Hi

I need assistance for descent rates from Spanish landline to UK mobiles.  Any ideas at all?

Have you considered using VOIP ?  If you take a look at babble (babble.net) or perhaps Sipgate (sipgate.co.uk) you will be able to get it down to about 10p per minute.  If you want to steer clear of VOIP then Jajah will allow you to set up the call via a PC and enter two number to be connected, the system then calls you back via PSTN and makes the connection.  (jajah.com) if the party you are calling is also registered with Jajah then the call is free so this is not a bad option for you but it doesn't apply to mobiles only UK 01 and 02 series.

www.webcalldirect.com is an alternative to Jajah that you might want to look at - you set up calls via the PC but use your PSTN line for the connection in the same way as gray has described.

Webcalldirect rates FROM  Spain are here :  http://www.webcalldirect.com/es/index.php

The problem is I only have dial up connection in Spain and it will be a right royal pain to keep on having to connect just to make a phone call.  I think I'm stuck on this one, but I'll keep on watch this thread

Use callback, not necessarily triggered via the internet as suggested. There are providers with other set up methods like dialling a trigger number or sending sms or wap/gprs data from a mobile.

Well I've managed to find this rate

http://www.direct-telecom.es/normal-telephony-faq.asp

It's just under 17.4p per minute billed per second after the first minute, no connection fee incl IVA tax

They also offer much cheaper rates than Telefonica to phone UK landlines as a rate of 3.13 cents per minute inc IVA tax

I thought I would share this info as I think it's quite cheap.

Some of the Betamax VoIP companies charge under 10 cents a minute; the lowest is 6 at the moment.

I don't know how well they work through a dial-up line, but you could see what it's like using their free trial to a couple of landlines.

You might also try their callback service, though I haven't checked yet if the delay is adjustable to allow you to hang up the internet connection in time to receive the call. If you have certain software in conjunction with a call waiting service on the landline, you can answer anyway though.

Andy

I don't really see what you are getting at.  It really is not practicable for me to be using an internet connection. Can you be good enough to supply a link that will show me how it is possible to phone UK mobile from Spain for 6-10 cents per minute.  I can phone an access number but thats about it.  I'm not trying to challange your knowledge, but I just can't seem to fathom out a way of getting cheaper calls.  Am I correct in saying callback service still requires internet access.  You mention a 'trigger number' but i cannot find a company that offers this.

Regards

Here's an example Callback service - I've not used it, so I'm not recommending it as such, but it does have a good explanation of how Callback services work:

http://www.touch2dial.com/call_from.asp

Whether you need an internet connection depends on how you trigger the calls. You can use a regular phone to trigger the calls, but you might pay more for triggering calls this way rather than using the web.

Found a Spanish dial-through number for you.

See http://www.0044.co.uk/Landline/Spain-Landline.htm

If you scroll down there is a number given: 902 876 869 - dial this from a Spanish landline and there is a suggestion that you will be able to call a UK mobile for 4.03c/min off-peak or 6.73c/min peak plus a connection charge of 8.3c.

For calls to UK landlines you should use the 901 number given on the same page as it's cheaper.



As another alternative, you might want to look at international phonecards. Try this calculator:

http://www.uk66.com/callcalc.php

There are several different methods of setting up callback, not all offered by all firms, some only one, some several.

Most other tariffs will be in the area of 10 to 18 pence a minute, so it wouldn't necessarily be as easy to undercut the tariff you've already found unless ...

The Betamax companies are web-triggered, though Voipbuster also has a Java mobile client; but VB rates are 18c + vat. Adding a bit of complication, you might arrange a call forward on say Voipcheap or JustVoip then use VB callback to a number pointed to the other account, thus 6c/min to JV and 1c/min + 5c connect to VB.

I would have suggested using Voxalot with Betamax clones, but there seem to be some issues at the moment with Betamax having apparently started blocking it due perhaps to their poor abuse detection algorithms.


Or you might even use an O2 UK mobile on their single country Spain option, £5 a month, free incoming calls, 25p outgoing, then instead use callback with this. At  the moment (but how long?) ReturnCall is still 9 pence a minute to UK mobiles, 2p UK landlines, 5p 0870 numbers.

Or as suggested a calling card with a local access number, using either a landline or maybe Vodafone Spain and their 60 for 1 minutes option ...


For callback operators, to get an idea of the different methods and tariffs available, take a look at Callbackworld, Enlinea, Call2, GSM2world, ExpatTelecom, Mywebcalls, Voipfone, Vyke, Voipbuster, and maybe Voxalot, the last being usable with your own choice of plenty of VoIP firms. I might add a couple more later