Send free SMS to any mobile in

Friday, December 25, 2009

Send free SMS to any mobile in
Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, India, UAE, Saudi & Kuwait
Over 6 Million Registered Users
Over 300 Million USER Generated SMS Sent
Ranked 7th Most Popular WAP Site In India (source: opera)
http://160by2.com/ph/

Also you can text free from anywhere to any Philippine cell phone free on chikka and yahoo messenger.

Fring Puts Video Calls on Your iPhone

Thursday, December 3, 2009


iPhone only: Previously mentioned mobile VoIP and chat application Fring has updated their iPhone app with support for streaming video calls. It's a great feature, but it does have a catch. (Use it at home or where ever there is a wi-fi signal, just install a wi-fi router)

 
If you're unfamiliar with Fring, it's a messaging application that integrates with everything from Skype and Google Talk to Facebook and AIM. For most, the VoIP feature comes via Skype. With the new update, iPhone and iPod touch users with a Wi-Fi connection can make and receive video calls via Fring or Skype and watch your contact from your phone. Unfortunately the video chat is only a one-way video thing for now, meaning either you can watch your friend talk or your friend can watch you talk. This is, of course, a limitation of the iPhone and its non-front-facing camera. The folks at Fring assure us that two-way video calls will be available as soon as the iPhone gets a front-facing camera.

Two-way video or not, it's great to see a first step in this direction for the iPhone. Video calling may not be an everyday sort of event (I do plenty of things while I'm on the phone that the person I'm talking to doesn't need or want to see), but it's certainly got its place, and it'll be nice to take video chat out of our computer monitors.

Fring is a free download.
www.fring.com/download


Fring Launches Video VoIP for Mobile now you can even make free video cals wow

Monday, November 30, 2009

READ INTERESTING HEADLINES BY CLICKING THE LINKS BELOW
 

Now you can even make free video calls over the internet, see my blog article in one of the other posts earlier how to use fring on your cell phone.  

Globe cuts overseas rates to stimulate demand & other cheap calls international from Philipppines

Saturday, November 28, 2009


Saturday, 28 November 2009 Manila Times GLOBE Telecom Inc. on Friday said that it cut its international voice and text rates to major destinations to stimulate use ahead of the Christmas holiday.

In a statement, the Ayala-led telco said the regular call rate was brought down to as low as P2.50 to selected countries from P20 per minute.

Besides cheaper call rates, Globe said it also reduced its international short messaging service (SMS) rates to P5 per SMS to top 50 destinations. The promo is open to all Globe postpaid and prepaid, as well as to Touch Mobile subscribers. 

”There is also no need to register, use access codes, or special cards to avail of the special ISMS rate,” Globe said. 

Regular postpaid rate is P10 while regular Globe and TM prepaid rates are both P15.

Using Globe tipIDD card, customers can call the US, Hong Kong and Canada for only P2.50 per minute; Singapore, China, Malaysia, South Korea, and Taiwan for P5 per minute; Australia, Thailand, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Japan for P8 per minute; and Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates for P10 per minute. 

The card can be used in Globe postpaid, prepaid, and TM mobile phones as well as in Globe postpaid and prepaid landlines.

Another product is the Globe IDD Suki load, which can be bought from autoload retailers. 

P20 load is already equivalent to a five-minute call to the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, while a P30 load provides three-minute calls to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait.  Continue reading here
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business/6749-globe-cuts-overseas-rates-to-stimulate-demand

My comment:  Why would you want to use this Globe product rate at 4 peso a minute when Globe just announced P2.5 per minute calls as noted above.  And SMART continues to offer the P2.5 rate to many middle east countries in contrast to the P7.5 rate mentioned above for 3 minutes?
 
And PLDT offers P1.5 rates using a card to USA and Canada
 
Sun offers P2 per minute rates to USA & Canada.
 
SMART offers P2.5 per min rates to many destinations including OFW countries.  http://smartphilippines.blogspot.com/

Use your cell phone and Fring to call the world free or cheap

Thursday, November 26, 2009

 

VOIP (Fring + Skype or Gizmoproject)

fring
If you happen to have a cell phone that is powered by Symbian or Windows, you can download and install fring. Fring enables you use your phone’s data connectivity to make Skype calls or Gizmoproject calls.  You can also use the wi-fi free zones in many cities and malls throughout the Philippines and wimax is becoming more common too.
Data rates of Smart, Globe and Sun are currently priced at P10 per 30 minutes or about P0.33/minute.     Calls from a Skype account to a United States number is priced at US$0.02 per minute. That’s about P1.29 per minute using the fring + Skype combo on your mobile network. All you need is a PayPal account to purchase Skype credits. To know more about Skype and it’s call rates, visit their official website.

Skype is on fringe already and so is gizmo project and yahoo messenger,but you do have to have a free account with them so if you don’t have already, just go to their websites and sign up for an account before signing into fring.

