International Texting

[Hanky]

Does anyone here do this? I can't afford 80 dollar a month fees with AT&T wireless and I am wondering if there is an alternative. The average for the major carriers is .20 cents a message which is on par with att after I use my max of 100 mess. for .10.
Thank you for your time
hank

[Howard Barlow]

Can't say for texting, but are you familiar with Skype? Computer to computer is free phone calls. My wife talks to our friends in Russia, all the time. Free. For pennies, she can call their phone from the computer.

Skype is available for smart phones, too, but I haven't tried it.

[Hanky]

Thank you Sir, I will look into that.

[SCone]

You are better off to purchase a texting plan. Unlimited texting is about $20 with any carrier... as long as you send more than 200 per month, it's a better deal. If you are talking about texting while you are traveling international, the only way around it is with Blackberry Messenger... but that has it's own charges....

[sbp]

there is a company called metropcs $60/month free everything everywhere. But they are only in Atlanta.

[TheFantasticG]

If you are the one traveling internationally, buy a local phone and text with it. Much much cheaper in the end.

[Hanky]

It's an I'm here She's there (Philippines) type thing. Of the major carriers average cost is .20 cents a shot. Now with Att I can buy only one package of 100 txt per month international. They charge for out going as well as incomming so that cuts it to 50. Then
if I overrun character count (160) the remaining will go in second message. Some phones will stop you at 160 but I think iphone does not. Anyway we were doing ok with
that but after visiting her we picked up intensity and somehow I wound up with 812 this month. So I over ran my international then ate all of my national (200) and wound up with axtra 90 dollars added to my bill.
There are options such as emailing to her text but they are kinda backwoods there and it usually does not work. I think we have Metropcs here but I did not see international txt on their website however I will look again. Thank you everybody for your replys.
Skype looks good but I do not know if wifi is required on my iphone to access it.

[epoh]

Why don't you both just put AIM or MSN or something on your phones and chat like that? Free for both of you!

I chat with my brother in Germany all the time via the silly Facebook chat... because free = win.

[Hanky]

Thank you Amy, if Facebook is required then I will not be able to hook up with her.

[Concisus Cognatus]

It's not mandatory to have facebook. You can download one of the chat programs mentioned and joila!

Originally Posted by Hanky

Thank you Amy, if Facebook is required then I will not be able to hook up with her.

[Cajungaltx]

after a year of doing this, here's what you need to know:

You need an unlimited text plan. You can SEND text messages to her - on AT&T - at NO charge. For us, it as .50/every text Brad sent to me from Kuwait......

Skype works on the iphone - at NO cost - get the app..... It was a LIFE saver the last year.....

PLUS - she can send YOU text msgs through Skype for .06 cents per message... if your not on Skype....to your cell phone.... with it's UNLIMITED TEXT PLAN! ;-)

That lets you know 'she' is on Skype, so you can log in, and chat with her at no cost....... plus, she can call you - from there (if she's on Skype) - unlimited (she has to have an internet connection where she is at) for $3/month...


Hope it helps....

[TxLerman]

Originally Posted by sbp

there is a company called metropcs $60/month free everything everywhere. But they are only in Atlanta.

How can anyone call $60/month free?? No wonder that Atlanta has budget problems.

[Hanky]

Ok Donna I will try it, I was shying away because of the cost but from your explanation it sounds like a good deal. I tried yahoo and aim but real buggy and I am guessing something about Sun cellular in the Philippines is causing problems. Funny though it is dirt cheap for her to call me (.20 cents), too bad her English speaking is lacking hehe.
Also I rechecked Metropcs and they have unlimited international for the 45 a month phone plan.
Downside to them is coverage from what I have been told.

[Hanky]

Skype it is ,I want to Thank everyone for their help.