TWC, is that Time Warner Cable?

If so, I need to check into that.

My mom got a cheap plan for calling Russia when I moved there through verizon. I don't remember how much it cost, though. I do know that she started getting a lot of junk mail written in russian.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/centraltx/P...ernational.html


You will also need their digital phone plan. Reception versus Bell South is awesome. Without even telling my sweetheart I changed carriers for the first time her reponse was "Baby, I hear you so clearly today."

Well I'll be dipped. We've had TWC the whole time we lived here and I've never even heard of this plan. Very cool. I'll be calling them later today. No more phone cards for us!

For whatever reasons, they do not offer it in everywhere in the US. I hope your location is one of them!

We have TWC. I didn't call yet (will Monday) but it should be offered here, I don't see why not. We get all the other garbage they offer.

I noticed at the bottom it said there's calling cell phones only offered in some countries. Russia wasn't on the list... can cell phones still be called?

Good catch! This is my first month on this plan so luckily I have only called her land line. It appears cell phone calls default to the normal rate of $.26 a minute.

Calls made on my cell phone I use

http://www.mobilecaller.com/

$.085 cents to a Russian cell phone. .08 cents to regular landline.
They have a good clear connection.

I use mobilecaller too. The only thing I don't like is that they won't give your call history to you very easily. You have to call them, and then they make you justify why you need it. But yeah otherwise it's good.

Guys, when you take your call history to the interview, it's not really necessary to have an itemized, printed sheet of "proof" that you talk on the phone. Take a couple of phone cards or simply explain how you use SMS or web chat or instant messenger or whatever. They don't need a mountain of evidence.

I believe the best thing to do is have your plane ticket stubs, hotel receipts, etc. (proof of meeting) a dozen pictures or so, a couple hand-written letters, a couple printed e-mails, and a couple of phone cards/bills/print-outs/whatever. Couple the physical evidence with your new "letter of intent" and you're all set.

Don't sweat the evidence and "proof" of an on-going relationship too much. Simply paint the picture that they're looking to see. (And it can be paint by numbers, doesn't have to be a Picasso. Although I don't know if Picasso would help them see what they want to see anymore than a paint by numbers. But you get the idea. Rembrandt. We'll say Rembrandt.)

I use Nobelcom. I call Gambia which is more expensive to call than most anywhere else in the world,...and I still get 2-4 hours of talk time.

I have a link on my profile that will give you 15 minutes to try it free (no credit card required).

Hope this helps.

I did like slim suggests. I didnt have call records, but I had email reciepts of the calling cards I purchased and I printed out a few of the email confirmations and added them to the packet. I think 5 emails across a range of dates. Copies of boarding passes from my trip between when we filed and the interview. About 20 pictures of us together, and a new letter of intent from both of us. The only thing they wanted to see we didnt have was pictures of my house in America. She has some but didnt bring them and when she told them that she didnt bring them, only pictures of us together, they told her no problem, thats ok.

I hear about people taking binders that are 6 inches thick and weigh 5 lbs. My proof was only about 1/2 inch thick in documentation and 20 pictures.

Everything I sent fit easily into a 1" binder. The pictures I put into an el-cheapo small photo album.

I included itemized call records, and while it may not be strictly necessary, it took 10 minutes of my life to print them out, hole punch them, and stick them in a folder. And since phone calls have been the primary way we've interacted over the last 6 months, it makes sense to me to paint that particular picture as accurately as possible. Had our primary interaction been via email I wouldn't worry about it so much.

Yes, there's a point when all you're doing is making your poor girl's arm tired as she lugs your piles of evidence from hotel to metro to embassy, but there's nothing wrong either with being completely prepared and then some.

When we went to the AOS interview, I had a couple documents and photos in a manilla legal folder. Another couple that came in had the 3" binder and a box of stuff. I thought, "Wow! What an interesting relationship they must have!"



Totally agreed, I just think it's important for folks to know that there's no need to stress about not having 10 pages of call history if they don't have it. Sure, err on the side of having too much, but remember, they only need "proof", not "overwhelming proof."

