Short term overseas communication need

As with most things, I turn to this group for guidance.

Scenario:
My daughter is going to Russia for 2 weeks with my mom at the end of this month. They are taking a river cruise up the Volga with Viking Cruise Lines.

The Need:
We want/need to be able to communicate with our baby girl while she's gone, either by phone or something like Skype (of which I know nothing more than the name).

The Solution:
Not sure, hence the question. She does not have a cell phone yet, nor do I want to buy her one just for this trip. I've had friends offer me phones for her to use while overseas, but I'm unsure if that will work and if it will, what I need to do to make it work. Another option I've thought of would be a laptop with a camera so we could chat online. The boat they'll be on has good wi-fi evidently, but, again, I'm not up on Skype or what equipment I need to get her.

What should I do?

I'd say Skype it. Skype can be done for free....possibly (Though I think some features are limited) and all you need then is some wifi and a laptop with a cam and a mic (which 99% of have these days). My aunt lives in the Phillipines and skypes her son in VA all the time.

mndsm wrote: I'd say Skype it. Skype can be done for free....possibly (Though I think some features are limited) and all you need then is some wifi and a laptop with a cam and a mic (which 99% of have these days). My aunt lives in the Phillipines and skypes her son in VA all the time.

Sounds like a good plan to me. I guess we could also IM with that set up, which would be fun too.

I use Skype a lot for international business calls. Clarity ranges from superb to horrid, but usually pretty good. Considering the cost, it's a no-brainer. All you need is a decent head set, load the program, done. You can also use it for calls to regular land lines as well, but you have to pay in first. Per minute rates are low. I am quite satisfied with it.

Whatever you do, DO NOT use your home phone without setting up an international calling plan. From my time working at Verizon I got a few calls a week from someone who just made a few quick calls while a family member was overseas. Without a plan calls can be $'s per minute. With a plan .10 - .20 per minute.

Check the online wifi costs.. Some liners are pricey/min.

Hocrest wrote: Whatever you do, DO NOT use your home phone without setting up an international calling plan. From my time working at Verizon I got a few calls a week from someone who just made a few quick calls while a family member was overseas. Without a plan calls can be $'s per minute. With a plan .10 - .20 per minute.

Good to know. Thanks for the heads up.

4Msfam wrote: Check the online wifi costs.. Some liners are pricey/min.

Also good to know. I just checked their site and it states that all ships in Europe, Russia and Ukraine have free wi-fi.

May want to check out what pre-paid plans are in that area, although its a good bet the Skype will be cheaper. Android apps are available for the use of Skype. If you have one, its a good idea to use such an app.

N Sperlo wrote: May want to check out what pre-paid plans are in that area, although its a good bet the Skype will be cheaper. Android apps are available for the use of Skype. If you have one, its a good idea to use such an app.

Would that include an Android tablet? I saw one of those for sale locally on CL and am considering that too.

I skyped with my wife for free. As noted, quality runs the gamut from pretty okay to absolutely crappy. Mornings worked best for us. Evenings not so much. Any 'puter running windows with a webcam attached and high speed internet service should give acceptable results under ideal circumstances. (How's that for a disclaimer?)

In reply to dyintorace:

I'm less familiar with them, but I would assume they would have as many or more apps because it should be running a newer version of the software and the hardware would be tougher.

I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find out and those tablets can be pretty impressive.

Hocrest wrote: Whatever you do, DO NOT use your home phone without setting up an international calling plan.

I just read a story in the Sunday paper about someone who traveled to Mexico - they got an international calling plan set up, but even with that in place they got charged for every minute their phone was turned on, not just for the minutes they talked. The story suggested some other options as described below.

I know this was in Mexico and not Russia, but it's worth checking with your provider to make sure you don't get hosed.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A New Richland, Minn., man was in sticker shock after returning from a weeklong vacation in Mexico this spring. But it wasn't the hotels or other travel expenses that broke the bank. It was the joy ride his cellphone took while he was there.

The 20-year-old checked with his cellphone company before leaving and added 75 international minutes to his account.

