When I first moved to the Philippines, back in 2000, there were not a lot of options if you needed to make a phone call overseas. Basically, you paid the very high per minute rates of the telephone company – PLDT in most Philippine locations. At that time, I believe the rate was 60 US Cents per minute. Later it came down to 40 Cents, but was still expensive! Today, for $25 per month, I am able to call anywhere in North America, and many other locations for an unlimited amount of time! I can do this with VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol).
When using VOIP there are number of options. With nearly any chat client you can use your PC to talk to others on a PC almost anywhere in the world, and this is generally free. You can use other software applications such as Skype and others to use you PC to call to phones (not other PC’s) around the world, but there is a small charge for that.
My choice is that I use Vonage to make such calls. Vonage is a company that sells telephone services using VOIP. You can get a telephone number at nearly any exchange you choose in the United States (some other countries are included too, but I am speaking from experience about the USA for the purposes of this post). For example, I have a phone number in Vancouver, Washington through Vonage. My family in the States (Mom and Brother) live in the Vancouver, Washington area, so they can dial me at a local number, and when they dial, the phone rings here in the Philippines! Quite amazing, huh? And, on top of that, the quality of the call is as good as a regular landline! I can also call anywhere in the USA, Canada, Mexico and parts of Europe for an unlimited time by simply paying a monthly charge of $25. Other countries can be called for a very low price. For example, my wife has a close friend that she went to school with who is living in Japan. My wife calls here weekly and the cost is just 6 cents per minute. Now, that’s not bad!
Another nice thing about using Vonage is that it does not require a computer, the calls go straight through to a regular telephone! Of course the voice is turned to digital data and transmitted through my DSL modem, but you just use a normal phone, not your computer to talk. It works out nice for my family, because, for example, my kids can just pick up a telephone, hit speed dial and talk to their grandmother in the States without any assistance from me!
Anyway, if you decide to live in the Philippines, or any other country, if you can get a DSL internet connection (or any kind of broadband connection), I highly recommend Vonage for communicating to the USA or any other part of the world.
thanks bob. this is very helpful. i plan to take an extended trip to davao and was going to leave a message on my phone that i will be away for a while and the best way to contact me is through email.
looks like i dont have to do that anymore!
Hi Macky – that’s right! With VOIP, you can take it with you wherever you go! When you are in Davao, if you ever need to get ahold of a US Phone line, just let me know, you are free to use mine anytime. 🙂
Hi Bob, thank you for the offer. I reall appreciate it. Looks like with VOIP going to be a big help.
kudos on the new blog. I'm enjoying it a lot. mindanao.com has become a regular must read during my net surfing.
question: so do you use 2 cellphones? one for local calls/text and the VOIP for US calls?
i considering using VOIP for my upcoming stay there, so I'm also figuring out if i need a second phone for local/davao calls (via phone cards).
Calling out of philippines to US or anywhere else via VOIP is real cheap cos philippines telephone companies can't control it except maybe they are also ISP but again the rate for internet access is cheap. But calling in to any philippines telephone numbers via VOIP is not cheap though. Rate on international call to the Philippines via direct or VOIP are among the highest from where I call from Malaysia. It almost top the rank in term of cost just like any of the african countries rate.
Correction.
I've just got hold of the latest telephone book on phone charges. Calls to Philippines would rank middle where the cheapest is to US, GB and Aust. Top the ladder is to cetain african countries, S. American and Siberia..Bob I just want to make a comparision. Hope you dont mind.
Hi Alan, no problem! Thanks for leaving your comments. When I was writing about VOIP, I was mainly talking about calling from the Philippines to other countries, using an American VOIP provider. It's always good to look at both sides, though.
One thing that can be done to minimize expenses, though… if there is one certain person that you like to call in the Philippines, you could get them set up with DSL and a VOIP provider, Then you are just calling a US number to talk with them. For example, if you live in the USA and set them up a US number, you can talk to them anywhere in the world for free!
Happy Holidays.
the thing you failed to mention that is in order to use Vonage, you need internet conncection in the US and internet connection overseas.
Hello curious – I am sorry, my friend, but you are incorrect. I live in Davao City, Philippines. I have an internet connection in Davao, and no other internet connection anywhere else in the world. I use Vonage every day. Only one internet connection is needed to use Vonage. I've been using their service for years and have never needed anything more than my local (Philippines) Internet Connection.
