It’s not unusual for those traveling to leave their cell phones and high international roaming charges behind at home. But how will you keep in touch with loved ones while on the road? There’s always an app for that…and this time, instead of needing an iPhone or iPod Touch, you’ll need a computer.
With the help of Enjoyprepaid’s PC-2-Phone app, compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7, you won’t even need calling cards to keep people up to date on your globetrotting. You can call or text any number from your PC by simply downloading the app and enjoying the same low rates you would if you were using a traditional calling card. The app comes with all of the rate plans Enjoyprepaid offers, and you can choose from the Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, or Diamond plans– depending on how frequently you are planning to talk and for how long.
People can also reach you on your PC-2-Phone app when you sign up for a virtual number. There is a small fee, depending on how long you want to use the number. You can rent your virtual number anywhere from 1 to 12 months, but keep in mind that you can’t change your rent period before your subscription expires. So, if you choose to extend your trip to 6 months, but you only rented your number for 5, you’ll have to get a new number when your contract expires.
Since you won’t have your computer on at all times, you can also sign up for the app’s voicemail service so you can keep track of who calls while you’re away from your computer. As with the virtual number, you will have to pay a subscription fee in order to have voicemail. If you have trouble reaching someone after you listen to their voicemail, you can also send text messages (SMS) from Enjoyprepaid’s PC app, for a small messaging rate.
If you’re an Apple user however, you’ll need to find an alternative to Enjoyprepaid’s app. Lucky for you, if you’re unable to download the PC-2-Phone app, Skype is a service you can use both on your computer and on your iPhone or iPod Touch. The app is also free, whether you’re downloading it on your portable device or computer, and while talking to other Skype users is free, calling or texting mobile phones or landlines from Skype is not. However, rates are greatly discounted and the app provides a cheap alternative to mobile phone roaming charges. As with the PC-2-Phone app, you can set up a virtual number, what Skype calls a “Skype In” number, so friends and family can reach you for lower international calling rates, in addition to setting up a voicemail account. You can also place video calls (as long as you have a camera on your phone or laptop), adding to the experience of communication with those far from you. Just set up a username and password and you’re ready to start calling.
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