When my fiance was back in Russia for a month over the holidays, I used a prepaid (virtual) card from www.enjoyprepaid.com. For calling her mobile phone, the actual cost was $0.067 per minute billed in 5-minute increments, and the quality is usually quite good. The actual cost you pay depends on the plan you buy, which for me was the Ruby plan. What they advertise is lower than reality, so keep that in mind. For my plan, they advertised $0.054 per minute for mobile phones, but reality was $0.067. For land lines, they advertise $0.009 to Moscow, $0.013 to St. Petersburg, and $0.029 elsewhere in Russia. In Moscow and St. Petersburg they provide access numbers to use the same card to call back to the US.

The same company has cheaper, but less flexible, plans for Russia found at www.nobelcom.com. I have used NobelCom extensively while my fiance is in the UAE. But with the NobelCom cards keep in mind you must choose whether you will be calling a mobile phone or a land line because they are separate cards. You only get the rate for your card when calling the appropriate kind of phone and target location. They advertise $0.009 for their card specific to Moscow, $0.011 for their card specific to St. Petersburg, $0.022 for their card for all of Russia, and $0.044 for their card for Russian mobile phones.

Both EnjoyPrepaid and NobelCom are the same company using the same network. There is an additional $0.99 weekly charge (every Monday) to maintain the account as long as it has a balance. They offer pin-less dialing from a list of up 6 phone numbers. When I call from my Nokia mobile phone, I have the access and pin numbers programmed into it so it is still 1-touch dialing to call her. As I already said, the quality is usually pretty good although sometimes you get dropped calls. (It's possible some of those were when my fiance's mobile phone lost its signal.) I can't even call my parents here in the US for rates anywhere near that low, so I'm happy with these cards. They also occasionally offer 10% discounts over certain holidays for puchasing more time. For example, just before Easter I added $100 to the card for only $90.

my fiance lives in Ukraine and I have provided a device called MagicJack for her. As long as she has high speed internet service at home ( it needs to be a minimum of 80k up and down so dial up does not work), this device is simple and easy to use. It is amazing because the device is assigned a USA phone number, and then from that device, a call can be placed to anywhere in the USA or Canada for FREE. To get a Magicjack, it is 39.99 up front, which includes the device and the first year of service. Each year after that is only 19.99 a YEAR--not a month or by the minute. I actually purchased two of them, thinking I needed one for myself and I shipped the other to her. I realized later that I did not need one because I can use my cell phone to call her MagicJack number since it is an Illinois phone number and I get long distance for free on my cell. (they do not yet offer numbers for every state, but as soon as they have them for Indiana where I live, I will change the number so every call will be a local call!) The best part of this is she can call me at any time now, and it costs her nothing! We have used this many times with great success. If we place a call and the voice is choppy (face it, the internet service is not the greatest in Ukraine...hahaha), simply rebooting the computer usually clears up that issue. I was looking mainly for a way for her to call me since outgoing international calls are extremely expensive, and I already had VoIP at home and could call her for .10 a minute. However, an extra added benefit is for future expenses. I know when Sveta and her daughter arrive to me in the USA later this year, they will often need/want to call back home to talk to family. When Sveta moves to the USA, her sister will maintain her apartment and the internet connection, and the MagicJack will remain in Ukraine. Sveta can call the number the same way I do now, and she can speak to her sister, or arrange a time for her mother to come visit and speak to her, too. And it will cost me nothing but 19.99 a year! Oh, I sent my second one to her best friend, who married and moved to Germany, so she could connect it and they will be able to speak to each other. The friend has not yet hooked up MagicJack, but we hope she will soon!

