international calls

I live in San Francisco, California and I send and receive calls
from Israel on my cell phone. I am looking for the best and least
expensive wireless plan for someone like me who sends and receives
many international calls on their cell. Your help is greatly
greatly appreciated...Thanks!

[KevinJames]

International calls are not cheap and at least one vendor I know (ATT) disables the service. You have to specifically ask for it to be enabled. This is actually a protection for you and the carrier. I had mine enabled for just one day because I was expecting a call from Nigeria. After that, I called to disable it again. I cannot remember if there was a charge involved for this.

If you travel within the USA, you will also need to consider a carrier that has coverage in most areas. (True national "everywhere" coverage is a myth at this point in time.) With that, I would recommend either ATT or Verizon. Call the carriers for quotes on international rates.

Kev

[Leah]

I dont know of a company here that offers "international" packages. You know like, "3000 international minutes for $85.00" or whatever. Anybody else know different?? Fill me in! =)

SunCom requires a certain credit score in order for you to be able to dial internationally. In other words, if your credit is shot , you probably wont be able to add the service to your phone. I guess its a safety precaution for the company....and the rates of course vary, and are NOT cheap!

However, even if you dont have the service, you can receive the calls anytime, and just use your plan minutes.

Anybody out there know about other carrier's International Dialing Policy??

Hello,
I believe that ATT has a plan that "subsidizes" international rates. Other carriers like SPRINT do allow you to dial internationally (activated on request) however they have some really exhorbitant rates.

I've found ATT to be the best solution so far (for direct dialled calls). You can always use a calling card, program the 800 number and your PIN in the phone and make international calls.

Hope this help.

CIAO.
Intl. Caller

[aiwapro]

Voicestream Wireless (T-Mobile) allows customers to send and receive calls internationally. The rate to Israel is only $0.29 per minute. I called and ask Customer Care; That's how I know.

By the way everyone, the reps now say "Thanks for calling Voicestream Wireless T-Mobile," instead of just saying Voicestream Wireless. The change across the nation will be within the next few months.

[ChosenJuan]

Using a cell phone to make international calls is a very expensive way to do it. I'd suggest getting an international calling card. That way you only pay whatever the long distance rate of the card. Still uses your minutes, but the end result is no different from if international calling was cheap.