Bob:
You are in Davao, how did you apply and how was your Vonage
subscription activated?
Regards to you and family.
Ray
Hi Ray – Vonage doesn't care where in the world you are located. If you are in Davao or Davenport, it's ok for them!! They will only ship to a US address though, so when I signed up I put down my US address for shipping. Once the equipment reached me, I hooked everything up, and started using it!
Take care!
Vonage is indeed a great service Bob, and for those who want to talk within the Philippines, as you suggest, just get them a VOIP service also … I yak with my friend in Bacolod all the time via his local number or my local number in the US.
@ Curious: Indeed it is curious where you came to that conclusion about the party in the US needing an internet connection. Definitely not so. You get a phone number with Vonage exactly as any "normal" US phone number. Anyone who knows your number places a call to that number and the phone rings at your end (which does have an Internet requirement).
Another service folks might like to look at is Net Zero. They give you a number (normal phone number) in the US to receive voice mails absolutely free. For $4 a month you can add unlimited calls from a phone in the US to your computer, 100 minutes outbound from your computer to the US … sort of a "half-Vonage" solution. I've used Net Zero since I came here and it works great … like Bob I chose a number local to my son in the US, so he can call me any time. If I am on line I answer, if I am off line it goes to voice mail. Well worth less than a buck a week.
BTW, computer to computer voice calls are _always_ free with Yahoo Messenger and unlike some mis-informed ads, Yahoo Messenger voice will work dandy over dial-up connection, likewise Net Zero. Vonage typically will not.
Hi Dave – Yep, I agree with everything you had to say! I've been using Vonage for almost 4 years now, and have always been happy with it.
Personally I use Yahoo! Messenger as my internet phone. I don't have many people to call back in the states and it costs me 1 cent/min to call. Their quality is good although I have had problems from time to time.
Bob,
I use VoIP down here in Aus as my wife makes calls to HK and Phil. Only drawback is that I still have to pay the phone company for line rental (for the ADSL) even though I don’t use them. Is this the case in Davao ?
Hi Bob, What DSL service do you use in Davao? My wife was there and we had trouble getting Vonage to work right. We want to get her family set back up on Vonage. Thanks, Dave
Vonage sounds perfect-will it work with cable internet as well as DSL?
Hi Louis – Yes, I understand why you would use YM or another online VOIP service. It is inexpensive and also works well. Having Vonage is good for my business, because even if the computer is not on my customers can call and I still get the call, since it goes through to my regular phone unit. It's been a great thing for me!
Hi Dave Wix – I have PLDT DSL service. Hooking it up can be a little tricky, but it can be done. If you need some help in getting it going, I'd be happy to help you out with it.
Hi mel – Yes, it will work on any broadband connection, including Cable.
Hi Laurence – I don't really understand what you are asking. I have to pay for my Internet Connection through PLDT (DSL line), and I have to pay Vonage for the service. Other than that, there are no other charges. I am not sure what you mean by "line rental."
Bob,
Down here in Aus the Telcos own the phone lines and the ISP's deliver ADSL over those lines. Upshot is that if your ISP is not a Telco then you have to pay the Telco for the line even though you are not using them for Internet or phone calls. The only way to avoid this is by having cable.
I see, Laurence! That is a totally different system than here or in the USA. For us, our Telco is also our ISP.
hi Bob…..how are you doing. i have a question to you. How did you install/connect you vonage device. I have been trying to connect mine. but still i had a problem of installing it. thnx
Hi Jeanette – I actually had quite an easy time with it. If you have a router with your DSL or Cable modem attached to it, you just plug your Vonage ATA box into one of the ethernet ports and you are ready to go. Where are you located at? Maybe I could assist you?
hi bob!!! My vonage device was sent to me almost a month ago. and just recently we availed of BayanTel DSL but I can't seem to get my internet connections whenever I plug in my vonage device.. Can you recommend some helpful steps or any professional who can make my vonage connection work
Hi John – Where in the Philippines do you live? If you are in Davao, I could give you a hand.