Gizmoproject http://gizmo5.com/pc/
 
 
Fring Launches Video VoIP for Mobile Phones

From the NY Times Fring, which started out offering a VoIP client for mobile phones has added the ability to make and receive video calls from mobile phones, letting you see your friends as you talk to them - for free.

As with the VoIP client, you have to be a Fring user, or "fringster," as CEO Avi Schechter calls them, to download the video client. Fringsters can then talk to friends outside of Fring via various services, including Skype, Twitter, Facebook, last.fm, Google Talk, and AIM through a combined friend list. Fring makes money through banner ads and other advertising mechanisms.

Schechter says the ads are not very intrusive. Fringsters can use the mobile client to live chat, update profiles, and share files.

Continue reading here
http://www.nytimes.com/external/venturebeat/2009/11/25/25venturebeat-fring-launches-video-voip-for-mobile-44459.html

Get the download here http://www.fring.com/download/

Free 10 second Calls To More Then 30 Countries Including USA, UK And Canada

Sunday, November 22, 2009

From Megaleecher blog
 
FreeRinger is an exception, the ad-supported web-based flash VOIP service allows users to call cellphones and landlines phones of more then 30 international destinations including USA, UK and Canada for free without any limits

Once connected, you will have 10 seconds to tell your friend to call you right back to their Talkster numberor yahoo voice in yahoo messenger or skype online, while you are still online and waiting.

Your friend can call you back on your computer account so its good for at least asking for a callback to your number if they are also online or you can make free calls on yahoo as well if both are connected and online.   Read the complete article here http://www.megaleecher.net/Free_Calls_To_USA
 
 

Gizmo – Free VoIP Calls to 60 Countries Grand Central free number in USA


Gizmo is yet another VoIP software-based service that uses your broadband Internet connection to make calls to other computers and phones. It comes with a lot of ‘free’ stuff, including free calls to landline (PSTN) and mobile phones to people in 60 countries. To my liking, it arguably surpasses VoIPStunt in nearly all aspects and is of good-enough caliber to compete with Skype. Just like Skype, you have to download the Gizmo software and install it, and register for a new account.

Gizmo offers a lot of free things:
Free PC-to-PC calls to any other Gizmo user.
Free landline calls to landline and mobile phones over 60 countries.
Free voicemail service.
http://voip.about.com/od/voipsoftware/a/gizmoproject.htm

Gizmo5 Launches OpenSky, Free Service to Call Skype From Any VoIP Phone
Talk To Anyone Anywhere
No downloading or installing required.
Free calling to 1-800 numbers and SIP devices.
Low Worldwide Calling Rates for mobile and landlines. Learn more
Now call Skype users from anywhere with OpenSky.
https://www.gizmocall.com/gc/app?class=GizmoCall&proc=gcStart

http://gigaom.com/2009/02/09/gizmo5-launches-opensky-free-service-for-calling-skype-from-any-ip-phone/

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22245211-Gizmo-Skype-it-works
Make Gizmo calls from your cell phone if wi-fi enabled
http://gizmo5.com/pc/download/

YouTube – Make Free Calls With Your Nokia Cellphone

4 minuto 32 segundo – 6 Set 2008 -
Free or almost free SIP phone calls require nothing more than a Nokia N95 cellphone, a WiFi connection, and the free Gizmo VoIP client
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIymhnYWTKI

Got Gizmo? GrandCentral Does (have your free grandcentral usa # ring on your gizmo anywhere in the world)

Like lots of folks, I got the release information below on Tuesday. I saved it for Wednesday morning posting because…well, I”m just like that. Regular readers know I’ve already done a podcast chat with Craig Walker from GrandCentral. I know I could grab a bit of his time for an update briefing, but I’m already set to meet up with him next week at the O’Reilly conference, so I decided to jsut wait and chat then.
http://www.realtime-unifiedcommunications.com/2007/02/got_gizmo_grandcentral_does.htm

Welcome Google Voice!  get a free phone number in usa anywhere
We are happy to announce the launch of Google Voice, the next version of GrandCentral. We’ve kept all the things people like about GrandCentral and added new features like transcripts, SMS, international calling, and conference calling. If you are a GrandCentral user, over the next few days you will be prompted to upgrade to Google Voice.
http://www.google.com/support/voice/bin/answer.py?answer=141993
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google+Mobile/thread?tid=16aa84df57e1eb31&hl=en

Tags: free phone calls, gizmoproject,google voice, grand central, nokia, voip, wi-fi.  

Call and text the world for free on your wifi cell phone & nimbuzz

What is Nimbuzz?
nimbuzz
Nimbuzz is free calls, chat, messaging and more!  Nimbuzz lets you call, chat, message, and swap files on the go, for free. It combines all your buddies from Skype, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, AIM, Google Talk and more.
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One login, one contact list, all accounts.

