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The Queen's phones #95844
04/26/2016 04:39 PM
04/26/2016 04:39 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,143
JimCandD Offline OP
Traveler
JimCandD  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,143
I was wondering what the charge would be to call one of these phones from the US. We know that incoming calls are free on the phone, but we have an older relative that might want to call and need to know what they will have to pay.

SXM Sponsors
Re: The Queen's phones [Re: JimCandD] #95845
04/26/2016 04:47 PM
04/26/2016 04:47 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
It's a regular international call. It depends on their calling plan. If they have no international calling plan at all, it's often like $2 or $2.50 a minute. You could tell them they could call you and you will call right back. Either that or make specific arrangements to call them at a certain time.


Carol Hill
Re: The Queen's phones [Re: JimCandD] #95846
04/26/2016 04:55 PM
04/26/2016 04:55 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,673
Newtown, CT
kim Offline
Traveler
kim  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,673
Newtown, CT
I have Charter Cable for my telephone and when I call the island from home it's under .30 cents a minute. Think .22 but not 100% sure

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: kim] #95847
04/26/2016 05:34 PM
04/26/2016 05:34 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,625
United States of America
bdeeley Offline
Traveler
bdeeley  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,625
United States of America
Buy an international calling card and you can get it down to pennies a minute


Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁
Re: The Queen's phones [Re: JimCandD] #95848
04/26/2016 05:47 PM
04/26/2016 05:47 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
Traveler
ruralcarrier  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
We use an international calling card to call the island and it is around 12 cents per minute.


J.D.
Re: The Queen's phones [Re: JimCandD] #95849
04/26/2016 07:22 PM
04/26/2016 07:22 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,143
JimCandD Offline OP
Traveler
JimCandD  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,143
Where are these cards available?

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: JimCandD] #95850
04/26/2016 07:32 PM
04/26/2016 07:32 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
Traveler
ruralcarrier  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
You can do an internet search or probably buy one at a local store. You have to watch the charge per minute and what other fees might be involved. They are basically a "virtual calling card". You call a central number from a predetermined number, have credit on your account/card and then call the country.

I just checked the one we use and it was 13 cents per minute in March. You can get started with as little as $10 in credit. $10 would give you about 75 minutes of calling time to SXM.

Below is the site I have used. Check it out and see if it works for you.
https://www.idirectdial.global/


J.D.
Re: The Queen's phones [Re: ruralcarrier] #95851
04/26/2016 07:45 PM
04/26/2016 07:45 PM
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 272
Tennessee, USA
B
Bobinmobile Offline
Traveler
Bobinmobile  Offline
Traveler
B
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 272
Tennessee, USA
Try skype
About $0.03 per minute
You just need the free app and a wifi connection
Keep your phone on airplane mode
There are several free wifi points around the island

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: JimCandD] #95852
04/26/2016 07:48 PM
04/26/2016 07:48 PM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,000
North Kingstown, Rhode Island
RI Bob C Offline
Traveler
RI Bob C  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,000
North Kingstown, Rhode Island
When we let our family and friends know our number we tell them to simply text us a hello and we call them back.

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: Bobinmobile] #95853
04/26/2016 08:03 PM
04/26/2016 08:03 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
Traveler
ruralcarrier  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
Quote
Bobinmobile said:
Try skype
About $0.03 per minute
You just need the free app and a wifi connection
Keep your phone on airplane mode
There are several free wifi points around the island


Remember, the original question was about calling TO the island from the states.

I am still in the dark ages and don't have a smart phone. For $20 I was able to be in touch with home for 2 weeks. It works well and I can add other numbers so if someone (mother-in-law, sister, etc) needs to call they can do it at my expense. If I have to worry about the difference between a 3 cent call and a 13 cent call then I probably should not be in SXM.


J.D.
Re: The Queen's phones [Re: ruralcarrier] #95854
04/26/2016 08:35 PM
04/26/2016 08:35 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,673
Newtown, CT
kim Offline
Traveler
kim  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,673
Newtown, CT
I have my "island phone" - an old iPhone that Sharon put a SIM card in for me. I add $$ to it every couple months to keep it active. I use that all over the island for calling taxi's, restaurant reservations, etc. My "smartphone" is a Verizon iPhone 6, for $10.00 a day it works just as it does at home. Being self employed, we don't get vacations where we can cut the cord, but this enables us to still be in contact all the time and take multiple vacations. So sure, $10 a day is steep, but that's calling home, texting and data, and phone acts like it's still in CT. Worth every penny.

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: kim] #95855
04/26/2016 08:39 PM
04/26/2016 08:39 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
Traveler
ruralcarrier  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
It is not always about what is the "cheapest", especially if you need to be in touch with home or a business. When I get a smart phone I will get your mom to show me the ropes!


J.D.
Re: The Queen's phones [Re: ruralcarrier] #95856
04/26/2016 08:50 PM
04/26/2016 08:50 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,673
Newtown, CT
kim Offline
Traveler
kim  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,673
Newtown, CT
Quote
ruralcarrier said:
It is not always about what is the "cheapest", especially if you need to be in touch with home or a business. When I get a smart phone I will get your mom to show me the ropes!


Oh jeez!!! Good luck with that!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: kim] #95857
04/27/2016 09:39 AM
04/27/2016 09:39 AM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,143
JimCandD Offline OP
Traveler
JimCandD  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,143
Thanks to all. This gives us options to look into. We are looking into ease of calling as she is in her 80's and not phone smart. It would be nice if the charges were low, but not necessary.

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: JimCandD] #95858
04/27/2016 09:55 AM
04/27/2016 09:55 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Maybe the easiest thing to do then would be for you to set up a time to call her?


