Good Day to Everyone!

I'm looking at switiching to a computer VOIP to call cell phones in Nigeria. I was wondering if anyone had any good recommendations on price and clarity. Currently we use the land-line and phone cards--but was wondering if there's a better way. We tried cell phone and phone cards to the Nigeria cell ohones but the clarity wasn't very good and it was hard to connect. So we got the land line just to be able to communicate better--and a worthy expense I think. But if there's another way, I'd like to investigate it.

Thanks.

Kia

I don't know anything about that. We are able to text message some people depending on the carrier they use, through our Verizon phones. Is your land line service cheaper than the calling card thing? We get the African Dream cards for 5 dollars which usually last about 30 minutes depending on how many times we use them. Also I noticed that I'm able to get text messages from email. Dont know about the computer thing though.

I don't have VOIP myself, but I have heard mixed reviews about the services in terms of security. I know that VOIP is farrrr cheaper than any other options out there for international dialing, but there are concerns regarding whether people can tap into your line and access your conversation in a way similar to internet hacking. I know the other issue is that with VOIP, if your internet access goes down, so does your acess to make phone calls. But a person I know who has VOIP uses VONAGE and loves it but I know that Verizon also offers the service in some areas....

joyj, how are you

What is the website for african dream, I tried to type in the name several different ways and had no luck. So its $5.00 for 30 minutes, that sounds good. I pay $15.00 for 40 minutes on pennytalk. Also can u print up the records to show I called nigeria.

Thanks so much.

Rose

Hi Rose. I buy them from the African store here, but I think you can get them from the following website.
stsprepaid.com
They are called CTA African Dream. The 5 dollar card actually says it has 50 minutes, but we timed it to only be about 30 (which is still good).
Regards

Hello All,

I use the website www.pinshark.com to purchase the African Dream phone cards. The only catch is you have to purchase at least a 20.00 card, but its only 19.80. If you purchase less than 20.00 they charge a processing fee of one dollar.

DeNitra

Thanks joej, I have purchased the card and already called my hubby. He also said that is cheap. Thanks for the info.

Rose

Thanks for the replies. I'm thinking of trying vonage. Its $.28 a minute to cell phones in Nigeria, but I we have not been happy with cheap phone cards and the connection--except for MCI--but that comes out to be like $.72 a minute. i'll let you know how it goes. If vonage works--then we can reduce the regular phone bill too--can you belive its $38 a month just to make local calls here in Hawaii! Geesh.

I am married to a Nigerian man; still waiting for his visa appointment. I called Dep. of state, and they told me they contact the embassy in Lagos the first 2 weeks of every month. They also said they can only schedule so much people. I am hoping I can get an appointment for April or May. I use the Clean and Stable calling card, which gives me 100 full minutes without any minutes taken out for a land line to call Lagos. Is better than the African Dream card, which reduces your call time and isn't so clear.

African world gives you about 4hours when calling a landline in nigeria and 30mins for calling a mobile phone. This is when using a $5 African World Phone card. investing in a getting a landline in nigeria is worth it overall.

Sorry you are waiting. I remember that really sucked. About the card, can it be purchased online? How much for 100 minutes? Also are you calling a land line or cell? Lagos?

I found a prepaid service that is online ......no cards (ripoffs to me) but you dial an access number that you have setup an account and from there u dial the intl number. The cost for calls to Nigeria mobil phone ranges from 19.9 to 33.9 with various companies. The company that I use is enjoyprepaid.com...for $50 I had over 4 hours. I thought that was a good deal.


EwaO.

Sorry for the late reply. Go to http://www.uniontelecard.com/ I think the card I get is called completely clean and stable or super clean and stable. There are two call cards on that website that have similar names. Is name is ending in stable. I get 100 minutes for $5 without any taxes, service fees, hang up fees, and etc... It gives me the 100 minutes in full to call a lagos land line + I can hear my husband clearly unless it is his network. He also calls me from his land line which makes it easier in communicating.

I use African Dream also, I purchase mine online from the website: www.therichcom.com for $2 dollars you can get 25 mins. For $5 dollars I get 63 mins. This is for a continous call, of course if you hang up and call again it will deduct mins. This site lets you get any amount. They just charge 0.50 for anything under $20.

Thanks AQ

I just signed up and will try this site. Prices are good. Would you know if you can print up a log of your calls. Have to try and keep my phone bill down cos its killing me. LOL

Rose

Only draw back they dont have logs only receipts. But to tell you the truth when I went to my immigration interview, they didnt even ask for them because they said that they cannot really prove who you were talking to. I would not get too wrap up in the logs. Its good but it does not have that much weight.

AQ

I just found an online service that is great. You dial a local access number and the calls are crystal clear. There is no maintenance fee no access fees. I paid $19.00 and got 2hours 20minutes of talk to Lagos mobile. Thats about 14cents a minute. Best yet it has an online log of your phone calls with a date time stamp. The site is www.startdialing.net. While they have several cards to choose from I use the Continental Card.

I use African Dream too! They are OK since Smart Card was discontinued... I get 46 minutes to Algeria.. But the only thing that sucks, is if you get disconnected, it eats up your minutes !!

I use cta africa and usually purchase them online at www.ctacard.com

Well since starting this thread, hubby has set up Skype Out on our computer. If you have broadband and like good quality calls--this is the way to go!. Its half the ptice of the phone card we were using before. The quality is the best! and there have been no dropped calls and no annoying numbers to dial over and over again. For the first time I could really understand very clearly everything his family and friends were saying to me! I definitely recommend it if you have broadband and like to have a decent conversation.

You can try this site out http://www.voipstunt.com/en/buycredits.html Hope its a help.

Hi,

Check out this Pincity.com long distance service I use right now. It's got unbelievable discounts on international long distance, and U.S. domestic calls are as low as 2.9 cents per minute! It can save you a lot of money! If you sign up use my name mrs.p and you get additional minutes, also until June 8 2006 you can use promo code LOVEMOM and get a 10% discount.

I normally call Jamaica using I have an account with them and I can print out logs to show my calls. try it out

Destination Code Local Access Toll Free
Nigeria 234 $0.186 $0.202

This is if you are still looking and interested.

Thanks all. Have been using the startdialing.com and it has been fine most of the time, have dropped some but the price is good. Will try the pincity and voipstunt.

Thanks and have a good weekend.

Rose

Hey rose,
I use both vonage and calling cards. Vonage is clear and fast but more expensive than calling card. I get 50 min. on a calling card called Texas mundo ($5.00). My vonage is about $0.21 per min. The calling card is good too but not as direct shot as my vonage. i love both of them. Good luck on the visa, i just started the process for my baby too.

Good luck Taye500 on your visa journey. Thanks for the info.

Rose

I USE CALLING CARD COMPANY RAZA. YOU CAN ACCESS BY GOING TO WWW.RAZA.COM. I HAVE USED SEVERAL SINCE I HAVE STARTED COMMUNICATING BY PHONE. FOR $20.00 I GET 2 HOURS 30 MINS. RIGHT NOW IF YOU RECHARGE ACCOUNT BY PHONE THEY WILL GIVE YOU 10% MORE ON YOUR MINUTES. LIKE ALL OF THEM THEY DROP CALLS AND THE CONNECTION IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD BUT, IT IS THE BEST ONE I HAVE USED SO FAR. AND THEY HAVE A CUSTOMER SERVICE # THAT YOU CAN CALL AT ANYTIME YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CONNECTION. FOR $50.00 I GET A TOTAL OF 5 HRS AND 39 MINS.