Job Discussion Forums

[Lulu2]

Does anyone know if Voice Over IP works from Saudi? If not, what's the cheapest way to make international calls (landline-landline)?

[Abba]

Why not try Internet-Phone cards, I have used Phoneserve Card which you can use with internet to call phones. I have tried it to UK, and was very cheap.
Also, you my try the shopping centre called "Madinah City Center" which is a tall building in Madinah road, you will find plenty of PC shops where they sell different International phone cards.

[Bebsi]

Phoneserve is the Biz!!!!

It's about 4c a minute to the UK and the US, 5c to Ireland and 13c to Romania (fixed lines linly...considerably higher if you call a mobile).

[Cleopatra]

I second the above: Phoneserve is great!

You buy a prepaid scratch card in a newsagent or other outlet, download the software on your computer and you're away! Even with lousy dial-up, I have found the phone line to be OK, and it's usually possible to have a lengthy conversation with just some echo and occasional delays. And it's so cheap as to be almost free!

[scot47]

What about Skype? Someone was hyping it up to me the other day.

I still use the old-fashioned landline and am trying to come this new-fangled technologoy of the so-called mobile phone.

I thiink it might just be a fad, a passing fashion - like the internal combustion engine.

[Turando]

Hi,

I use Skype and my friend uses Yahoo Messenger. It's about 1c/minute. It's pretty good in my opinion (I'm on DSL). For about $10US you get about 10 hours of calls. I use it alot. The phonecards in Saudi seem to be alot more expensive (particularly to Australia).

HTH

[Bebsi]

In KSA, phonecards generally ARE expensive. However, Phoneserve is not a phonecard as such, it is a card that you use to make PC-2-Phone calls. As Cleo says, just go into any computer shop, ask for a card, which costs 35-40 SAR, download the software from www.phoneserve.com and enter the details from the card. It's all very easy to navigate. It costs just a couple of cent to the US, about the same as Skype if you are calling a fixed line phone.

For those not familiar with internet voice chatting, all you need is a set of headphones and a mic (usually built into the h/ph), and downlaod something like Phoneserve.

Skype has the advantage of free PC-2-PC calls, but so does Yahoo, the quality of which annoyed me last time I tried using it, about 2 years ago.

Scot, when I go on Gooogle Earth for a nostalgic look at KSA from the air, and I see plumes of smoke coming from that direction, is it you outside with the blanket and the burning leaves, having a chat with Mrs Scot????

[KSA-UK]

I have used phoneserve before to call the UK. Bebsi 's right It IS cheap but the big problem is that it is not full duplex.
I need to check skype, I think their rates are also very cheap. they do Voice over IP with full duplex. I think you can now buy the cards from Jareer bookstore. I 'll try and see how it works. There is another option: you can buy these new dialup phones(quite expensive though)that enable you to make phone calls through the net. I think you need to have an account with one of these Voice O IP companies and top up your credit on line by CC .
I am trying everything to reduce my Jawal bill. STC is making loads of Riyals with the expats, so I don't think the situation is going to change soon. In order to enter the market Mobily had to pay billions of Riyals to STC! The STC monopoly is not going to end that easily. That's another thing Saudis must try to change if they want to join the WTO.

[Abba]

[Lulu2]

Thanks everyone for the information. I'm going to try Phoneserve first - hopefully it will help me save some money; I've been spending so much on overseas phone calls ever since I got here. Thanks again.

[Cleopatra]

[Mr Gohlam]

There are many options, but phoneserve is most reliable.