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I recently bought an iPhone with O2 UK and as you may well guess I have to sign up to the high end tariff where I get more than thousand usage minutes. This took me on a search path how to utilize these minutes and not get them wasted. Although Mrs. helps in that a lot but still she can't manage to exhaust the minutes. One way I could have utilized these minutes is if I could call back home to India using these minutes.
In past when non geographic or noodle numbers were included in free minutes with mobile operator, it was possible to do that. Now I will warn users not to go on web searching for "free calling from mobile" kind of searches. As this will take you to websites that promises to use your mobile minutes to make international calls. These websites were working in the past but don't work now. Many of them are not updated with this info. This results in many unsuspecting users getting stung by big bills.
To my luck I did find a way to make cheap calls and in the process use my mobile usage minutes. The cost turns out be 2.3p per minute which is reasonable and you will not get much better even if you use your landline. To get you out of the suspense the service is our own airtel. By using there toll number (which will be free calling from your mobile) and making use of 50% extra minutes you will get an effective rate of 2.3 p a minute. Remeber that 50% deal is until august 31st 2008 only. Read there press release for further detail. I quote it here:
Airtel has entered the UK market with the launch of its virtual calling card service 'Airtel CallHome'. Targeted at NRIs and students in the UK, the service promises to offer superior value including unmatched call quality, competitive call rates, two-touch speed dialing and a host of value-added services.
Unlike physical calling cards where customer has to go through a cumbersome dialing process, dialing via Airtel CallHome is done by pressing two buttons. Customers can register up to 10 telephone numbers in UK for outgoing calls in UK. Thereafter, configure up to 50 numbers in India and store them as a short code (Easy Dial feature) and then just press two buttons on the phone to connect.
Available only as prepaid, subscribers in the UK will be able to call India at 3.5 pence/ minute through toll access and 4.5 pence/minute through toll free access, irrespective of the service provider. In addition, subscribers can also make calls to other countries, as per the list available on the Airtel CallHome website.
As a part of its launch offer, Airtel is offering 25 minutes of free talk time trial to all subscribers. Subscribers will also get 50% extra talk time over and above what is purchased, bringing effective call rates down to 2.3 pence/min. Moreover, in case a subscriber refers someone under the Refer-a-Friend program, he/she will get 100 minutes of free talk-time for each successful referral.
Once again remeber that 50% deal is until august 31st 2008 only. You can register here for an account.