Carol Hill
Re: The Queen's phones [Re: Carol_Hill] #95859
04/27/2016 10:17 AM
04/27/2016 10:17 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
Traveler
ruralcarrier  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
Quote
Carol_Hill said:
Maybe the easiest thing to do then would be for you to set up a time to call her?

For 32 cents per minute for an outbound call from Sharon's phone, that is what I would do. In the case of an emergency, she can call and hopefully that is not the case.


J.D.
Re: The Queen's phones [Re: ruralcarrier] #95860
04/27/2016 12:10 PM
04/27/2016 12:10 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,666
MIA
I
irina Offline
Traveler
irina  Offline
Traveler
I
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,666
MIA
Why not get a skype number in her local area. That's what we did. We got a Vonage phone to call the states and got a Boca Raton number so it was local for my MIL.
Very easy.
She doesn't need a computer to call your Skype or Vonage number.
Cheers
irina

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: irina] #95861
04/27/2016 01:47 PM
04/27/2016 01:47 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,143
JimCandD Offline OP
Traveler
JimCandD  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,143
Thanks for all of the input. We probably will get one of Sharon's phones and pick a time each day to call. There is someone near we can call who is local, but my wife is POA. She is doing well now, but you are always concerned about your mother at that age. Last year we could e-mail but her father passed and her mother doesn't know how.

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: JimCandD] #95862
04/27/2016 02:17 PM
04/27/2016 02:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
OK, hope it works out for you. Having elderly parents ourselves, we certainly understand.


Carol Hill
Re: The Queen's phones [Re: JimCandD] #95863
04/27/2016 03:41 PM
04/27/2016 03:41 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
Traveler
ruralcarrier  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
Probably best and I hope it works out. The less complicated the better.


J.D.
Re: The Queen's phones [Re: JimCandD] #95864
04/27/2016 04:58 PM
04/27/2016 04:58 PM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,111
St. Maarten/Long Island
SharonfromSXM Offline
Traveler
SharonfromSXM  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,111
St. Maarten/Long Island
You can also use www.CALLSXM.COM & they can provide you with a US phone number that when someone calls that number it will ring on your SXM phone from me. You are pre-paying for the amount of time you want & many of my customers with older parents use this. $13.00 gets you about 65 minutes & there is no PIN number or any other numbers Involved except the US phone number the company would provide you with.

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: SharonfromSXM] #95865
04/27/2016 07:01 PM
04/27/2016 07:01 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
Traveler
ruralcarrier  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
Sounds like a good deal.


J.D.
Re: The Queen's phones [Re: SharonfromSXM] #95866
04/27/2016 07:28 PM
04/27/2016 07:28 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Sharon--thanks for posting that. I didn't know that was available. It sounds like a good option for older folks, so they don't have to go through a bunch of hoops that they don't understand.


Carol Hill
Re: The Queen's phones [Re: Carol_Hill] #95867
04/27/2016 07:47 PM
04/27/2016 07:47 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
Traveler
GaKaye  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
Exactly! I'm excited to know about this for our next trip.

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: ruralcarrier] #95868
04/27/2016 08:26 PM
04/27/2016 08:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
S
SXMBND Online content
Traveler
SXMBND  Online Content
Traveler
S
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
Quote
ruralcarrier said:
Quote
Bobinmobile said:
Try skype
About $0.03 per minute
You just need the free app and a wifi connection
Keep your phone on airplane mode
There are several free wifi points around the island


Remember, the original question was about calling TO the island from the states.

I am still in the dark ages and don't have a smart phone. For $20 I was able to be in touch with home for 2 weeks. It works well and I can add other numbers so if someone (mother-in-law, sister, etc) needs to call they can do it at my expense. If I have to worry about the difference between a 3 cent call and a 13 cent call then I probably should not be in SXM.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this !!!

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: SharonfromSXM] #95869
04/27/2016 08:28 PM
04/27/2016 08:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
S
SXMBND Online content
Traveler
SXMBND  Online Content
Traveler
S
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
Quote
SharonfromSXM said:
You can also use www.CALLSXM.COM & they can provide you with a US phone number that when someone calls that number it will ring on your SXM phone from me. You are pre-paying for the amount of time you want & many of my customers with older parents use this. $13.00 gets you about 65 minutes & there is no PIN number or any other numbers Involved except the US phone number the company would provide you with.



Perfect solution for many......thank you Sharon <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: SXMBND] #95870
04/27/2016 08:55 PM
04/27/2016 08:55 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 74
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Nowhatched Offline
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Nowhatched  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 74
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
I used Callsxm.com this past March for phone calls from my brother's Doctor in the states. The doctor was able to call me direct with no worries that it was an international call. I highly recommend this service even if you don't have someone with medical issues at home.

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: SharonfromSXM] #95871
04/27/2016 10:00 PM
04/27/2016 10:00 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,143
JimCandD Offline OP
Traveler
JimCandD  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,143
That sounds like a wonderful solution! Thanks a lot!

Re: The Queen's phones [Re: JimCandD] #95872
04/28/2016 09:27 AM
04/28/2016 09:27 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 538
Sugar Land, Tx
I
IslandBoi Offline
Traveler
IslandBoi  Offline
Traveler
I
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 538
Sugar Land, Tx
Rebtel also provides a similar LD service, they assign you a local US number for a connection to an international number...this can be set up for tel. numbers in SXM, as well as most other countries in the world...this is also useful for making international LD calls from the US with your cellphone, without having to sign up for an international calling plan with you cell provider

we've been using the service for several years for calling family living outside the US

Rebtel Long Distance


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