Low-cost options for calling Dutch mobile phones from US landline
June 12, 2015 1:02 PM   Subscribe

In the next few days, I'll be making two long (90+ minute each) calls from the US to mobile phones in the Netherlands. I prefer to use my landline for these calls, which is Voip through Xfinity. Their international calling plan, which is $10 for 300 minutes, would be awesome but it specifically doesn't cover Dutch mobile phones. The Xfinity rate is $.30/minute, which is more than I'd like to pay. What options do I have?

Connection quality is very important, as I'll be interviewing these two Dutchmen. I'm perfectly willing to use a calling card, but don't even know how to go about selecting and using one. (Really, I'm quite the n00b about international calling.) Adding hardware, or switching my landline phone service to a different carrier, is not an option for me. But short of that, I'm willing to do what it takes to cut the costs I'll incur for these two calls.
posted by DrGail to Technology (10 answers total)
 
If you're calling iPhones, can you FaceTime them? (if you don't like the video, you can FaceTime audio only). If they're non-iPhone smartphones, would they be willing to install Skype on them, and you could do it that way?
posted by AwkwardPause at 1:08 PM on June 12, 2015


I looked up a cheap international calling card, and it looks like the rate isn't any lower than $.19/min. That's because in most countries, the caller pays, not the receiver, so you are in effect paying for their cell service.
posted by wnissen at 1:18 PM on June 12, 2015


Response by poster: AwkwardPause: As these are work-related calls, I would rather do whatever I need to do on my end without their knowledge.
posted by DrGail at 1:20 PM on June 12, 2015


I make international calls like this for interviews every day. I prefer to use Skype. I called the Netherlands this morning; rate was $0.127/minute. I use an app called CallRecorder to automatically record. Works really well, never had any issues with call quality.
posted by three_red_balloons at 1:21 PM on June 12, 2015 [5 favorites]


(To clarify, I use Skype to call landlines/mobile phones, rather than Skype to Skype).
posted by three_red_balloons at 1:22 PM on June 12, 2015


You can use Skype on your end and use Skype Out to call a Dutch cell phone. It will be either $0.10 per minute pay as you go (for cells) or you can buy a subscription for $3.99 per month for 400 minutes, or unlimited for $4.99 (not sure if there is a minimum term) to call either cells or landlines. In my experience quality has been good.
posted by Disco Moo at 1:23 PM on June 12, 2015


Best answer: Google Voice charges 4 cents a minute to Netherlands mobile. After online setup, you can access it by calling a local access number from your landline (like a calling card) or by logging on to Google voice and having it call the two numbers (your US landline and the Dutch cell) simultaneously.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 1:27 PM on June 12, 2015 [5 favorites]


You have to be careful with Google Voice. When I was in the Republic of Georgia, my partner would call me from California. Then he discovered that he was getting long-distance bills from somewhere in Florida as a result! But if you're only spending a total of 3+ hours on the phone, long distance to Florida (or wherever) should be more manageable than the Netherlands. And it's still the best option I'm aware of....
posted by aniola at 2:29 PM on June 12, 2015


I've used skype all over the world - it's your best bet. Depending on where you are - it might even be better than the local cellular connection to make international calls...
posted by NoDef at 7:42 PM on June 12, 2015


I've used Google Voice for things like this without incident.
posted by Tehhund at 4:34 AM on June 13, 2015


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