Going to Colombia - Best way to use my N4 to keep in touch with family in the US?

[willdogs]

Hi All
Ill be in colombia for 10 days and trying to figure out the best way to cheaply call and text folks back in the US while there

Now I know the first step is to get a local SIM with local colombian # and data plan. Anyone have any tips on which to get?

Also, what apps or services should I set up to communicate back to home with family and friends before I go? Google Voice? LINE? Skype?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[CoMoNexus]

If you have Vonage, and if there's Wi-Fi in the places you'll be, try Vonage's Extensions app. The quality is hit and miss, in my experience, so I recommend using it before you leave to see if it's something you can rely on. It doesn't support inbound calls, though.

Another possibility is Truphone: Pay as you go SIM

Skype definitely is an option, especially if all or most of your family and friends use it and if there will be Wi-Fi where you're traveling.

Good luck.

 

[semp1]

Skype works best. That's how I communicated with my girl when she went to Colombia to visit her family. Also most people use that.

Posted via My Developer's Edition HTC one

 

[willdogs]

Thanks. Looks like skype will be the easiest, even if I have to pay a small fee to make calls. Thanks!

So just to make sure im good here is my plan
1. Get a local SIM with unlimited Data
2. Use skype to communicate with those back home

Is it just that easy?

EDIT: Do I want to do a skype 1 month subscription and cancel it when i get back? Or do I want pay as you go credit?

 

[CoMoNexus]

Is it just that easy?

I recommend comparing the networks to find one that has the data speeds and coverage you need to have a good Skype experience. Maybe some people on here can weigh in about that, especially if you can provide the city/cities where you'll be.

 

[willdogs]

I recommend comparing the networks to find one that has the data speeds and coverage you need to have a good Skype experience. Maybe some people on here can weigh in about that, especially if you can provide the city/cities where you'll be.

Thanks Ill be in Cartegena, Bogota and Medellin

 

[anon(847090)]

Thanks. Looks like skype will be the easiest, even if I have to pay a small fee to make calls. Thanks!

So just to make sure im good here is my plan
1. Get a local SIM with unlimited Data
2. Use skype to communicate with those back home

Is it just that easy?

EDIT: Do I want to do a skype 1 month subscription and cancel it when i get back? Or do I want pay as you go credit?

depends on how much call you make over that 10 day period.

google voice is just 1 cent to the US

 

[Biggnaa20]

EDIT: Do I want to do a skype 1 month subscription and cancel it when i get back? Or do I want pay as you go credit?

First. Congrats on going to Colombia. I had a blast there.

Secondly, If you are going to use SKYPE, I'd suggest the pay as you go credit. I bought around $10 worth and that lasted me a few years. Also, take advantage of WiFi as it's pretty prevalent. You should be able to find hotspots in most restaurants in urban areas. This should really save your prepaid Sim minutes since those eat through data pretty quickly.

NB

 

[CoMoNexus]

Also, take advantage of WiFi as it's pretty prevalent. You should be able to find hotspots in most restaurants in urban areas.

Are the hotspots typically locked down? I was in the Bahamas a couple of months ago, and there was public Wi-Fi everywhere, indoors and out. But everything required a password. So I did a lot of email checking while eating because restaurants provided their password if you ordered a meal.

 

[elvisgp]

You could probably download and install hangouts to message others. It is free and requires a WiFi connection, I think.

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD

 

[taj7575]

This is what I did, and I kept it touch everywhere I went out of the country:

1. Set up a Google Voice #
2. Buy about $10 worth of calling credits (Google Voice has been the cheapest in terms of International Calling that I have ever seen)
3. Download GrooveIP (Normal or Premium. Premium is nice as it lets you call over Wi-Fi or data, while Normal uses just Wi-Fi).
4. When you go to the other country, buy a SIM (link for a similar discussion to find a good SIM for Colombia: SIM-card to use in Colombia for a tourist - Cartagena Forum - TripAdvisor)

Now - here's a glitch I found when I was abroad. It may work for you as well. Although GrooveIP is wonderful, it doesn't work as great as calling through a mobile service. What I found was, when I was in the other country and had my local # set up, I could still go to google voice settings, and I set it as *use google voice to make all calls*. I had a 100 local minutes, and as you know, Google Voice calls just use your normal minutes. I found that I was able to make international calls with those local minutes as long as I had Google Voice set to make all calls.

Now - as for texting, I found that I was also able to use my Google Voice app for texting. If you find a place with Wi-Fi, you can text through GV using Wi-Fi. I also found another little glitch where I texted American numbers through my Google Voice on data and had no problem.

