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Question

3G calls from European data plan to US on Iphone?

by Apr 26, 2013 5:42AM PDT

American living in Europe for the next 3 years with a question.

I have an unlocked Iphone that has a 2gb / month plan with Vodafone Italy. Calling America from my Italian cell is incredibly expensive, but I don't go over the 2 gbs, and I'm wondering if there's an app (google voice, skype, etc?) that would let me call over data, without being charged minutes.

Any help would be awesome!

Discussion is locked

8 Posts
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Answer
Let's lead with no.
by Forum moderator Apr 26, 2013 6:20AM PDT

Unless you shut off the cellular and do this over wifi with skype or what you listed it usually eats up your minutes faster than a horde of locusts.
Bob

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to clarify
by imdashep Apr 26, 2013 6:43AM PDT

Well, I have unlimited calling within italy, but obscene rates to america. Hence, hoping to just use data. But you're saying it won't let me do that?

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Not only that.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 26, 2013 6:48AM PDT

But I wrote it. There appear to be no plan that would help here. But my friends from Canada do what I wrote above without trouble.
Bob

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Skype over WiFi should do you,
by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Apr 26, 2013 9:40AM PDT

as long as you are not using a WiFi connection that is linked to your cellular account.

The iPhone will default to using WiFi, if it is connected to a WiFi network.

P

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Still confused
by imdashep Apr 26, 2013 6:16PM PDT

Can't say any of these responses clarify it.

What is the way your Canadian friend does it?

And I don't understand what you said Mrmacfixit

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As you already know
by samkh Apr 26, 2013 11:30PM PDT
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Hoping to clarify Skype
by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Apr 27, 2013 12:00AM PDT

Calls between Skype users are free but, if you are using the cellular signal from Vodaphone Italy, the free Skype call will eat into your data plan.

Some people have a device that receives the cell signal and pushes out a wireless signal (WiFI). Using this for Skype to Skype calls will also eat into your data plan.

If you have internet access (broadband) at your residence, cable or DSL for instance, that is completely separate from your Vodaphone Italy system, then Skype to Skype calls will NOT eat into your data plan.
The internet access at your residence must be wired and Wifi.
You then configure your phone to connect to the wifi signal and from that point on, any surfing or Skype Calling is done on the residence internet connection and NOT on the cell connection provided by Vodaphone Italy.

You can also do the above at a free wifi hotspot. Just connect the phone to the free wifi and away you go.

P

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I highly recommend Talkatone
by Pepe7 Apr 28, 2013 12:52PM PDT

Not only does it let you call U.S. phone numbers for free utilizing your Google Voice number, you can receive calls in Europe that way too. SMS works great too.

If the OP can limit the length of such calls, a 2GB bucket of data may suffice, depending on what other cellular usage is going on during that month. Someone who doesn't pull much video or audio will probably do just fine.

Regarding Skype, if you turn off the video calling it drastically reduces the amount of data you go through.

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