Using "free" minutes for international calls

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ajax

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I heard this ad on the radio yesterday where you dial a 087 number and then the international number. You can use your "free" minutes for the 087 number and that's the only thing you are charged for. This is the website for details. I see Altech's name at the bottom of the page by the way

Haven't tried it yet, but will soon. Let me know if you guys have any experiences.
 
Careful.
Mobile Operators might not recognise the number as being part of your free minutes.
Basically you are paying the cost of a call to a VoIP number.
And VoIP numbers from your Mobile Operator might be charged normally.
 
The mobile networks treat 087 numbers as "other mobile".

e.g. If you are with Vodacom and your free minutes include calls to MTN and Cell C, then the free minutes will include calls to 087 numbers.

e.g. If you are with MTN and your free minutes include calls to Vodacom and Cell C, then the free minutes will include calls to 087 numbers.
 
daffy said:
Careful.
Mobile Operators might not recognise the number as being part of your free minutes.
Basically you are paying the cost of a call to a VoIP number.
And VoIP numbers from your Mobile Operator might be charged normally.
Click to expand...

In general yes, but they specifically state that one must dial from a mobile phone and that "free minutes" apply. I'm gonna try it anyway sometime in off peak.
 
087 numbers are chargeable no matter from which network you call. It would only be free if the number is called from another 087 number on the same network
 
RichieR said:
087 numbers are chargeable no matter from which network you call. It would only be free if the number is called from another 087 number on the same network
Click to expand...

I tested this. I had x "free" minutes remaining and made a call Saturday night to the 087 number given on their site. Then checked my free minutes on Sunday morning and it said x-1 free minutes. So free minutes can be used here, it seems!
 
Well im on a top-up acc...so no free minutes. Phoned my girlfriend in Ireland.

Cost me ~R7 for 2 minutes + sms to tell her im phoning instead of my usual R12 a minute so seems to be working however - we could barely talk,quality was terrible :(
 
PsyWulf said:
Well im on a top-up acc...so no free minutes. Phoned my girlfriend in Ireland.

Cost me ~R7 for 2 minutes + sms to tell her im phoning instead of my usual R12 a minute so seems to be working however - we could barely talk,quality was terrible :(
Click to expand...

It costs me €3.23 a minute to phone from my Irish Cellphone to a South african line... ;)
But then I got a proper VoIP provider.

Check out www.maxroam.ie if you want a Simcard that plays nicely for international calls...
 
087 free minutes

Hi.
I have been using 0878063555 which came from here http://www.phonefirst.co.za, and so far its using up my free minutes , and not my normal airtime.

Its been a real win for me.

Hope it will be useful to someone also.
 
Cathrine_s said:
Hi.
I have been using 0878063555 which came from here http://www.phonefirst.co.za, and so far its using up my free minutes , and not my normal airtime.

Its been a real win for me.

Hope it will be useful to someone also.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info :) Doesn't work for my irish lass tho but always handy to have nonetheless :)
 
What happens if you do not have int roaming? Does it make a difference?
 
Oh lovely. Now they've taken Ireland off their useable numbers :|
 
PsyWulf said:
Oh lovely. Now they've taken Ireland off their useable numbers :|
Click to expand...

Last time I checked, its cheaper to phone Ireland from a Telkom landline, than it is to phone a cellphone...
 
daffy said:
Last time I checked, its cheaper to phone Ireland from a Telkom landline, than it is to phone a cellphone...
Click to expand...

The day I use my landline for a phonecall is the day I pull my teeth out with a tweezer

I'd rather pay more than deal with telskum...however a service that seems to work and purports to allow phoning a specific number one day,then denies it the next day does not tickle my fancy :S
 
PsyWulf said:
Well im on a top-up acc...so no free minutes. Phoned my girlfriend in Ireland.

Cost me ~R7 for 2 minutes + sms to tell her im phoning instead of my usual R12 a minute so seems to be working however - we could barely talk,quality was terrible :(
Click to expand...

Hey

Which country did you phone to? Vodacom does have some issues with certain carriers.
 
There's also Vox Vaya (087 805 9000) but calls can only be made to fixed-line numbers, unlike Altech's service (www.mybottomline.co.za) that supports calls to mobile numbers as well. (But if the call quality sucks, then that's not a big advantage.)

A quick search on Google reveals that there's also:

www.dialfree.co.za
www.cheapcalls.co.za
www.sacallback.com

I guess it's all the same service and that only the access number differs. (And perhaps the quality of the call.)

PS: Note that you can call these services also from a Telkom line at a charge of R1.07 per minute, VAT included.

Also, some phones can store the access number followed by the international number as a single entry so that you can speed-dial an international destination at reduced rates. (Or for free, depending on your MTN/Vodacom/CellC/VirginMobile subscription type.)
 
PsyWulf said:
Well technically using this service means I phoned a local number :P
Click to expand...

Theoretically it means you dialed a local number...but this number is routed to a routing server which then routes the call to the destination...thus the carrier used for this destination might have an issue. e.g. a poor interconnect or a over utilized line...if the issue is addressed then this can be checked and ensured that future call quality is appropriate.
 
dmatthysen said:
Theoretically it means you dialed a local number...but this number is routed to a routing server which then routes the call to the destination...thus the carrier used for this destination might have an issue. e.g. a poor interconnect or a over utilized line...if the issue is addressed then this can be checked and ensured that future call quality is appropriate.
Click to expand...

Indeed this was my implication,apologies if I wasn't clear but generally if I commented on a service saying the quality was bad I implicitly meant the specific service carrier and not my local carrier :P
 
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