Calling from Outside the USA :Broadband phone service

Broadband phone services function worldwide and help you save with cheap international calling plans.

Broadband phone services are easy to use. Calls are sharp and clear. They can be used anywhere in the world. And they have cheap international calling plans. Millions of people worldwide are using these services for their personal and business needs. Read this page for an introduction. See my recommended broadband phone providers to the right for details and to sign up online.

Will broadband phone service work for you?

You must have a high speed Internet connection (cable, ADSL, etc.) to use a broadband phone service. These phone services charge a monthly fee, so they only make sense if you place enough international calls to justify the cost.

Broadband phone comparison

If you are ready to sign up with a good broadband phone service and just want details, visit the providers listed on the right side of this page, or try starting with my broadband phone comparison. If you know what you're looking for, then my comparison may have all the information you need to make a decision.

10 reasons to use broadband phone service for your international home or business

Did you know 10 percent of US business phone calls are routed through the Internet, and the percentage is quickly growing. Millions of people worldwide are also moving to broadband phone services. They are all learning that broadband phone service works and saves you money.

The connections are clear
When the service is working, which should be 99 percent of the time, broadband phone connections sound as good as calls over land lines.
The services are easy to use
Plug in an adapter, attatch a regular phone, and start dialing. It's simple.
You can choose from proven providers.
A number of broadband phone services have proven that they can serve your needs very well. See my comparison for examples.
The plans are cheap
Get incredibly cheap calling rates and plans for calling the USA and country-to-country worldwide.
Useful features are included
Get voicemail, 3-way conferencing, caller ID, call forwarding, and much more included in the basic service.
Get a local number in the USA
Anyone in that local calling area can call you for free anytime. You can get local numbers in a number of other countries with this service.
Get a toll free number in the USA
For a small fee you can add a toll free number to your service. This is a great feature for many business and personal needs.
These services are portable
Plug the adapter (or special phone) into broadband Internet connections worldwide and have instant incoming and outgoing phone service.
US based services are designed to work outside the USA
The Internet does not recognize borders. Broadband phone services work worldwide. The advantage of using a US based provider is that your calls to and from the USA are free and international rates are very cheap.
Try with a money back guarantee
The services in my comparison all offer 30 day no risk trial periods.
How people use broadband phone services worldwide

US Family / Daughter Studying Abroad - A family in the USA setup broadband phone service to talk with a daughter studying abroad in Japan. She enjoys the freedom to call home anytime and receive calls from friends.
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International Aid Worker - A worker with an international relief organization signs up for broadband phone service before moving with his family to India. The whole family enjoys free calls to the USA, and he calls the organization's offices in Europe and Asia at extremely low rates.
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International Small Business Owner - A man in Taiwan orders broadband phone service to call family members in the USA and UK. Then he starts an Internet based business and spends hours on the phone with a partner in California. He credits the broadband phone service for a successful business launch and begins developing business partners in Europe.
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International Organization - An international relief organization signs up its field offices and workers worldwide for broadband phone service. They call each other for free, arrange cheap conference calls, and enjoy the powerful business features while saving thousands of dollars per month.
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Some good questions

Do these services really work well?

Yes, they do. The quality should be excellent, but the actual results may depend on factors like the quality of your Internet connection. The best way to find out is by signing up and giving one of these services a try. They all offer no risk trial periods in case you change your mind.

Does it make sense to sign up with a US based broadband phone service if I live outside the USA?

Broadband phone services don't recognize international borders. They will work anywhere that you plug an adapter (or special phone) into the Internet. Here are some reasons why people choose US based providers:

Super cheap calling to and from the USA
You can choose from numerous flat rate plans. Depending on your plan and how much time you spend on the phone, your "per minute" rate should come out to 2 cents per minute or less.
Get a local number in the USA
Anyone in the local calling area can call you for free. This works well for all sorts of personal and business calling needs.
Multiple broadband phone services can co-exist
You still have your local phone service. In fact, you can actually plug more than one broadband phone service into a single Internet connection. I know someone in Japan who uses a Japanese broadband phone service for calls within Japan and a US based service as well. He is a very high volume caller, so it makes sense for him to have this setup.
How do I choose the best broadband phone service provider?

Start with my broadband phone comparison. That should give you enough information to choose a provider that fits your needs. Then click on the link for that company's website and sign up online.

What is the difference between the regular and business broadband phone service plans?

Generally speaking, the regular and business calling plans are the same. You can sign up with either one. If you choose an "unlimited" calling plan and your call volume is extremely high, they may have you switch to a business plan.

If you are looking for certain features that you need for your business, then my comparison may provide those details.

How simple is it really to setup and use this type of service?

Basically, you just plug in an adapter, attach your regular phone, and the service works. For many people it's that simple. If you want to attach a computer to the same Internet connection, then see below. If you run into technical problems, than the providers have support people who can coach you through a solution over the phone, by email, or by live online chat.

What is required to use a broadband phone service?

You need a high speed Internet connection (DSL, ADSL, Cable or LAN) with a minimum of 64 Kbps download and upload speed. The connection should connect via a standard Ethernet cable.

If you need to plug a computer into the same Internet connection, then you will need a router (to share the connection). Basic routers (Netgear, Linksys, etc.) are not that expensive and can be found at computer stores.

Are there any hidden fees or costs I should know about before signing up?

See my comparison for details about fees and costs. I dont consider any of these "hidden fees," but there are some charges that I try to point out. When you sign up with a provider be sure to read the "Terms and Conditions." I can't guarantee the details here will be accurate when you read them.