I have put on my wifi mobile phone a new software called Nimbuzz mobile.  It will let you access your yahoo, msn, icq, google talk, facebook, twitter, skype calls, gizmoproject calls, AIM, jabber if your wanting to keep in touch all day long in your house if you put in a wifi router for your internet and when you out at places like SM (or any wifi zone that you have access to) you can stay in touch with your friends worldwide by chat and by calling.  Gizmo is free calls to USA if you have a google voice number (5 minute limit)  Gizmo/Google Talk http://www.andrewheiss.com/blog/2009/08/01/using-google-voice-and-gizmo-project-together-internationally/
I have installed it on my cell phone and now you dont even have to get online to make calls.  And your friends in the states can call you directly on your phone using google voice and gizmoproject all free for as long as you want to talk anywhere in the world.  To get your google account you must be in USA or use a VPN to hide your overseas ip address or get someone in the States to sign up and give you the account details after signup.
Use your wifi at home to your benefit now! And when you out look for free wifi spots like SM malls and Robinsons.  See my earlier blog on free wifi here.http://philippinestuff.wordpress.com/2009/08/06/free-wi-fi-sm-malls-robinsons-philippines/
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Enjoy your chat accounts now all in one place and your free calls as well on your wifi phone,  There are many on the market just do a search on google for wifi cell phones philippines or worldwide and then check the prices on
Sulit 
http://www.sulit.com.ph/
 
Nimbuzz  You can get it here for free download.
http://www.nimbuzz.com/en/mobile/download
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About Nimbuzz Mobile
Nimbuzz Mobile lets you call, chat, message, and send files on the go, for free. It combines all your buddies from Skype, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, AIM, Google Talk and more. One login, one contact list, all accounts.
 
-See who´s online and where, call/group-call, chat/chatrooms, offline messaging, send photos/music/video, voice messaging.
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Nimbuzz Mobile free to download and use. Nimbuzz will not charge or bill you for anything. However, since Nimbuzz uses your internet connection, incremental data charges from your provider will apply. We therefore strongly recommend to use the mobile client only with a flat-rate data plan or free Wifi connection.
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Save Money: Instead of calling minutes, Nimbuzz uses the internet to let you make free international calls to your buddies. You can also register your VoIP account to call your friends on landlines and mobile phones.
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How does it work?
Simply download and install. Nimbuzz Mobile uses an internet data plan or Wifi on your mobile phone. That way we bring all the benefits from the PC to your mobile phone, and save you money on long distance and international phone calls.
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Using the internet browser on your mobile phone go tohttp://get.nimbuzz.com
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How much does Nimbuzz cost?
All Nimbuzz products are free to download and use. Nimbuzz will never charge or bill for anything. Nimbuzz uses a data connection, and operator data costs will apply. We recommend that you use an unlimited (flat rate) data plan, which you can get from your operator.
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Operator charges might apply depending on the chosen Call setting.
How can I get Nimbuzz?  Make sure you select gizmo or skype to call on your settings
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Just visit 
http://get.nimbuzz.com with the internet browser on your mobile phone, or go to our download section to download and install.
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Which mobile phones are supported by Nimbuzz?
To use Nimbuzz, you need an Internet-enabled mobile with Internet access from your operator or via Wifi. We currently support more 1000 types of mobile phones and are constantly adding support for new models. To check if we support your phone please click here.
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How can I use SIP calling?
We offer SIP calling in our S60 versions with third party SIP accounts.
SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is a protocol used to establish, modify and terminate VOIP telephone calls. Using SIP, you can make cheap calls to a landline and regular mobile phones. With Nimbuzz SIP support, you can make Internet calls via the Nimbuzz Phonebook feature by adding any SIP provider you already use. Costs depend on your SIP provider rates.
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SIP calling is mostly used to make cheap international calls. A list of SIP providers can be found here.   http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/2009/01/free-sip-accounts-revisited.html

Calling the Philippines for Even Less

From the NY Times article in Frugal Traveler
In the five months since I wrote about cheap ways to phone home in “Staying in Touch Internationally, on the Cheap” (March 24), much has changed in the world of making affordable, even free, calls while traveling. And not all of it is good.

Here’s a short version of the telephone setup I described in March: As soon as I land in a new country, I buy a local SIM card (usually $2 to $25) for my unlocked mobile phone, so that I can easily and cheaply call local numbers and so that local people can reach me.

But the real trick is how folks back home can reach me. I use Skype, the popular Internet phone software, not only to make low-cost international calls but to receive them. I set up its call-forwarding feature to direct calls to my new SIM number, so that anyone who dials my home number in New York City will instantly reach me wherever I happen to be. 
 
Read the original article here
http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/calling-home-for-even-less/?hp 8/18/09   

All About Unlimited Texting Services in Philippines (Globe/Touch Mobile, Smart/Talk ‘N Text)

The unlimited text/sms services of various Philippine Telecommunications providers have been around for quite some time already. But I rarely use it because their mechanics buffle me, plus the rule about losing your unlimited text subscription if you text to other network providers — Globe Telco, Touch Mobile (TM), Smart, and Talk ‘N Text.