His says his carrier forgot to tell him one important thing: As long as his phone was turned on in Mexico, it would try to find a signal. For that activity he would be charged $5 per minute.

The traveler made few calls, so he was surprised to later find out that he was hit with $1,400 in charges during his trip, mostly for leaving his phone turned on while it was physically outside its normal coverage area. After he complained, the company agreed to reduce his bill to $1,000.

To avoid similar problems, the Better Business Bureau offers the following suggestions to international travelers:

• Contact your cellphone provider to learn applicable rules.

• Turn off your phone when not in use - or leave it at home.

• Consider renting or buying an international cellphone.

• Buy a prepaid SIM card if you plan to make a lot of calls. This gives you access to a local phone number at the country's local rate.

Wen my parents went to the EU a couple of years ago, they bought a throw a way cell phone. Used it while they were there and then pitched it in the trash at the airport.

stuart in mn wrote:

Hocrest wrote: Whatever you do, DO NOT use your home phone without setting up an international calling plan.

I just read a story in the Sunday paper about someone who traveled to Mexico - they got an international calling plan set up, but even with that in place they got charged for every minute their phone was turned on, not just for the minutes they talked. The story suggested some other options as described below. I know this was in Mexico and not Russia, but it's worth checking with your provider to make sure you don't get hosed. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A New Richland, Minn., man was in sticker shock after returning from a weeklong vacation in Mexico this spring. But it wasn't the hotels or other travel expenses that broke the bank. It was the joy ride his cellphone took while he was there. The 20-year-old checked with his cellphone company before leaving and added 75 international minutes to his account. His says his carrier forgot to tell him one important thing: As long as his phone was turned on in Mexico, it would try to find a signal. For that activity he would be charged $5 per minute. The traveler made few calls, so he was surprised to later find out that he was hit with $1,400 in charges during his trip, mostly for leaving his phone turned on while it was physically outside its normal coverage area. After he complained, the company agreed to reduce his bill to $1,000. To avoid similar problems, the Better Business Bureau offers the following suggestions to international travelers: • Contact your cellphone provider to learn applicable rules. • Turn off your phone when not in use - or leave it at home. • Consider renting or buying an international cellphone. • Buy a prepaid SIM card if you plan to make a lot of calls. This gives you access to a local phone number at the country's local rate.

Yikes. That isn't a good story.

Toyman01 wrote: Wen my parents went to the EU a couple of years ago, they bought a throw a way cell phone. Used it while they were there and then pitched it in the trash at the airport.

Might be a good option too.

dyintorace wrote:

Toyman01 wrote: Wen my parents went to the EU a couple of years ago, they bought a throw a way cell phone. Used it while they were there and then pitched it in the trash at the airport.

Might be a good option too.

Recommendations by renowned cheapskate Clark Howard. http://www.clarkhoward.com/categories/technology/phones-mobile-devices/using-cell-phones-overseas/

Google also has a program called Google Voice. It works with your cell phone and gives you a local number. You access it and you're basically paying for data rates to make phone calls. I did it to have a local number here and also retain my old number. I think the rates are super cheap too.

Check it...

Google Voice Rates

Conquest351 wrote: Google also has a program called Google Voice. It works with your cell phone and gives you a local number. You access it and you're basically paying for data rates to make phone calls. I did it to have a local number here and also retain my old number. I think the rates are super cheap too. Check it... Google Voice Rates

Skype also does the exact same thing AFAIK. Having used Skype for years ($2.99cdn for unlimited calling throughout north america and mexico), I can highly recommend it!

You might want to contact Viking Cruise Lines and see if they offer anything.

Yet another alternative, if your daughter has a GSM phone, which is mostly used by AT&T and T-Mobile and the provider lock can be removed, would be to simply purchase a Russian prepaid SIM card. In Europe, you don't tend to have to pay for incoming calls so she probably wouldn't have to use up the prepaid balance.

OTOH, calls to European cell phones cost more so you'd have to carefully check that. They are usually not included in the "unlimited calls to country X" plans on Skype as they normally only cover landlined in Europe.