One thing you may have come to realize is that Philippine Internet Providers (Bayantel, PLDT, etc.) don't want you to use things like Vonage or other VOIP providers. They employ tricky networking techniques to make it hard to hook up the Vonage equipment. There is a way around it, though… it will cost you about P3,000, but for me it is worth it. Go to your local computer store and buy a Linksys Router. I have a WRT-54G wireless Linksys, but you can get the wired one if you prefer. Get on that has one button network setup (all of them seem to have it now). With this, you hook up the modem the way that Bayantel has instructed you to do, then you hook up the new router and push a button. It checks your network settings on your computer and when you re-hook up the way that Linksys tells you to do, everything works (including your Vonage). It is very simple to do.
Good luck to you!
Hi Bob,
I've heard about this vonage and looking for some users, so i will be truly convince to use it.. I was asking my parent to send an equipment for us but what kind of unit? What is an vonage ATA box? Will any vonage equipment, be ok and work here in the phil? Can i also call a US cellphone with vonage? thanks.
Hi Paul – If you just go to vonage.com and sign up for the service, they send you everything that you need to get it working. Whatever equipment they send you, it will work anywhere in the world. You can call any phone number in the USA – cell or landline.
Can you please break down the steps for acquiring Vonage Voip down to the most basic level….I am moving next month should I bring a modem a router a phone anything??? In addition Do american wireless routers work in the philippines??? Not very techy but thanx for hearing me out:shock:
Hi Misgana:
It is VERY simple. Just follow these steps:
1. Go to http://www.Vonage.com and sign up for the service.
2. Vonage will send you the equipment that you need (an ATA device) by UPS or some other courier.
3. Bring that equipment with you to the Philippines.
4. Once you have your internet connection set up in the Philippines, hook it all up following the instructions that Vonage gave you.
5. Use it!
It's that simple!
Yes, a wireless router from the USA will work fine. If possible get one that works on 110-220volts and that is best. If the one you buy works on just 110v since it is from the USA, you can get a transformer to adjust the voltage.
Good luck!
Do they charge for incomming calls? Vonage is giving away the hardware for free at Best Buy. Does it require to be plug to an electrical outlet for power? I read their website and it says that it can cost from 18-23c/min to call the Philippines using Vonage. If you use this system to call the another Philippine tel number will you get a large tel bill. I am just trying to explore all my options. I usually visit the Philippines 3x/yr for 2 wks. I need a way to call my office or clients as needed and for them to call me.
Hi Bobby – The key here is to set up Vonage in the Philippines. Then, your associates in the States can call you on a US Phone number. They don't have to pay an arm and a leg to call, because they are calling a US phone number, not calling to a Philippine number where charges are international. No huge advantage if you are calling to a Philippine number.
Thanks for the info. It will help a lot.
Hi Bobby – Happy to assist.
hi bob. i have a question. i received a vonage device from my relatives in the states and set it up yesterday and it was all fine. i had a dial tone and was able to call my friends in the states but when i tried to call someone locally(here in the philippines) im unable to do so. it just simply tells me its not possible. and im wondering why. do you have any idea why i cant call locally?thanks.
Bob,
Have you heard of or tried the one called Magic Jack? I know people can take them to philippines and they give you ability to select a area code etc. What I dont know though is how well they work in Philippines though due to connection speeds. They work pretty well here though as I kept seeing the commercial and bought one to try out, it works very well and is very cheap, seems like we only paid 50 dollars for 5 yrs and got device free. I was just wondering though if you possibly have tried or know anyone who has tried one from there though as would be curious to know how well it worked? I used to want a voip there but when we left the city we lived in didnt even offer anything but dailup, well they did in some areas but in our barangay they didnt because wouldnt do whatever needed done to turn on highspeed unless they could find 12 subscribers and they only had 3 interested people at that time, so it was just blast cards.
Justin
Hello Bob,
I have here in Legazpi City a V-portal vonage device and i am having difficulty installing it. Because the screen from the vonage device says 'Network Setting Error (Code 008)'. I called Vonage Tech Support for help and followed every procedures they mentioned, but in the end, the error message still appeared. What could be the problem here? Is it the DSL modem I am using or the ISP that is on PPPoE server and not DHCP?
My ISP provider is BayanDSL (BayanTel) and the DSL modem they have given me is ZTE ADSL (Model: ZXDSL 831II).
When I was in Manila, I was the one who set up the Vonage device of my uncle. And the device is different from my V-Portal vonage. I had no any difficulties installing/connecting it to Globe Telecom DSL line.
Wish you could help me.