In case you have not discovered this service yet, did you know you can make international calls from any UK phone for the cost of a "national rate" call?
(Remember that, as with any other call, you'll still have to pay your phone company's connection charge or set-up fee - this is typically 5p to 9p per call.)
The advantage over the likes of OneTel and 18866 (which I also use, as it can be slightly cheaper) is you don't have to register and you can use it from anywhere, not just the registered phone line. It even works from lines which have international calls blocked.
This number works all day, every day, and can be used to call the following destinations: Argentina; Argentina, Buenos Aires; Australia; Austria; Belgium; Brazil Rio De Janeiro; Brazil Sao Paulo; Canada; Chile; China; China, Mobile; Colombia, Bogota; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; France; Germany; Greece; Hong Kong, Mobile; Hungary; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Korea South; Luxembourg; Mexico Mexico City; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Panama; Peru, Lima; Poland; Portugal; Russia Moscow; Singapore; Singapore, Mobile; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Taiwan; Thailand; Thailand Bangkok; Thailand Bangkok, Mobile; Thailand, Mobile; Turkey Istanbul; UK National; US Virgin Islands; USA;
This number works all day, every day, and can be used to call the following destinations: Andorra; Bahamas; Brazil; Brunei; Bulgaria; Croatia; Estonia; Finland; French Antilles; Gibraltar; Guadeloupe; Hong Kong; Iceland; Indonesia Jakarta; Jordan; Latvia; Malaysia; Mariana Islands; Monaco; Peru; Romania; Russia Moscow, Mobile; Russia, Mobile; San Marino; Saudi Arabia Riyadh; Slovakia; Slovenia; Turkey; Vatican City; Venezuela; Venezuela Caracas;
This number works all day, every day, and can be used to call the following destinations: Bermuda; Bolivia Cochabamba; Christmas Island; Dominican Republic; Ghana; Guam; India; India, Mobile; Indonesia; Israel, Mobile; Laos, Mobile; Liechtenstein; Mexico; Nigeria; Nigeria Lagos; Pakistan, Mobile; Puerto Rico; Serbia & Montenegro; South Africa; Uruguay; Uzbekistan; Uzbekistan, Mobile; Zimbabwe;
Just-Dial's especially useful from mobiles - even more so if you can use your inclusive minutes for 0845, because you only pay once. With OneTel I still have to pay them for the international call, on top on the network taking my minutes away for calling OneTel's 0800 number. In fact Just-Dial's so good I've signed up as an agent for it. (-:
A few caveats: you'll still be charged for the 0844 call even if the international number is engaged, so drop the line if you hear a busy tone! Note too that if it doesn't say "mobile", the number is for land-lines only. Also, under-18s must have the bill payer's permission before calling.
For more details, visit the Just-Dial website.
Cheers! Bryan.
The small print: "Rates shown are what you would pay if you were a BT Residential customer on 01/04/10 and include VAT. Individual call rates subject to change at any time. See www.just-dial.com for the rate applicable at the time of your call. Rates for calls made from mobiles and other service providers may be higher. BT apply a 9.90 pence (inc VAT) Call Set-Up Fee to each call. Charges will be incurred even if the destination number is engaged or the call is not answered. You must have the bill payer’s permission before using our service. For customer services please call 0844 552 8575. For full Terms & Conditions visit www.just-dial.com. Service provided by Onetel Telecommunications Ltd, registered number 04226697, 11 Evesham Street, London W11 4AR."
*As noted in the small print, these are the charges on a BT line. Other companies may charge more, I'm afraid. It's usually way cheaper than your phone company's standard international call charges though, and it's cheaper than a lot of the "discount rates" on offer!