This new provider   www.phonebird.co.uk are offering calls to UK Mobiles from landlines at 8p a minute.Which appears to be the best peak rate offer around at the moment,from a landline to T-Mobile.

The access number is 0871 858 2473.(The number must be dialled in full intl format).

For a change its not part of Finerea.Its a sister company of Abroadtel.

I assume that this works in the same way that other cheap providers do when the charges come on the BT bill i.e charging starts as soon as the access number connects regardless of whether you connect with the party you are calling and charges are subject to the minimum BT call charge of 5p daytime and 5.5p evenings.

wrote on Sep 19^th, 2005 at 9:09am:

I assume that this works in the same way that other cheap providers do when the charges come on the BT bill i.e charging starts as soon as the access number connects regardless of whether you connect with the party you are calling and charges are subject to the minimum BT call charge of 5p daytime and 5.5p evenings.

I would assume the same thing. However, the 5.5p for evening and weekend calls only applies to geographical calls. All other calls (mobile, 0845, 0870, 090 etc) will still have a minimum 5p charge.

wrote on Sep 19^th, 2005 at 9:09am:

I assume that this works in the same way that other cheap providers do when the charges come on the BT bill i.e charging starts as soon as the access number connects regardless of whether you connect with the party you are calling and charges are subject to the minimum BT call charge of 5p daytime and 5.5p evenings.

Yes it is a Dial through number,and you do start paying when you here the announcement.If you dont get through a min call charge usually applies.

Having read this thread, I wondered about using this access number to call mobiles (on other networks) from my mobile.

I'm on the Orange EQ Virgin tariff (not available to new users) and according to an email I received from Orange:

National rate numbers such as 0870 and 0871 are charged at standard talkplan rates which is 15p per minute for the first 5 mins of calls per day and 5p per minute there after. Local rate numbers such as 0845 and 0844 are charged at 10p per minute at all times.

This means I now have a way of calling other network mobiles for 15p/5p per min as opposed to the usual 35p per min. [when I'm brave enough to try it].

So the question is will this work for other mobile users on other tariffs?

If Orange do allow you to call 0871 numbers at 15p then 5p,and i would double check with them.You can use one of the 0871 dial through mobile access numbers.(I find it hard to believe as they would be making a loss after the first 5 minutes a day.)their is no 0870 number you can make cheap x net calls to mobiles on.Orange are matching the Virgin Tariff and Virgin charge 15p a min to call 0871 numbers at all times.

You could reduce your weekend x-net mobile calls by using 18185, 020 mobile access number.After the first 5 minutes calls would cost you Orange 5p + 18185 2p=7p.(Their is a connection charge of 4p a call.)

It might work for other users on other tariffs depending on their network.But no network includes 0871 in their  x-net minutes.So its doubtful if it would be the cheapest way to dial x-net from a mobile.Their are other solutions which might be more cost effective.

Phonebird is from Callax.  The same people who already provide Abroadtel and various other brands.

To ensure you are always using the best rates, especially for international calls, check who is best at http://www.niftylist.co.uk