But lately, I learned that texting to ’sister company’ of your network is included in your unlimited or free-text subscription. ‘Sisters company’ are Globe Telco and Touch Mobile, then Smart and Talk ‘N Text. This means if you have an unlimited subscription in your Globe number, you can also text for free to Touch Mobile (TM) numbers and vice versa (if you have unlimited text subscription with your TM number, you can also text for free to Globe numbers). The same applies to Smart and Talk ‘N Text.

Read the complete full detail of all the current Cell phone company offerings and specials  at this excellent blog here   http://tweetmoments.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/all-about-unlimited-texting-services-in-philippines-globetouch-mobile-smarttalk-n-text/

Send and Receive Faxes, No Fees Involved FREE

Enter basic sender and recipient data, and click Browse to upload a Word doc or PDF to FaxZero.  http://faxzero.com/
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Do you need to send faxes just once in a while? Ditch the fax machine and the trips to Kinko’s, and use free-to-try online services such as Qipit and FaxZero.
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Qipit lets you send up to five faxes each week for free. You can upload JPEG images or even send them directly from a camera phone. Free faxes include a header banner that mentions Qipit.
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FaxZero limits you to two faxes of three pages each day, and its transmissions include a FaxZero-branded coversheet. But instead of sending images, FaxZero takes PDFs and Word documents, making it a better choice for PC-based use.Faxes will arrive directly in your e-mail box, or you can view and delete them though eFax online.

You can even cancel your dedicated incoming fax line and have people send physical faxes to you online. eFax Free handles everything, digitizing faxes and routing them to your e-mail account. You get a free phone number that is connected to eFax and is always listening for incoming calls.
eFax Free has a few limitations, however. You don’t get to pick an area code for the incoming number, and you can’t receive more than 100 pages each month. Plus, you have to read faxes in an eFax application, in its proprietary .efx format. (Paying subscribers can select an area code, receive more faxes, and read them as PDFs.) But for moderate use, eFax Free works well.
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Best texting load bargains SMART, Globe, SUN Philippines

SMART offers TALK N TEXT for 10 pesos w 45 texts to SMART and 5 texts to other networks

Gaantxt 10

P10 = 45 texts to Talk ‘N Text/Smart
+ 5 texts to all networks!

Promo runs until September 30, 2009.
Per DTI- NCR Permit No. 4755, Series of 2008.



Globe offers
Globe Tattoo gives you the new IMMORTALTXT, the first and only text offer with NO EXPIRY. For just P10, enjoy 50 texts to Globe/TM and 10 texts to other networks that will never expire*.
To register, simply text IMMORTAL10 to 8888. Also available to Globe Prepaid subscribers.


Globe Tattoo also offers the ultimate Unlimited Text promos! Enjoy sending unlimited text messages to Globe/TM subscribers all day, all night.
To register, simply text any of the following to 8888:
Unlitxt20 is also available at your nearest retailer. You can also enjoy daytime or nighttime unlimited texts to Globe/TM.
To register, just text any of the following to 8888:
*Offer is available to Globe tattoo sim users and old Globe sims.

*Promo extended until September 19, 2009. Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 2160, Series of 2009.

Globe Tattoo also offers SULITXT 15! For only P15, enjoy 150 texts to Globe/TM for 1 day.
To register, simply text SULITXT15 to 8888. You can now also purchase SULITXT 15 at your nearest retailer.

*Offer is available to Globe tattoo sim users and old Globe sims.
*Promo extended until September 19, 2009. Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 2160, Series of 2009.
Globe Tattoo also offers EVERYBODYTXT20! For only P20, enjoy 200 texts to Globe/TM AND 20 texts to other networks for 1 day.
To register, simply text ETXT20 to 8888. You can now also purchase EVERYBODYTXT at your nearest retailer.

*Offer is available to Globe tattoo sim users and old Globe sims.
*Promo extended until September 19, 2009.
Globe Tattoo also offers TXTOTHERS! For only P20, enjoy 40 texts to other networks for 1 day.
To register, simply text TO20 to 8888.

