Whether you are a migrant worker in the United States who needs to keep in touch with your family and friends or a worker in the foreign trade industry or the foreign office of a large company who must stay connected with clients, it is unavoidable to make frequent international calls.
Anyone who makes international calls understands the value of every second. You value the time you have to catch up, but you also realize that every second could cost you a fortune. In addition, it may annoy you that you can’t decide whether the other party is using the landline or the mobile phone.
Anyway, if you make international calls a lot, then you should know the international calling rates that are relevant to your calling to avoid getting a bill crash. And more importantly, you’d better learn about some simple but effective ways to cut your international calling rates, which can surely save you a lot of money.
High International Calling Rates
Your phone provider, your phone plan, calling via mobile phone or landline or VoIP, and the countries and even cities you’re calling to and from will all influence your international calling rates. In the US, some carriers such as Verizon and AT&T already provide international basic pricing for calls to every country around the world. They also have international standard rates for calls to specific firms like Inmarsat, Global Satellite, and Networks.
Here are the major carriers’ basic rates posted on the web:
AT & T: AT&T Basic Rates; AT&T Mobile Termination Rates
International Mobile Termination Charge, or IMTC may be applied to all international calls from the United States to certain countries to wireless devices and ranges of fixed or wireless telephone numbers which the foreign telecommunications company designates to be for special services. Because many foreign telecommunications companies impose extra fees on AT&T to complete these calls, AT&T charges the International Mobile Termination Charge, in addition to all other applicable charges. To cut the international calling rates, you can also buy an international calling plan offered by AT&T.
| AT&T Basic Rate | AT&T Mobile Termination Rates | |
| Canada | $1.55 | 0 |
| China | $5.00 | 0 |
| India | $5.00 | 0 |
| Mexico | $3.50 | $0.15 |
| UK | $3.50 | $0.20 |
Verizon: Verizon Basic Rates
International rates for China
| Call a mobile | Call to a landline | |
| Pay Per Use ($0/mo) | $2.49 /minute | $2.49 /minute |
International rates for India
| Call a mobile | Call to a landline | |
| Pay Per Use ($0/mo) | $2.49 /minute | $2.49 /minute |
International rates for Canada
| Call a mobile | Call to a landline | |
| Pay Per Use ($0/mo) | $0.49 /minute | $0.49 /minute |
International rates for Mexico
| Call a mobile | Call to a landline | |
| Pay Per Use ($0/mo) | $0.69 /minute | $0.69 /minute |
International rates for the UK
| Call a mobile | Call to a landline | |
| Pay Per Use ($0/mo) | $1.99 /minute | $1.99 /minute |
T-Mobile: T-Mobile Basic Rates
International rates for China
| Mobile to Landline | Mobile to Mobile | Text (SMS) | |
| Stateside International Talk | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Pay Per Use | $3.00/min | $3.00/min | Unlimited |
International rates for India
| Mobile to Landline | Mobile to Mobile | Text (SMS) | |
| Stateside International Talk | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Pay Per Use | $3.00/min | $3.00/min | Unlimited |
International rates for Canada
| Mobile to Landline | Mobile to Mobile | Text (SMS) | |
| Included in T-Mobile ONETM and Simple Choice North America plans | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Pay Per Use | $1.00/min | $1.00/min | Unlimited |
International rates for Mexico
| Mobile to Landline | Mobile to Mobile | Text (SMS) | |
| Included in T-Mobile ONETM and Simple Choice North America plans | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Pay Per Use | $1.00/min | $1.00/min | Unlimited |
International rates for the UK
| Mobile to Landline | Mobile to Mobile | Text (SMS) | |
| Stateside International Talk | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Pay Per Use | $3.00/min | $3.00/min | Unlimited |
Sprint: Sprint Basic Rates
International rates for China
| Voice | Call a mobile | Call to a landline |
| International Connect: Call & Text add-on – $15/mo. | $0.00/min | $0.00/min |
| Cuba 20 Plus add-on – $10/mo. Includes 20 minutes of calling to Cuba | $0.13/min | $0.13/min |
| Mexico-Canada Plus add-on – $5/mo. | $0.13/min | $0.13/min |
| Standard International Call & Text | $3.00/min | $3.00/min |
International rates for India
| Voice | Call a mobile | Call to a landline |
| International Connect: Call & Text add-on – $15/mo. | $0.00/min | $0.00/min |
| Cuba 20 Plus add-on – $10/mo. Includes 20 minutes of calling to Cuba | $0.29/min | $0.29/min |
| Mexico-Canada Plus add-on – $5/mo. | $0.29/min | $0.29/min |
| Standard International Call & Text | $3.00/min | $3.00/min |
International rates for Canada
| Voice | Call a mobile | Call to a landline |
| International Connect: Call & Text add-on – $15/mo. | $0.00/min | $0.00/min |
| Cuba 20 Plus add-on – $10/mo. Includes 20 minutes of calling to Cuba | $0.00/min | $0.00/min |
| Mexico-Canada Plus add-on – $5/mo. | $0.00/min | $0.00/min |
| Standard International Call & Text | $1.00/min | $1.00/min |