I hope this helps

 

[willdogs]

This is what I did, and I kept it touch everywhere I went out of the country:

1. Set up a Google Voice #
2. Buy about $10 worth of calling credits (Google Voice has been the cheapest in terms of International Calling that I have ever seen)
3. Download GrooveIP (Normal or Premium. Premium is nice as it lets you call over Wi-Fi or data, while Normal uses just Wi-Fi).
4. When you go to the other country, buy a SIM (link for a similar discussion to find a good SIM for Colombia: SIM-card to use in Colombia for a tourist - Cartagena Forum - TripAdvisor)

Now - here's a glitch I found when I was abroad. It may work for you as well. Although GrooveIP is wonderful, it doesn't work as great as calling through a mobile service. What I found was, when I was in the other country and had my local # set up, I could still go to google voice settings, and I set it as *use google voice to make all calls*. I had a 100 local minutes, and as you know, Google Voice calls just use your normal minutes. I found that I was able to make international calls with those local minutes as long as I had Google Voice set to make all calls.

Now - as for texting, I found that I was also able to use my Google Voice app for texting. If you find a place with Wi-Fi, you can text through GV using Wi-Fi. I also found another little glitch where I texted American numbers through my Google Voice on data and had no problem.

I hope this helps

Awesome Info thanks!!!!

 

[semp1]

Skype to Skype is free. Just tell everyone to use Skype. Phone calls are free. Only cost if you call non Skype numbers. Also texting us free to other Skype users.

Posted via My Developer's Edition HTC one

 

[Biggnaa20]

Are the hotspots typically locked down? I was in the Bahamas a couple of months ago, and there was public Wi-Fi everywhere, indoors and out. But everything required a password. So I did a lot of email checking while eating because restaurants provided their password if you ordered a meal.

Usually, if you order a meal or a drink, or just ask nicely, you'll get the password. If you go to eat a few places in the same area, you can actually have a decent data network. I've used this method in quite a few countries, and only one location (Little Corn Island, Nicaragua) changed the passwords often enough to be annoying.

nb

 

[willdogs]

So I'm in Colombia and Skype is working well.

Funny thing that I need an answer on....

My prepaid tmobile sim is working fine down here?!?!! Seems a local carrier Movistar picked it up and I have cell service but no data. I was able to call back to New York with no issues. And it's crystal clear.

Question, since I'm on prepaid tmobile will I get charged anywhere for this? Or did I come upon a loophole for free phone service?

Edit: I can also text people back home as well. How weird!?

 

[taj7575]

So I'm in Colombia and Skype is working well.

Funny thing that I need an answer on....

My prepaid tmobile sim is working fine down here?!?!! Seems a local carrier Movistar picked it up and I have cell service but no data. I was able to call back to New York with no issues. And it's crystal clear.

Question, since I'm on prepaid tmobile will I get charged anywhere for this? Or did I come upon a loophole for free phone service?

Edit: I can also text people back home as well. How weird!?

Unsupported Browser

Most importantly: http://wac.04c7.edgecastcdn.net/0004C7/tmo_prepaid/assets/pdf/IntlCallingRates.pdf

Do you have money in your T-Mobile online pre-paid balance? Because if you do, this is not a good thing.

Nexus 4 is an international Phone. T-Mobile is an international company with a lot of roaming agreements. But that is not a good thing. You should never roam with any provider. You'll have so many fees thrown at you! Always buy a SIM wherever you go.

 

[willdogs]

Unsupported Browser

Most importantly: http://wac.04c7.edgecastcdn.net/0004C7/tmo_prepaid/assets/pdf/IntlCallingRates.pdf

Do you have money in your T-Mobile online pre-paid balance? Because if you do, this is not a good thing.

Nexus 4 is an international Phone. T-Mobile is an international company with a lot of roaming agreements. But that is not a good thing. You should never roam with any provider. You'll have so many fees thrown at you! Always buy a SIM wherever you go.

Thanks for the info. For some reason I was under the impression that tmobile pre-paid had no roaming agreements but I guess I was wrong. I did have money in my account since it was ready to renew this month, and Its down $30 from the $60 I had in there. That was a $30 lesson learned lol.
I'm trying to find a place that has SIM cards, but the airport i came in thru didnt have nay place selling. In the meantime ive been ok with Hotel wifi and skype. I'll find a SIM card soon.

 

[CoMoNexus]

I'm trying to find a place that has SIM cards.

Check the convenience stores.