*Offer is available to Globe tattoo sim users and old Globe sims.
*Promo extended until September 19, 2009.
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Get More FREE LOAD with Sun Prepaid SIMs
You will never have enough of Sun’s newest offering of fully-packed Sun Prepaid SIMs this season!
First is the Sun P29 Super Budget SIM. Get additional 1 day of Unlimited Sun-to-Sun texts and 10 minutes of Sun-to-Sun calls when you activate your SIM within the promo period so you can enjoy a total of 2 days of Unlimited Sun-to-Sun texts and 20 minutes of Sun-to-Sun calls.
Read more!
Get FREE Call & Text Unlimited with Sun Unlimited Plus!
The pioneer in Unlimited is now giving you even more reasons to go 24/7 with Sun’s Unlimited Plus Promo!
Just load two Sun P25 Call & Text Unlimited for two straight days and get one more day of Unlimited FOR FREE! Your FREE 1 day Call & Text Unlimited will be loaded automatically into your account the following day.
Read more!
Sun introduces the most affordable prepaid SIM, packed with freebies!
Sun introduces its newest addition to their strong line-up of value-packed SIMs – Super Budget SIM P29!
The Super Budget SIM, priced at P29, is now the most affordable prepaid SIM in the market. This even comes with FREE Sun-to-Sun Text Unlimited and 10 minutes of Sun-to-Sun calls, both valid for 1 day!
View other new offers!
Introducing the Newest Call & Text Combo from Sun!
Malayo na ang mararating ng P30 mo with Sun P30 Call & Text Combo! For only P30, meron ka ng 40 minutes of Sun-to-Sun calls, 120 Sun-to-Sun texts and 40 texts to other networks—all valid for 3 days! Ang free calls ay pwede rin for one long call or several short calls. With Sun P30 Call & Text Combo, kayang-kaya mag-keep in touch with your loved ones dahil makaka-call and text ka na sa Sun friends mo, makaka-text ka pa sa friends mo from other networks.
View other new offers!
Ang Sun P20 Text Unlimited, may FREE CALLS na!
Hello, hello! Sa Sun P20 Text Unlimited, Pwede ka nang mag-hello sa friends and loved ones mo dahil loaded na rin ito ng FREE Calls! For only P20, may 2 days of Unlimited Sun-to-Sun Texts ka na, may 20 minutes of Sun-to-Sun calls pa!
View other new offers!
P1 / International Text to 20 countries with sun Call & Text International SIM
Sun Call & Text International SIM is the 1st prepaid SIM in the market that offers superb values for international calling and messaging.  With this feature-packed SIM, we can now text our loved ones abroad as often as we want for only P1 per text!  This unbelievable rate applies to 20 countries including the US, Canada, UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Calling cheap overseas 1.5 pesos a minute PLDT,

PLDT budget card philippines 1.50 peso calls to USA & Canada from Philippines

http://www.pldt.com.ph/products/consumers/prepaidcards/Pages/BudgetCard.aspx
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PLDT budget card philippines 1.50 peso calls
You can buy the cards in 7 Eleven stores, SM information counters, Cebuana Luilleur, RCPI, eBiz and even Sulit classified has a deal for only 92 pesos you can buy a 100 load card


Sulit clasified 92 pesos for 100 peso cardhttp://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/1456426/PLDT+BUDGET+CARD+100+-PAY+ONLY+92

Proposed Bundle


20c / min  approximately 8 mins  89 Destinations
P 30, P100 and P 200 card denomination
Validity: 30 days upon first use


PLDT Budget Card (does not reflect the 1.5 on their website as usual)
Product Description PLDT’s Overseas Call Card wherein you can call your family and friends in 100 calling destination for as low as P3/min of call at any PLDT Postpaid landline and Payphones nationwide.Call Rate: 1. P3.00 per minute for calls to the US, Canada and Hongkong.2. P5.00 per minute for calls China, Malaysia, Singapore, S. Korea and Taiwan.

3. P8.00 per minute to the rest 92 calling destinations.

Card Denominations P100 wherein callers can make up to 33 minutes of overseas call
P200 herein callers can make up to 66 minutes of overseas call



Cheap 2 peso phone call Philippines to USA Canada Hong Kong Singapore & China using SUN, 2 peso to USA Canada Singapore Hong Kong China using SUN but uses ordinary load no special cards like PLDT 5 peso to Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Guam, Macau, Brunei, Thailand 10 peso to UAE, Saudi Arabia, UK


1.50 peso call to USA & Canada PLDT Budget Card

Published in Philippine Star Sept. 18, 2009 to Canada and USA only I think
PLDT budget card philippines 1.50 peso calls
PLDT budget card philippines 1.50 peso calls

The PLDT Budget Card is a Prepaid Overseas Calling Card, which allows PLDT subscribers nationwide to make overseas calls to 89 Destinations worldwide at the lowest per minute rate of 18 US cents. The new PLDT Budget Card offers flexibility to use the service in two denominations: P100 and P200 from any PLDT postpaid phone and payphones, nationwide.
Proposed Bundle
  • 20c / min
  • approximately 8 mins
  • 89 Destinations
  • P 30, P100 and P 200 card denomination
  • Validity: 30 days upon first use
PLDT Budget Card
Product DescriptionPLDT’s Overseas Call Card wherein you can call your family and friends in 100 calling destination for as low as P3/min of call at any PLDT Postpaid landline and Payphones nationwide.

Call Rate:1. P3.00 per minute for calls to the US, Canada and Hongkong.

2. P5.00 per minute for calls China, Malaysia, Singapore, S. Korea and Taiwan.

3. P8.00 per minute to the rest 92 calling destinations.

Card DenominationsP100 wherein callers can make up to 33 minutes of overseas call
P200 herein callers can make up to 66 minutes of overseas call


SMART Promos – Unlimited Call and Text and Internet Philippines

Saturday, November 21, 2009


Click the headlines to read the details

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Tags: SMART promos Philippines,Unlimited call, unlimited text.