The basics are computer with USB2.0 ports (virtually any built in the last 2 or 3 years) and high speed internet...MagicJack plugs into the USB, then a regular telephone that you would use at home (corded or cordless) connects directly to the MagicJack box. The program for MagicJack is contained on the device, and after the initial file updates at first connection, the program starts automatically each time the unit is plugged back in. (but you could leave it plugged in all the time if the computer is left on). It also comes with voice mail, call waiting, and the other options you would expect. For the initial investment, I think it is a wonderful device and I expect it to save me hundreds of dollars after she moves to be with me. Oh, I am sitting in her apartment as I write this, and I was able to work remotely today, and used MagicJack to call my coworker. I strongly recommend you at least check out the device at http://www.magicjack.com/1/index.asp and NO, I am not employed by them! One additional word, though. As some have mentioned before, if your company firewall blocks ports needed by Skype and others, this unit will probably also be blocked for placing calls. However, you would not need one in the USA since your loved one can call YOU for free if you send them a MagicJack. Oh, it should be wonderful for traveling, too, since most hotels offer free highspeed internet (wired or wireless will work---I am working wirelessly at this time since I installed router in her apartment)

I am sorry this is so long, but I wanted to make as many points so as not to confuse anyone! If anyone has questions, feel free to message me and I will get back with you as soon as I can.
Chris

If you have a high speed internet connection on both ends, why not just use skype? it's free and clear and has video... I wouldn't pay 19.99 for what I can get for free.

skype isnt that realiable, and its not that easy to find broadband connections in russia unless its moscow.

Skype is usually very reliable skype-to-skype and the magicjack thing requires broadband as well.

thats what I am saying if there is no broadband in russia its useless. And skype is far from being reliable. There are other options to have digital unlimited calls from US for like 20 bux. The only drawback the person in US will initate all the calls. The good thing is its cheap.

Do you use skype? I talk on it for several hours a day with no problem. The sound quality isn't so great when calling a cell phone, but skype-to-skype is clearer than domestic landline-to-landline.

I use skype daily that is why i am aware of problems

strange... are you going skype-to-skype?

skype to skype
skype to cell
skype to landline

strange... maybe i'm just lucky

probably

Are you wearing a headset on both ends? I noticed that when Iryna does not uses the built-in speakers and microphone, the quality is not bad, but so-so. I shipped her a nice headset, and now the quality is tremendous. We love Skype, we can talk, see each other on the web cam, and also just chat with instant messages. We send pictures to each other by just dragging and dropping, very simple. I also use it to send SMS messages to her phone in Russian. I can see why eBay payed 2 billion bucks for Skype! Of course I'm a little worried about the future, as eBay will certainly find a way to charge more to make more...

I wish it had built-in language translation for text messages, that would be handy and save me time... but what do you want FOR FREE?

you misunderstood about MagicJack. Only the person with MagicJack needs broadband, and Skype 'out' is not free. MagicJack allows you call any telephone number--mobile or landline--at no additional cost perminute. I also have Skype and have used it with headsets to speak to my daughter who is currently in school in Costa Rica. While the calls starts out fine, after about 30 minutes, every call has become choppy and then drops out. That is also the same when calling on good connections at both ends. I have nothing against Skype, but Skype (free) would not allow my fiance to call me at my office, or call to my cell phone. I understand that not everyone has broadband, and we are very fortunate that she has it here, so MagicJack is not for everyone. I mentioned it as an alternative if the situation is right for you. I am very glad we have it and have already spent 3 or 4 hours talking to each other with it. She has called me on my cell while I drove to my parents for a visit, and then called my cell while at my parents (they do not have broadband) and spoke to my mother for the first time. That was a thrill for both of them! I am happy with it and will gladly pay 20 a year for the ability for Sveta--and her sister later on--to pick up a telephone (and not a headset) and call any of my telephone numbers.

Sorry...I meant to say that MagicJack allows you to call 'any telephone in the USA or Canada'--which is why it is so great for Sveta to have it. She could call any of my family at any time, just like I could with my cell phone.

MagicJack sounds great but in our case I'd much rather prefer to get a local Russian number and install it here in the US, because my wife's relatives all lack broadband, because no cable or copper wires were ever installed in their homes. They use some kind of "radio" telephone devise for phone services. Internet can only be obtained through a cell phone using GPRS or setting up a satellite devise at about $8,000 for both ends, $1,000 for downloading only.

