what's the least expensive way to call israel from the usa?

[geoffrey mendelson]

On Apr 2, 2009, at 9:54 AM, nir grinberg wrote:

> 1. compare prices for Israel, don't forget most of your calls will
> usually be to mobile numbers (in Israel).

So far the best deal is Orange's 139 NIS for a 2.5mbit connection (ISP  
part only) and
600 minutes of calls to all phones in Israel. That comes out to about  
30 ag a minute.
If you consider the ISP part worth something, it's  a lot cheaper. The  
downsides are you have
to be here and you have to buy an 800 NIS box over 36 payments  
(included in the monthly
  price).

However if you have a friend or relative who wants an 2.5m connection,  
you may be able to
do a deal, put the the box at their home and a small asterisk box.


> 2. check different providers' services and their rates.  the big plus
> with Skype, they offer outgoing call packages that includes Israel
> landline (mobile is NOT included)
> per minute SkypeOut rates can be found
> here:http://www.skype.com/prices/callrates/?currency=USD#listing-I

Skype has new terms and condiitions which may make them less  
attractive. In order to use
the cheap package, you have limits which include only one person per  
account. Otherwise, if
you have Skype set up on a home computer and use it to call your  
family and friends, that's fine, but your wife and kids each need  
their own accounts.


> 3. if you need people from Israel calling you, you might consider
> having an Israeli local number in the bundle as well.  This mean that
> people from Israel will be able to call you, by dialing a local
> number.  Skype do not provide israeli numbers, and you have to go with
> local Israeli provider.  Most companies in Israel will provide you
> service only via their own VoIP gateway.  To the best of my knowledge,
> you have to physically be here to collect it (they don't ship the
> gateway outside of Israel)

There are lots of companies that do, or will allow you to provide your  
own. Some will sell
you SIP only, others will connect to whatever Asterisk protocol you  
want. You can also
ask for a "laptop option" and then configure your own PAP2 or similar  
device instead.

Cost is a problem, 077 numbers are the cheapest, 052 next (but are the  
most expensive to
call) and BEZEQ numbers are hard to get and the most expensive.

If you really miss home, you can get a package deal of HOT Internet,  
cable TV and a voice
line (077) for around 200 NIS. Combine that with the Orange deal, and  
place a small computer
running Asterisk and MythTV on the end of it, and you can get and make  
lots of phone calls,
(2000 min to BEZEQ, 600 to cell phones) and watch/record your favorite  
programs, while
accumulating serious geek points for about 340 NIS a month +  
electricity.


Geoff.

-- 
geoffrey mendelson
geoffreymendelson at gmail.com