Skype vs. Vonage vs. Yahoo Voice vs. AT&T

[Looking4Wife]

I have resisted Skype and/or Vonage because...

I can use Yahoo Voice to call my wife's Barranquilla cell phone at 10 cents per minute, with no additional monthly charge.  Normally the connection reliability and sound quality are both better than phone cards.  Plus there are no "surprise" charges common with phone cards.

For the past few weeks, however, my Colombia connection has been either hit more miss, or poor quality.

Also my AT&T landline service, $5/mo. + 15 cents/min. international calling, is a joke.  Routinely my calls are cut off after talking so long (I haven't timed it yet, but it seems to be about 20 minutes). 

I previously had MCI, excellent sound quality and connections, but they kept arbitrarily flip-flopping me back to their "default" international plan of $5.65/minute to Colombia... OUCH!

1.  Doesn't skype require both the caller and the receiver to have a computer?

2.  Will internet cafes work with skype?

3.  By the time you add in monthly fees for Vonage (and/or skype?), why not just use a phone card?

4.  Plus I've heard mixed reviews about call quality with Vonage

Thanks in advance... 

[daytrader]

I use yahoo voice between pc's, skype and vonage between pc's & end user phones; all are excellent quality; 

Skype is free between pc's that have the software, however, Skype can call any phone number anywhere @ around 9 or 10 cents a minute internationally.  There are no fees, just pay them a minimum of $10 and you work off of that for landline calls.  Skype is peer-to-peer file sharing, only you are sharing the digitized voice info... quality is excellent. 

Vonage is very good quality, has a higher connection rate for international cellular numbers, competitive low rates for international land lines. 

Yahoo voice is free between PC's, I wouldn't use them otherwise since they don't have good customer service if you have problems or need a credit. 

I use Vonage and Skype for international conference calls, with an interpreter patched in, as needed, there's no drop off in quality at all.   

Skype should work at internet cafes if they have the software loaded on the pc. 
Vonage has a new option that operates off a portable USB device and ear buds.  Great if you are on the move. 

If you have a landline and calling cards, I would use Skype as a backup to your calling cards.  I use Vonage's $14.95 plan + pay for the international calls, it's simple, no hassle and they have good customer support and a powerful website that handles any of my questions or needs.   

Note:  Skype users that have a LogicTech webcam  and attempt to conference, will not be successful. There is a workaround.  You can PM me or email Skype support, which might take 48 hours for a response. 

Hope this helps. 

DayTrader

[papi]

i am a fan of skype. i use it to call regular landlines or cell and it is free PC to PC. i would not recommend using it on a public pc for security

[rpcv]

This is all great info! I personally use Nobel which has fairly good rates and options.  Here are the options/stats for calling to Cali:

2.8 cents a minute
$40=1,428 minutes

3.5 cents a minute
$40=1,142 minutes

4.5 cents a minute
$40= 888 minutes

[KP2]

LFW,

Try going to crossfone.com and take a look at their services.

I use them to call Colombia and the service and connectivity is quite good [at least from my area]. Keep in mind that the telecom infrastructure in Colombia is not as advanced as it is here, but for the price, I am pretty happy with the service.

[Parlay Rey]

I use Tel3Advantage and am very happy with them. Too bad FuturePhone stopped their Colombian service. I was burning the hell out of their line for about 2 weeks back in October.