Unlimited calls for $2.95 a month

[bank5]

I'm thinking about getting rid of my cell phone (I don't have a landline either). I would get an iPod touch and put Skype on it. For unlimitted calls to the US and Canada it would be about $3/mo. Granted I'd only be able to use it in a WiFi zone so maybe I'd get a tracphone too if I ever need to use a phone on the road.

Has anyone else thought about doing this?

 

[REWahoo]

bank, you might want to use the search feature before starting a new thread. You'll sometimes be surprised at what you come up with...

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/getting-rid-of-home-phone-magicjack-skype-44865.html

 

[FIREd]

I use skype on my iphone for long distance and international calls. There are limitations however if you have no cell phone. People can't call you unless the ipod is turned on, skype is open and of course you are within wifi range. And as you said, when you are out of wifi range, you can't use it to make calls either (so if your car breaks down you are out of luck). It is not very convenient. Skype, is a great complement to a cell phone, IMO, but not a great alternative.

 

[bank5]

bank, you might want to use the search feature before starting a new thread. You'll sometimes be surprised at what you come up with...

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/getting-rid-of-home-phone-magicjack-skype-44865.html

Thanks for the link. I've been using Skype and Google Chat for a while but I am mostly interested in running Skype on an iPhone or iPod touch.

 

[bank5]

I use skype on my iphone for long distance and international calls. There are limitations however if you have no cell phone. People can't call you unless the ipod is turned on and skype is open. And as you said, when you are out of wifi range, you can't use it to make calls either (so if your car breaks down you are out of luck). It is not very convenient. Skype, is a great complement to a cell phone, IMO, but not a great alternative.

Thanks for the feedback. After thinking about it a bit more I think I will keep my cell phone but also do the Skype on an iPod. Or maybe it would be better to switch to AT&T and get an iPhone. It'll be interesting to compare some prices of the cell phone plans.

 

[FIREd]

To help make the comparison:

Basic iphone plan with ATT is:
400 rollover minutes + 5000 night and week-end minutes + unlimited cell-to-cell minutes (within the ATT network) = $40/month
Unlimited data plan (required for iphone): $30/month
Add various fees and taxes, you are looking at around $76 a month (texting is extra, and you can pay per text message if you don't text a lot or buy a text message option starting at $5/month for 200 text messages)

Iphones start at $100 if you get the 8GB, second generation Iphone 3G or $200 if you want the third generation iphone 3GS.

The Ipod touch starts at $230.

A few advantages of combining a cell phone with a Skype subscription:

1) when you are calling someone from home, you can use skype on your cell phone and save minutes on your cell phone plan.
2) when people call you on skype, you can transfer the call to your cell phone which is just like receiving a local call no matter where people are calling from (within the US and Canada). It saves the caller money, you are sure to never miss a call and you don't have to leave skype open on your phone/ipod.
3) you get "skype to go" with your subscription. It's a local number you can call from any cell/landline phone which gives you access to the skype service while on the go. This allows me for example to make international calls from my cell phone for free, no matter where I am in the US and whether or not I have access to a wifi network.

I personally have an iphone with a global Skype subscription. This combination allows me to call anyone in the world (and receive calls from anyone in the world) directly on my cell phone, at super low prices, and independently of any wifi connection.