WOW! I do not know anyone, personally, that could afford that cost! Yes, in your situation, MagicJack is definitely not a good option. Maybe someone else here can use it, maybe not. My fiance never had internet in her home until we met online, and then she had it installed so we could communicate easily every day. I wish I had known about MagicJack back then! :-) I just hope everyone discovers a way to communicate easily with their loved ones. Communication is the only way to build, and maintain a relationship.

well, I am off to the train station in a little while for the overnight train to Kiev. I wish everyone happiness and success!

I have high speed internet at home and changed my phone to use it.

Using verizons voicewing product = .5 cents a minute to russia - better rates than ATT and other VOIP

plus $25 a month gets my unlimited local and long distance - plus I can listen to my voicemail online plus a slew of other features

Any questions ask me.

www.voicewing.com

Doesn't look like much of a deal to me. Their web site indicates 14 cents a minute to most of Russia and 16 cents a minute to cell phones. That's at least double what I am used to paying.

Has anyone ever used TelphinUSA? Information is at www.telphinusa.com. It's VOIP with unlimited calling to Russian Landlines and other countries.

$44 a month for unlimited to Russia...kind of pricey for us. I like there direct line approach but again it only covers Moscow and St. Petersburg numbers and because where my relatives live in Russia broadband is too expensive to setup a local US number to call them.

Still hard to beat:
http://www.internetcalls.com/en/faq.html
At 120 days of up to 300 minutes a week for only 10 Euros. This lasts my wife typically three months.

We have been using internetcalls.com for a long time now too. Can be used from Russia on a dial up connection also. Go to settings and select connection type either high speed or dial up. We are happy with the service and the price.

Thank you for the information. I'm going to try internetcall.com. I have a Linksys VOIP router (SIP calls) that I will use use with my broadband connect. This will allow me to make calls even if my computer is tied up or shut down.

I just set it up and it works great. With my VOIP router I can even plug into my wall jack.

For anyone wanting to send free SMS text messages from you computer, most cell phone providers have a form on their website so you can send free SMS text messages to phones connected to their system (this is free for sender not receiver, unless included in receiver's phone plan). For MegaFon (cells phone numbers beginning in +7 (921) and +7 (812) the url is http://www.megafonnw.ru/info/eng/sms

What's the cheapest way you guys have found to call mobile phones in Russia?

Time Warner has the awesome deal of $20/month for unlimited calling to Russia but it's only to landlines. Do the cards/deals mentioned above include calls to mobiles as well?

My VOIP provider is Viatalk. They charge 4 1/2 cents per minute for calls to Russian cell phones. That's their regular rate. There are no special plans you need to pay extra for.

We use a calling card from Discall.com. We pay 1.9cents per minute to Moscow and 3.9 cents to Samara. She also calls Estonia and Austria with similar rates. Cell phones are a little more but reasonable to some of the rates I see here. You can put multiple access numbers that you can call from at no additional cost to you.

Hello all. I use a phone card called Seminaya (Family) Card, that I bought at a Russian grocery. I call Ukraine, and you all have me thinking that I might be able to find a better deal than the 6-12 cents per minute. I think I will create a post or two to investigate.

Any way, the card comes from MasterCall/GS-1, and here is the web site www.GS-1.com. I thought it might interest some of you for the following reasons:

1) 1 cent per minute to Moscow, 1.4 cents to St. Petersburg, 4 cents to anywhere in Russia.

2) You can recharge a PIN code online for 90 days (so you buy a $5 card and can put $50 on it if you want).

3) You can buy a card/PIN online

4) If your call fails to connect in Europe - there is no charge when you hang up.

Now if my math is correct, they do charge more for calls to mobile numbers.

I don't know how much you guys are calling, but unless you're on the line for several hours a day, debating whether a call is 4 cents or 8 cents a minute or whatever is kind of silly. The value of something that cheap is going to be in the quality. It's worth the extra few cents to get better quality or convenience.

It's kind of like driving past the gas station on your side of the street to hit one on the opposite side because you save 3 cents/gallon. Wooo, even with your big truck you just saved 90 cents. You're truly a value conscious individual.


And a little advice for all of you out there talking to your S/O for hours and hours several times a day..... stop. She'll be here soon enough and you'll wish you had all that personal time back. Use it while you've got it! Trust me!