International rates for Mexico
| Voice | Call a mobile | Call to a landline |
| International Connect: Call & Text add-on – $15/mo. | $0.00/min | $0.00/min |
| Cuba 20 Plus add-on – $10/mo. Includes 20 minutes of calling to Cuba | $0.00/min | $0.00/min |
| Mexico-Canada Plus add-on – $5/mo. | $0.00/min | $0.00/min |
| Standard International Call & Text | $0.67/min | $1.00/min |
International rates for the UK
| Voice | Call a mobile | Call to a landline |
| International Connect: Call & Text add-on – $15/mo. | $0.00/min | $0.00/min |
| Cuba 20 Plus add-on – $10/mo. Includes 20 minutes of calling to Cuba | $0.26/min | $0.06/min |
| Mexico-Canada Plus add-on – $5/mo. | $0.26/min | $0.06/min |
| Standard International Call & Text | $3.00/min | $3.00/min |
A Complete Guide to Cut International Calling Rates
Since the international calling rates are high and different based on some factors, finding the best match for your international calling needs seems more important and necessary to avoid being trapped with a huge bill as well as to reduce your international calling costs dramatically. Comparing international calling rates from different providers is important, but some simple tips can also help you cut down the international calling cost.
Tip#1. Try another “lover”.
The “lover” here is actually your phone provider. Why change a “lover”? Because it is possible that your current “lover” is more costly. It’s likely that you already have a business phone provider. However, it may not be the cheapest international calling alternative. If you make a lot of international calls and want to save money, you should at least look into switching providers to locate one that can help you save money on foreign calls. It may be inconvenient in the short term, but you’ll get benefits in the long run. By the way, find the “lover” that has the lowest international calling rates in the countries and cities you are calling.
Tip#2. Do your due diligence.
No matter what problem you encounter, always read the fine print and ask questions. Many phone companies advertise attractive international prices and plans. However, if you read the small print, you’ll notice that many of them have restricted countries and higher charges on specific numbers. Just make sure to do your due diligence and understand what you’re getting into.
Tip#3. Evaluate your phone system with a big-picture lens.
Something that you possibly don’t know is that international calling rates are merely one aspect of the whole phone cost. You may be getting cheap international rates, but your monthly service expenses are simply too high. If that’s the case, you’re actually saving nothing. So, remember to examine every aspect of your phone system through a big-picture lens to see what you can find. Or you can also compare traditional and VoIP phone systems. VoIP will, in most situations, be substantially less expensive than traditional landlines.
Tip#4. Use a VoIP service.
Since it has been mentioned above that VoIP may be cheaper in the international calling rates, try to use a VoIP service like Dingtone, which allows you to make unlimited international calls and SMS with low rates or even for free from your cell phone to any mobile or landline phone number in over 200 countries.
Tip#5. Find free WiFi.
One of the easiest ways of cutting international calling costs would be using free WiFi as much as possible because your data allowance will not be depleted if you use WiFi. However, WiFi may not be free, so check to see if there will be a charge before you start surfing the web or using your apps. Moreover, if you use mobile calling apps that employ Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and use them over free WiFi, it will help you avoid or reduce voice roaming expenses. But keep in mind to check with the app’s creator to ensure that you won’t be charged for the calls if you’re utilizing free WiFi.
Tip#6. Turn off all automatic updates and downloads.
In some cases, some phones and apps will download data while the phone is turned on, which may result in roaming charges. To learn how to close these automatic updates and downloads, contact your carrier or the manufacturer of your phone. In fact, there is an easier and faster way that when you leave the free WiFi zone, put your phone on airplane mode to prevent accidental usage of cellular data. But remember to turn on WiFi afterward to connect with others.
Tip#7. Keep asking your carrier.
What are the roaming rates? What are your international roaming arrangements with the service providers in the country? How can you track your usage? Is there a notification in terms of phone or message for excess usage? These are all the questions you can ask your carrier. Besides, once you come across some problems with your bill or experience just some puzzle when you use, just call your carrier for instruction in time.
Bottom Line
- The high international calling rates are going to bring extra personal or business costs. Therefore, it is a dire need to find some effective ways or simple tips to cut down the high expenses.
- More specifically, you can cut international calling rates by changing to a cheaper carrier, doing your due diligence, evaluating your phone system as a whole, using a VoIP service, finding free WiFi, and so on.