Calling Home for Even Less, cheap world calling



Via frugaltraveler article  in the NY Times


Ingo Fast
In the five months since I wrote about cheap ways to phone home in “Staying in Touch Internationally, on the Cheap” (March 24), much has changed in the world of making affordable, even free, calls while traveling. And not all of it is good.
Here’s a short version of the telephone setup I described in March: As soon as I land in a new country, I buy a local SIM card (usually $2 to $25) for my unlocked mobile phone, so that I can easily and cheaply call local numbers and so that local people can reach me.
But the real trick is how folks back home can reach me. I use Skype, the popular Internet phone software, not only to make low-cost international calls but to receive them. I set up its call-forwarding feature to direct calls to my new SIM number, so that anyone who dials my home number in New York Citywill instantly reach me wherever I happen to be.
Right after I wrote about this system, Skype released Skype for the iPhone, which has come in handy when I’ve been abroad and had access to Wi-Fi. (Skype for iPhone requires Wi-Fi and does not work over 3G or other cellular networks.) It’s a lot like the PC or Mac version of the software: a simple interface, contact list, virtual keypad. The call quality is good enough, as are Skype’s international rates.
But Skype is at a strange crossroads. When eBay bought Skype for $2.6 billion in 2005, the online auction company apparently only licensed — didn’t buy — the software code that makes Skype run. Now, Skype’s founders, who are no longer with the company and who own the code through their new company, Joltid, are trying to terminate that license. The legal battle is supposed to reach a British court by June 2010, and if Joltid prevails, eBay said in an S.E.C. filing that “the continued operation of Skype’s business as currently conducted would likely not be possible.”
In other words, no more free or low-cost calls for travelers.
Skype Skype on the iPhone.
At the same time, Skype faces increased competition from new players in the cheap-international-call marketplace. Chief among them is a little outfit called Google, which recently opened its Google Voice system up to new subscribers. You need an invitation to join, but you can request one on its site. I requested one back in March, and received my invitation a month ago.
While both Skype and Google Voice let you make low-cost international calls, and at roughly comparable rates (Skype charges 30.8 cents to call an Italian mobile phone, for example, while Google Voice charges 25 cents), they do it through different methods. Skype works like a standard phone, making the call itself through the Internet. Google Voice acts more like a virtual switchboard, connecting you and your party over landlines, cellular airwaves and the Internet.
To place a call, users need to log in to Google Voice’s Web site (or fire up the Google Voice mobile app on a BlackBerry or Android phone — there’s no iPhone app yet, but iPhone users can visit the Google Voice mobile site) and dial a number. In a moment, Google Voice rings your phone, and when you answer you’ll be connected to the party you’re trying to reach. Fairly simple.
Google VoiceBusiness Wire
But there’s a big hitch for travelers. While Google Voice works great if you’re in the United States and want to call overseas, it doesn’t work so well in reverse. Google Voice lets you designate a half-dozen different numbers as your phone — a home landline, a personal cellphone, an office number, Grandma’s — but they must all be within the continental 48 states.
So, if you’ve bought a Bulgarian SIM card for your vacation on the Black Sea, Google Voice will not let you add it to the roster. Google tells me it’s working on changing this, but there’s no timeline yet.
There are, of course, other options, many of which were suggested by readers of my earlier post. Many wrote about Jajah, an upstart based in Mountain View, Calif., that lets you make inexpensive international calls by first dialing a local access number in the country you’re visiting, which then connects you to whomever you want to reach. Unfortunately, Jajah only has access numbers in 19 countries, mostly in Europe. If you’re in, say, China, you’ll need to use its more conventional Web-based service, which involves making a call in front of a computer. It also has a mobile app that works over 3G and similar data networks, but in my experience, data plans for prepaid SIM cards are, if even available, rarely frugal.
Gizmo
Some suggested GizmoCall.com, a Skype-like Voice Over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, system that has roughly comparable international rates (and built-in call recording—good for interviews!), but still requires a computer or Web-enabled phone to work. Others liked the magicJack, a U.S.B. dongle that lets you turn any Web-connected computer into an Internet telephone.
Others said that instead of buying a local SIM card, they carry an international SIM card from places like OneSIMCard.com, which work in more than 170 countries. The cards cost $39.99, but are free if you buy $200 worth of credit from OneSIMCard.
It’s a great idea — one low-cost number to carry when you travel. Unfortunately, the number in this case is an Estonian number. Which is great if you’re traveling in the Baltics, less so elsewhere. When I travel, I not only want to be able to call up new local friends — I want them to be able to reach me cheaply and easily. Handing out an Estonian number in Barcelona or Cairo is tantamount to saying, “Don’t bother to call.” Handing out a local number shows I’m making myself accessible.
Of course, plenty of people questioned the wisdom of trying to stay in touch in the first place.
But not all of us frugal travelers are on vacation. Some (like me) travel for work, while others simply travel as a way of life, and we like to maintain contact with the whole world at once. My favorite new way to do so is Voxox, which I’d never heard of until its publicist wrote to me in March.
Created by the San Diego-based company TelCentris, Voxox is similar to Skype and lets you make VoIP calls, at roughly similar rates (e.g., 20.65 cents a minute to Italian mobile phones). Of course, that assumes you can put up with Voxox’s software, which is one of the least intuitive and most buggy programs I’ve ever used. It crashes constantly, often before it finishes loading.
But that doesn’t matter! Voxox’s killer feature isn’t based on its clunky software. It’s called SMS Callback, and it works like this: Say I’m in Buenos Aires, using a local SIM card, and I want to call my wife in New York City. I simply send a text message with her number to Voxox, and seconds later my phone rings. I pick up, wait a couple more seconds, and there’s her wonderful voice, asking when I’m coming home. (Soon, baby, soon.)
What’s awesome about this system, which I’ve been testing the last couple of weeks while traveling in Canada, is that you don’t need a computer, Internet access or a fancy phone to make international calls. (O.K., you’ll need to go online to give Voxox your local SIM number, but that’s a one-time thing.)
As long as you’ve got cellular service, you’re set. And it works well. Only once have I sent the text message and gotten no response whatsoever. In that case, I just waited a few minutes and tried again. It worked, which is all I really ask for.
There is, of course, a hitch. (Isn’t there always?) Since Voxox is essentially connecting two phone calls — one to you, another to the person you’re calling — you have to pay two rates at once. But it often ends up cheaper than Skype. That Argentina-to-Brooklyn call would cost 8.48 cents a minute (Argentina charge) plus 1 cent a minute (U.S. charge). Skype, on the other hand, charges 17.2 cents a minute.
So, I guess it’s Voxox for me — for now, anyway. Two other services, Truphone and Call2, have similar SMS Callback features, though I haven’t managed to get them to work yet. And I’m sure that in another five months, Google Voice will have added international capabilities and there’ll be a new player or two (or three) on the scene. 
This article is from the NYTimes  and you can read it here http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/calling-home-for-even-less/#more-1209