Since I guess that last post was sort of directed at me, I'll respond. I always appreciate advice from those further along in the process, and we all have different preferences and personalities. I don't call Vika every day, but we do talk for hours sometimes on the weekends. We are also in contact daily by email and text. I like the contact, and I think it helps us to stay connected. If some one else wants to fill out K-1 paperwork and have less or no contact at all until their fiance' comes to America (on her own), that is their business. GS-1 does a pretty good job with clear connections, and I think that no connection or maintenance fees is an important attribute. I also think that six to twelve cents a minute is a much better rate than some of the others I see posted, and the process of calling is easy. Again, if you think calling, or talking a long time is stupid or pointless then you don't need a card - your business. All I wanted was to know if there is a better phone deal out there.

My comments are directed to everyone and basically boiled down to two points.

1. Trying to find a good deal on calling overseas is a good idea but debating whether to switch from this card to that or this plan to that one in order to save 4 cents a minute is silly and if it's not silly, then you're talking way too much.

2. I'll agree that the amount of time you spend talking to your S/O and the frequency you call each other is your business. But, once again, if you're talking to the point of needing to save a few cents per minute, you're talking way too much as your separate lives are going to end up causing problems for one another.

I'm not telling anyone out there to stop calling their S/O or to change what they're doing. That's your business. But, I'll tell you, in the years that I've been here on VJ I've seen a few "busted up" K-1s over "she didn't call me back" or "he was supposed to e-mail me" or something like that. It starts off innocently enough, "we always call each other before bed" and turns into "he didn't call me because he was hanging out with his cousin who has a hot roommate and they ended up fooling around" and before long we see the dreaded, "cancelled interview" post.

You should stay in touch with your S/O, but not to the point that it's a budgeting decision because of the frequency.

Slim is spending $240 a year for unlimited calling to Russian landlines.

Several of us are paying $48 a year for unlimited calling to Russian landlines.

It's just a silly and insignificant difference and not a reason to consider changing plans....

Dude - you crack me up It sounds like you are saying that "You don't have to restrict your calling, but the relationship might fail if you don't" I think more relationships fail because people don't communicate enough. All off the subject. I agree that a few cents probably doesn't matter much, other than the principle, but with any card the maintenance and connection fees can make the card itself a waste. The point of my post was just to see what is out there. I found out on VJ how to SMS on the Kyivstar website recently, and I was totally unaware that I could (and it saves twenty cents per SMS!!! ). I never know what I can learn if I don't put the question out there. And some other folks might actually care about the card that I found, and benefit from that. Again, you never know.

Actually, I think I'm paying more than that but it includes calls to mobile phones as well. My wife buys a $9 card every couple of weeks. Some months it's only one (or none) some months it's like four. Either way, that $240 figure is probably pretty close. Now that I think about it, she doesn't really call that much anymore so it's probably significantly less. But, when she first got here... man! We were getting phone cards about twice a week, all different kinds. She found the one she's using now (Crazy USA) and was pretty happy with this one so she's been using it since. She maybe uses one or two a month now.

But.... until you can find me a $48 solution to calling mobile phones, it does me no good.



Absolutely!

I buy cards here: http://www.russianseattle.com/bestcard/krazeminutes.htm
I call from my cellphone (AT&T). I use local numbers (here is the list: http://www.russianseattle.com/bestcard/ale...cal_access.htm) for my calls 'cause my friend had "nice" experience, far from being free, with their "toll-free" numbers - she got extra bills fro using them.
The quality of sound is really good and my mom is happy that I call her more often now.

People want different things from phone cards. 1 size does not fit all. I'm happy with Nobel.com and a phone card from waytorussia.com. Nobel.com does not have record of calls available, waytorussia does have a card that does this. They both have landline cards and cell phone cards, pinless dialing (if not using both a cell and landline card), automatic recharge option, etc. I look for a low or no monthly fee and call quality. I've had great call quality with both companie's cards calling to Izhevsk, Russia. I even use these cards to call long distance in the U.S. as I don't have a cell phone.