Cheap card to call Colombia from the US?

Clinman says on Mar 9, 2008, 16:46:

Colombia is a little more expensive than other South American countries to call. You can use the calling card from zaptel.com and you can get .10 a minutes for calls to cell phones and .5 for land lines. Of course you can use Skype to Skype application via the computer for no charge

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ColombianoGringo says on Mar 9, 2008, 17:04:

Cards tend to be a ripoff with all the hidden charges and maintencance fees. It is better to use a prepaid service such as nobelcom.com, tel3advantage.com or pingo.com.

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CatGirl says on Mar 9, 2008, 17:17:

I find sometimes cheap = poor quality too

I had trouble with tel3advantage with horrible connections/reception to Colombia. Sometimes I would end up calling India! True Tele3 IS cheap, but I got tired of the problems. How much is your time worth to you? Maybe they changed recently? Customer service was a hassel too. So I shopped around and changed.

I found www.mobilecaller.com to be pretty good with connections and you can be more specific to where in Colombia you are calling and how clear you want your calls. See if it works for you. I have recommended it to others and they have had the same good experience.

By the way....I have never tried their "value" package, but the clear one is affordable and you at least get a good connection ;))

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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rocinante says on Mar 9, 2008, 17:30:

Orbitel. Buy the $10 card for $8 at a wholesaler. You get 6 hours to a land line.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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CatGirl says on Mar 9, 2008, 17:34:

Wow Roci!

$8.00 for 6 hours? Not bad. How good is the connection?

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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rocinante says on Mar 9, 2008, 17:43:

The best. No connection fees either.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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Chriscan says on Mar 9, 2008, 18:33:

I use Skype. I call from Canada to a Colombian cell phone for 11.5 cents a minute. I think land lines are about half that. They just updated it and the quality is really good now.

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

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rocinante says on Mar 9, 2008, 18:46:

Skype is a calling card? I thought they were just computer internet calls to land/cell

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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CatGirl says on Mar 9, 2008, 19:25:

I was under the same impression with Skype...

Well, Roci - he can always use bluetooth technology and keep his lap top with him at all times jaja

Unless of couse Skype can be used on an Ipod phone?

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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bamacellist says on Mar 9, 2008, 20:01:

Look into IBNtel, http://www.ibntel.com/ rates vary depending on where you're calling and they have several different ways to connect.

"The future is much like the present, only longer."

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LDW says on Mar 9, 2008, 20:15:

Best I have seen is www.12voip.com.

You need a computer (with mic and earphones) and broad band internet (banda ancha).

$10.50 euros (about $16 US) will give unlimited long distance (to land lines only) from USA to Colombia for 3 months.

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Buongone says on Mar 9, 2008, 21:58:

Skype, USA to Cali. $0.09 a minute. Computer to cell phone. Good reception most of the time.

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lampltr says on Mar 10, 2008, 03:22:

Amen C.G., Very negative on the U.S. for sure. Was reassured by 3 companies Colombia was inexpensive with per minute charges being this and that. 2 cards were a waste of dinero and a total ripoff as not possible to call CO, the other (AT&T), was way overcharging. End up using a direct long distance via Verizon land line, all perfect except for the final bill....had to refinance my mothers home jaja.

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Miamigo says on Mar 10, 2008, 05:44:

I have relied on the PinFree service from MultiPhone (http://www.multiphone.net) for the past 5 years. They just dropped their prices for calling the 4 major cities (Bogota, Medellin, Barranquilla, Cali) to 3.9¢ per minute (it was 7.5¢). Other places in Colombia are 5.3¢ per minute. Cell phones went up a short while back to 15¢ per minute, though. Still, I have found this to be by far the most reliable and easy service to use.

The PinFree number has been programmed into our cell and landline phones forever, it seems -- it recognizes your number (you can register as many different numbers to call from as you want) and you just dial the number in Colombia from there (or, as we do for frequently called numbers, have that number pre-programmed automatically into your phone as well). I have tried cards and what were at the time cheaper services, and I have found this to be the best.

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nueva york bombero says on Mar 10, 2008, 05:51:

I agree with Roc.... Orbitel is all I use. I call every day and it is cheapest and most reliable.
Hot Dog is good also, but I trust Orbitel.

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rocinante says on Mar 10, 2008, 05:56:

The connection with Orbitel is great. The calls never get dropped. I get the impression the OP doesn't want to be chained to his computer with a skype phone in order to make calls. Miamigo seems to have something good there, but they might have some charges that are put on your credit card. I don't like giving out my card because that give companies the liberty to charge you for something later on down the line.

I know pennies add up but I like the Orbitel calling card, I pay in advance for the card can use it from a pay phone or my cell or landline and no hidden fees or recurring charges to my credit card. JMHO

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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nueva york bombero says on Mar 10, 2008, 06:02:

Exactly.... Flexibility, safety, ease of use, cheap. Sounds like those girls Elmo hangs out with!!!!

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muchacho_escondido says on Mar 10, 2008, 10:05:

Thank you, people!

Yes, right, I'd rather not be chained to my computer. I spend more than enough time doing that at work...Besides, it'd be great if I could call from my cell phone, wherever I am and whenever I feel like calling.

Looks like Orbitel is considered a good card. But will it work when calling a mobile phone? And if so, where exactly do they sell them?

For those of you who don't mind using computers on both sides: MSN Messanger is decent and you get the video too.

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GregYohn says on Mar 11, 2008, 11:45:

Hola!

I can call Colombia landline TELEPHONES for 300 minutes a week for 12 weeks and I need to give 12Voip.com 10 Euros/$15. After 12 weeks, the calls cost about .01 Euros-$.0015 a minute so you can use up your balance during your 4 month of use.

Get DSL or faster internet with a microphone and speakers and you are ready to go!!

OOPS!

Chriscan says on Sunday March 9th, 2008 18:33:

I use Skype. I call from Canada to a Colombian cell phone for 11.5 cents a minute. I think land lines are about half that. They just updated it and the quality is really good now.

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

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Piotrowski says on Apr 9, 2008, 12:28:

a new card to latin america was launched by Union Telecard, i received an email last week and it offers these rates
Colombia 5.0
Colombia Cellular 8.3
Colombia,Barranquilla 2.0
Colombia,Bogota 1.9
Colombia,Cali 1.6
Colombia,Medellin 2.5

this is the link if you want to try it out http://www.uniontelecard.com/phonecards/7455/usa-la-leyenda/, there is a 20% discount for new customers, a good deal if you ask me

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rjstuff says on Apr 9, 2008, 13:31:

The problem with most cards is that they charge you even when you are not using them. Piontropwski's usa-la-leyendra charges you this:
Maintenance Fee
A 79¢ maintenance fee applies second day after first completed call and every 14 days thereafter

And that's the killer in several that I tried. We now use mega clean from the same web site because it has no fees when not being used. Two of our other friends switched to it also. http://www.uniontelecard.com/phonecards/2045/mega-clean-and-stable/
Read the terms of all the cards that you look at - I found this to be best for us. If you find something better let us know. Good Luck

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