Skype will be much cheaper, but routing it through my mobile will enable me to do that without needing to tell everyone that my phone will be out of action for a few weeks.

if your going on a holiday, you could just tell everyone your available through email / whatsapp and buy a local sim for making local calls (taxi's, restaurant reservations, etc).

if it's a business trip or something then yeah i could see why you would need to keep in touch so just message everyone before you leave, that your only available through calls because your abroad and messages wont be getting put through to you but calls will.

if it's a holiday just go over and relax, don't stress about everyday crap and enjoy yourself. people could be calling you for stupid reasons and your having to pay for them to do so.

 

[Orcvader]

I use Viber for calling, it works like a calling version for Whatsapp. It will be tied to your UK number as well when you set it up, so all you will need is a local SIM with good data limits. But the other person will also need Viber as well for it to work. My dad uses it to make a lot of international calls to family, and it saved him a lot of money .