Exetel customer help forum

Hi,
Just a query re: the costs of making a VOIP call using a softphone on my mobile handset. I will be travelling overseas in the near future and would like to stay in contact by ringing family and friends via my VOIP account. I would be connecting via hotel wifi using SIPDroid. SIPDroid has been set up to use my Exetel VOIP details. I would like to know if the VOIP cast of a call would be based on the country where I am calling from or just the local domestic pricing.
Example: Calling via hotel internet in USA to Australian landline. Call cost is 10c? or US international call cost/minute?

Many thanks.

VoIP costs don't vary regardless of where you are calling from

VoIP uses the internet for carriage, so the first consideration is the internet fee. Most hotel ethernet ports are free. On the other hand, mobile SIM cards have a $$$ data allowance. Try to connect to the hotel system.

When we travel we take a device with an ethernet port - a very small computer that fits a handbag.

The softphone registers with Exetel wherever you are. The call itself is placed on your Exetel account at an exchange in Sydney, so the Australian call rates apply, including free calls to VoIP. Great for keeping in touch.

If you call a US number from the US you are really making a call via Australia and will be charged accordingly.

There is a gotcha you may sometimes meet. Some hotels have poor sysadmins who think they are blocking malware by blocking high ports. VoIP uses high ports, so if you meet one of these, reconfigure your softphone to choose different ports and you might get your call.