How do I call someone in Europe from the US for free?
August 19, 2019 5:34 PM Subscribe
I need to call someone in Europe to conduct an interview for something I'm writing. I don't have international calling on my cell phone, and neither does he (he's American with a US cell number). How can I do this for free?
I'm pretty tech challenged, so if you have a suggestion that isn't crystal clear, please elaborate if you can. These things make my brain hurt. I also need to record the call, but I have a recording app on my phone, so I assume this won't be a problem. The editor who assigned this told me there's free conference calling, but I don't know what that means!
I'm pretty tech challenged, so if you have a suggestion that isn't crystal clear, please elaborate if you can. These things make my brain hurt. I also need to record the call, but I have a recording app on my phone, so I assume this won't be a problem. The editor who assigned this told me there's free conference calling, but I don't know what that means!
Freeconferencecall.com. They'll generate international dial-ins that work with your domestic dial-in after you register.
posted by whimsicalnymph at 5:47 PM on August 19, 2019
posted by whimsicalnymph at 5:47 PM on August 19, 2019
The editor who assigned this told me there's free conference calling, but I don't know what that means!
You should follow up with your editor. I think what they are suggesting is that there's a dial-in conference service that is available for your use. (Which requires you know key information like the dial-in numbers, access code / PIN for the service, etc. So going back to them for that info would be a reasonable request.)
Many conference services have many inbound local numbers including in various countries. So the idea is you both make a local (or at least not international) call to the conference service and can talk to each other. Some will even record for you.
Using the conference line is the slightly-oldschool solution to this problem; something like Skype or Facetime or another IP-based service is probably the modern solution.
posted by Kadin2048 at 5:48 PM on August 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
You should follow up with your editor. I think what they are suggesting is that there's a dial-in conference service that is available for your use. (Which requires you know key information like the dial-in numbers, access code / PIN for the service, etc. So going back to them for that info would be a reasonable request.)
Many conference services have many inbound local numbers including in various countries. So the idea is you both make a local (or at least not international) call to the conference service and can talk to each other. Some will even record for you.
Using the conference line is the slightly-oldschool solution to this problem; something like Skype or Facetime or another IP-based service is probably the modern solution.
posted by Kadin2048 at 5:48 PM on August 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I think Freeconferencecall.com is what she meant. But I have a kind of mental block with this stuff and I really don't get how it works. But essentially I'll be given a number that we both dial in, along with some code we have to enter, and then that will connect us?
And should I be able to record it?
posted by swheatie at 5:58 PM on August 19, 2019
And should I be able to record it?
posted by swheatie at 5:58 PM on August 19, 2019
I generally use Skype + Skype call recorder, but I did have to pay for the call recorder app. Skype is free if they also use Skype, or a minimal amount if you dial their cell phone. Free Conference Call automatically records, as far as I know, and then you call a different number after the call to listen the recording. I think you should just set up your own Free Conference Call account. Then it will give you the dial in numbers and the number for recordings.
posted by pinochiette at 6:00 PM on August 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by pinochiette at 6:00 PM on August 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
And yeah, it's a basic conference line- you both dial a number, listen to a recording, enter a code, and then you're both on the line.
posted by pinochiette at 6:02 PM on August 19, 2019
posted by pinochiette at 6:02 PM on August 19, 2019
Sorry for so many messages. I looked it up and you do need to take a couple of extra steps to record the call (see this: https://www.freeconferencecall.com/press-center/conference-call-recording). Skype call recorder does automatically record.
posted by pinochiette at 6:06 PM on August 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by pinochiette at 6:06 PM on August 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
This is not free (about $50) but it is a hundred percent reliable and it's pretty standard equipment, so your editor may be able to loan it to you. For my phone interviews I record using a standalone Olympus recorder with a mic pickup. You plug the mic pickup into the mic jack, put the pickup in your ear like a headphone, and hold the phone up to it. The recorder will capture both of your voices, although you may sound a little quieter on playback. The recorder saves everything to an SD card, and it has a USB in it so you can plug it right into your machine to download files. I find it to be much more reliable than using a recorder app on my phone. I've never lost data on a physical recorder, but I've definitely lost data from apps. I also take a lot of notes during my interviews, and try to write down full quotes when possible, just in case. Good luck!
