How to make unlimited calls to India
As globalization continues to take hold, a lot of Indians are becoming citizens of the world. Whether it is for education, career or family, there is no doubt that they are conquering the world.
A survey in 2010 showed that Indian Americans are among the fastest growing ethnic groups in the US. Most Indians have a relative who either works or have migrated to the US. Several local businesses have either put up headquarters or outsourced services in India. With these came the demand for affordable calling services between the two countries. The type that lets you save money without compromising quality.
Various innovations have cropped up over the years to address this demand. But among all the options available in the market, which is the best? The answer depends on why you are calling and how often you make such calls.
There are a lot of different ways to place unlimited calls to India from the US. To make it easier for you to decide which best suit your needs, we’ve narrowed them down into categories. Read on to find out more.
1. Direct International Call
This might be the most straightforward way of calling someone in India. Cellular service providers in the US allows international calls but they can be quite pricey.
Some operators offer up to one month unlimited talk time but at a hefty price. Standard per minute charge for international calls with Verizon are up to $0.45. The same service can cost you $4.00 in AT&T and $3.51 for Sprint.
If you’re not afraid of spending money in favor of a more straightforward approach, this is for you.
2. VoiP Phone
A Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoiP) Phone uses the internet to relay voice calls, hence the name. It requires a standard or cordless analog phone, adapter and a broadband connection. Since it uses the internet as a medium to send calls, the last one is not negotiable.
Some common features of this service includes:
Caller ID
Multiparty calls (Conference calling)
Secure encrypted lines
Using a VoiP phone entails dialing at least 17 numbers depending on what city you’re calling to. First, dial 011 + 91 (India’s country code)+ area code + 10-digit phone number. You may refer here for a complete list of area codes for India: http://dialcode.org/Asia/India/
Most VoiP service in the US offers a fixed monthly (or yearly) contract. So if you’re calling India on a regular basis, this will work for you.
3. International Calling Cards
Traditionally, these are prepaid cards that usually have a part you scratch up to reveal a PIN number. Nowadays, it’s very easy to buy one online.
Most of the time, it offers a limited number of minutes depending on the card amount you purchased. Some phone companies also offer unlimited calls consumable for a specific period.
It works with wired or cordless analog phones and any type of handsets. Dialing instructions are often printed at the back. It usually requires you to dial the local access code, PIN and the international number.
This works best for those who are on a budget or rarely makes a call to India.
4. Online Messaging Apps
The internet has opened up a multitude of opportunities for human advancement. One such is greater connectivity. With most people owning a smartphone or two, the fame of online messaging apps continue to rise.
Messaging apps gained popularity by offering free calls to subscribers. WhatsApp, Viber, Skype and Messenger are famous brands that offer such service. One tap and you can talk to anyone from any corner of the world. Some even offers 3G video calling function.
The catch? You need to have an internet connection and an account in their platform. Same goes for the person you are calling. Plus you cannot call landline numbers. Though Skype now lets you load credits to your account to call landlines, it can be quite expensive.
5. MyLine
MyLine is an international calling service to India that lets you make calls to India for as low as $0.011 per minute. It uses advanced VoiP call routing capabilities that lets you connect to every corner of the country.
It is packed with features present in the first four options. It does not lock you in a contract nor charges any connection or activation fee. Pay as you go. It even allows you to send SMS to India for free.
MyLine also has one-touch dialing feature that eliminates the need to dial all those pesky extra codes. You just have to save the international number in your contacts as you would a local one. Then press dial and you’re covered. Gone are the days when you have to scour the web or the yellow pages for country or area codes.
The best thing about it is the flexibility it gives. It works with any of your devices: from Apple to Android and even your PC and Mac.
Call credits can also be recharged anytime, anywhere using your phone or PC. You will receive a notification to top up once the balance reaches below threshold. It can be made in any denomination of your choice. Your card is also valid for 180 days after the last use. These makes it perfect for both the occasional and frequent users.
So if you looking for the best unlimited calling service to India without getting ripped off, MyLine is your answer. Hands down.