10 Ways to Save on Phone Calling Costs, at Home and on the Go

The following article is from ABC News:  The cost of making phone calls has been dropping rapidly in the last few years. If you want take full advantage of that, you’ll need to try some new things, because the phone companies aren’t going to thrust savings on you. Here are 10 tips on how to cut the cost of your phone service.

Several services let you use your home broadband line to make and receive calls. Some of them are aimed at replacing your landline outright, while others are designed as complements.
— Vonage is the most widely advertised replacement for the home phone line, and the price is more attractive than before. It just squeezed free calls to more than 60 countries into its standard $25-per-month plan, which already included free domestic calling.

Vonage sends you an adapter that connects to your broadband line and your old phone. The setup requires that you know where your broadband modem is and how to connect something to it. Vonage gives you a new phone number, or allows you to move over your old number to the service.
But if you’re not a big overseas caller, there are cheaper alternatives, and in my testing, long-running problems with audio quality and reliability persist, particularly for international calls.

— Ooma sells a device that’s similar to Vonage’s adapter, but once you’ve plunked down $250 for it, domestic calls are free. International calls are billed at low per-minute rates. Ooma’s audio quality and reliability are much better than Vonage’s, but slightly below that of a regular phone line. Like Vonage, Ooma will let you use your old phone number (for a $40 transfer fee). The adapter works as an answering machine too, and you can access your voice mail through a Web browser as well.
There’s a new model of the Ooma device coming soon that can act as the base station for cordless phones. The price hasn’t been announced. The company has hinted that buyers of the new model may need to pay low yearly fees to cover telecom taxes.

— MagicJack is an up-and-comer, selling a device that plugs into a computer to provide unlimited domestic calls for one year for $40. After that, every year of service costs $20. International calls are billed at low per-minute rates. In our tests, it worked, but not very well — call quality was barely acceptable.

The MagicJack device has a phone number and can receive calls, but you can’t move your own number to it. The computer needs to be on for the MagicJack to receive calls, so using it as your primary phone line could be a false economy: Leaving your computer on all the time for a year could cost you $300 in electricity.

— Skype is best known for free computer-to-computer voice and video chatting, but you can make and receive phone calls using this software as well. Outgoing calls are billed per minute or through monthly unlimited-calling plans. A phone number that can receive incoming calls costs $60 per year. You can’t use your old number as your Skype number, and you can’t call 911. You can’t use your old phone either, but you can buy special Skype phones if you don’t want to use a headset and microphone. Overall, Skype isn’t much of a replacement for regular phone service, but could be a complement.

— T-Mobile USA sells a $40 “AtHome” Internet router or adapter to which you can connect a home phone. Unlimited domestic calls are then $10 per month. You can move your old number to the service. The catch? You have to be a T-Mobile wireless subscriber, paying at least $40 per month on a single plan, or $50 per month on a family plan. Also, international rates are high for this sort of service. First, you need to fork over $5 per month just to make international calls, and then you pay rates like 4 cents per minute to Canada, which other providers let you call for free.

If you don’t want to switch to prepaid, there are still ways of cutting cell phone calling costs, at least for international calls. These services work a bit like calling cards, but are more convenient and won’t shortchange you like many calling cards do.