posted by k8lin at 7:47 PM on August 19, 2019
posted by k8lin at 7:47 PM on August 19, 2019
If you get a Google Voice number, you can record the call. It generally costs $0.10/minute though. An hour interview will cost you $6.00. If you have an Android phone, there are several apps that will record the call too. (I use Call Recorder Pro. I think I got it for free, but there may be a few dollar charge for it. I record every call made or received on my phone.)
posted by AugustWest at 9:17 PM on August 19, 2019
posted by AugustWest at 9:17 PM on August 19, 2019
WhatsApp has call and video options, totally free, and uses wifi not cell tower data so any number works.
posted by erattacorrige at 9:54 PM on August 19, 2019
posted by erattacorrige at 9:54 PM on August 19, 2019
I've used WhatsApp calling internationally without any issues. Just make sure you both have a decent data connection.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:46 AM on August 20, 2019
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:46 AM on August 20, 2019
Definitely WhatsApp. It’s the go-to in my international company.
posted by something something at 3:43 AM on August 20, 2019
posted by something something at 3:43 AM on August 20, 2019
WhatsApp or FaceTime or Skype would each work for a voice call. No suggestions for recording. For all of these it makes no difference where you’re located, you just need data/WiFi.
posted by koahiatamadl at 4:33 AM on August 20, 2019
posted by koahiatamadl at 4:33 AM on August 20, 2019
Response by poster: Thanks for the all the input. To the people recommending Skype, I have Skype on my laptop, but not on my phone. Can I use my laptop to call his phone? I've only ever Skyped on my laptop, and I don't quite understand the difference.
I have the tape-a-call app on my phone, but am not sure it would work with What'sApp. The drag is that there's no good way to test this in advance, and I don't want to appear to this guy like a total bozo, but the truth is I am a pretty low-tech human being.
Maybe the surest way is to go with freeconferencecall.
posted by swheatie at 7:49 AM on August 20, 2019
I have the tape-a-call app on my phone, but am not sure it would work with What'sApp. The drag is that there's no good way to test this in advance, and I don't want to appear to this guy like a total bozo, but the truth is I am a pretty low-tech human being.
Maybe the surest way is to go with freeconferencecall.
posted by swheatie at 7:49 AM on August 20, 2019
I have Skype on my laptop, but not on my phone. Can I use my laptop to call his phone? I've only ever Skyped on my laptop, and I don't quite understand the difference.
You can totally Skype call from a laptop. It's actually a little easier. Just make sure you have earphones/headset to make sure the quality of recording is good, and that you have a method of recording calls (I use Call Recorder for this, it's not free but it's pretty cheap)
posted by jessamyn at 8:38 AM on August 20, 2019
You can totally Skype call from a laptop. It's actually a little easier. Just make sure you have earphones/headset to make sure the quality of recording is good, and that you have a method of recording calls (I use Call Recorder for this, it's not free but it's pretty cheap)
posted by jessamyn at 8:38 AM on August 20, 2019
Google Voice is free when using it to talk to someone via the app or for US numbers, and has good international rates. It has a recording feature as well. You can also use it directly inside of Chrome without installing anything if I remember correctly.
posted by nalyd at 4:45 PM on August 20, 2019
posted by nalyd at 4:45 PM on August 20, 2019
Response by poster: I'm just reporting back that I did my call with the guy in France using Freeconferencecall.com and recorded the call and it was simple and worked great.
posted by swheatie at 8:55 AM on August 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by swheatie at 8:55 AM on August 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
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If he's an American in Europe with just an American cell phone number, any method of calling him from the U.S. or even patching through from Europe is likely to be expensive for him, hence using data and an app based connection is likely to be a better bet.
posted by Jahaza at 5:43 PM on August 19, 2019 [12 favorites]