— Google Voice lets you call internationally at per-minute rates that are much lower than the carriers’ prices, and text-message for free. It’s designed to be used with a Web browser, but you can use it from your phone too. If you have a BlackBerry or Android phone, you can download an application. If you have a non-”smart” phone, you can call a Google number, then key in the number you want to call, just as if you were using a calling card.

— Rebtel provides cheap international calls, much like Google Voice, but is easier to use with phones that don’t have Web browsers. For each international number you like to call, it gives you a local number you can place in your contact list. When you call that number, Rebtel automatically connects you to the overseas number.  Full original article can be read at this link http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=8714178

Tags: calls to philippines cheap,international phone calls, magic jack philippines, ooma philippinesm, save on phone call cost, skype philippines,vonage philippines. 

Save 7-15 percent on all your family and friend cell phone loads!

Article from the Philippine Star....Pablo “Jun” Yap of Junrex Cellphones and Accessories  in the Sunstar.  Yap said that with an initial investment of only P500 which already includes P400 worth of saleable cell phone load and a start-up kit, anyone can already start their own small-time loading business. “The market is so huge for the loading business. Even Junrex could not really accommodate this huge demand especially outside the city. So anyone can grab this opportunity and then earn extra for their families which they can use for their daily living,” said Yap.

He discussed that on an average, most members in a family now a days own a mobile phone which needs an average of P500 or less load a month. By starting within one’s own family, Yap urged micro-entrepreneurs and even those who are new to business to start their own loading venture.Click this link to read complete article  http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=444254
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The retailer sims can be bought for SUN, GLOBE and SMART at shops that service retailers and this can include family loads. The challenge will be to find a cell shop that sells retail loads.  In Cebu the shop I found is the Junrex located in the Cyberzone in SM Cebu and also in Ayala Cebu but I have not used Ayala.  In SM Cebu the retail sales is in the left corner of the store and has a door leading to a small room with two people selling retailer sims, loads and cards at 7-15 percent discount.  Their phone is 233 3331 and 412 0606 and they do have a yahoo messenger account that you can chat with them online just stop by to get details.
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Just go in and buy your retailer sim and get the amount of loads you want. Just tell them the amount you want to load to the sims you buy and then you can easily transfer the loads to all of your family members and friends easily or start a retail sales to friends at college or sari sari store.  With internet usb loads, money transfers, and many other uses for e loads, your in business to save for your family or start a business.
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Sulit classifiend ads give links to many businesses that sell retailer sims if not in cebu
http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/classifieds+directory/q/retailer+load+business
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Other links to read to get full details of the retailer load business
http://forums.gov.ph/thread.asp?rootID=104111&catID=21
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http://www.eksakto.com/classifieds/-3/posts/9_More_Categories/67_Affiliate_Programs/44617_Interested_in_loading_business_For_just_P300_you_can_earn_up_to_P100_000_in_just_8_weeks_.html
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http://www.phlist.com/listing/4084/Loading_Dealership_Business.html
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http://small-business-plan.blogspot.com/2009/08/start-your-own-bussiness-300-pesos-only.html

Tags: cell phone load discount,philippine retailer sim business, retailer sim business

How To Make Free Phone Calls Via Twitter

This is from the website spotcoolstuff.          Ever expanding functionality companies are bringing to Twitter. Some hotels offer concierge services via Twitter. Some take-out restaurants allow customers to place orders via Twitter. And now at least one VoIP company, Jajah, is launching a service that places telephone calls via Twitter.
Here’s how Jajah’s Twitter calling works:

1) You sign up for a free Jajah account and input your Twitter username and your phone number (VoIP, landline and cell numbers all work).
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Visit my Twitter blog now http://twitterph.blogspot.com/
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2) The person you want to call must have a Jajah account with the same information. Also, you must each be following each other on Twitter.
3) You tweet “@call @_________”, with that blank filled with the Twitter username of whoever you want to call.
4) Your telephone will ring, your callee’s telephone will ring, and Jajah will connect your call.
The call is completely free and there’s no need download software or have any special equiptment. The catch—and isn’t there always a catch?—is that your call can be no longer than 2 minutes long. Also, because you are tweeting your call request you have to be okay with informing all of Twitterdom of who it is you are calling.
Given these limitations does Jajah’s Twitter calling service belong in the Cool But Ultimately Useless category?
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Maybe.
There are already multiple ways to place phone calls for free or nearly-free (such as Skype). With a tweet you can plan out your 140 characters but it isn’t always predictable whether you want your call to last longer than two minutes or not.
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On the other hand, there may well be people you don’t want to talk to for longer than two minutes. [Insert mother-in-law joke here]. Another advantage: Jajah keeps the phone number of all their users confidential, which might make their Twitter service idea for some form of phone speed dating or for issuing ransom demands.
Jajah   http://www.jajah.com/
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As of September 2009 the Jajah Twitter calling service was in a beta testing mode. Any Jajah user can ask to take part by emailing twitter@jajah.com
 
 
Tags: free phone calls twitter, how to make free phone calls twitter.