Italian SIMs.

Anyone know about PAYG deals in Italy suitable for calling UK numbers &
3G?

My parents have moved there now but are still using their UK SIMs,
which I guess is the most expensive way of doing things. They will be
switching to Italian contract SIMs at some point, but need something
else in the meantime.

 

Only this, recommended from elsewhere:

http://www.wind.it/it/privati/index.phtml

 

mobile skype

 

OK, but what does that actually mean?

 

Something like that SIM and a subscription to 12voip.com which offers
3 months of international landline calls for €10 plus very good rates
to mobiles would do the trick, using a softphone client on a smart
phone or laptop.

 

It means you need a WiFi connection.

 

I can call folk in the Philippines because me here and them there have
mobile phones with a Skype app. So the calls are almost free, apart from the
small data charge. If I call a landline number it is still pretty cheap.
Obviously I haven't dealt with the local data question.

 

No I was talking about Skype over the mobile data network

 

Which they haven't got. Having had a little chat with Simon earlier,
who didn't want to post stuff here in case it was perceived as
spamming, there are other options with Skype which may or may not be
available in Italy. I wasn't sure if Hog meant one of those.

 

Ah right. Yeah the local data question is the important one
unfortunately.

 

Is it any good though? I've not used it, but most of the people I know
that do only ever use it when WiFi is available.

I may, of course, have added 2 and 2 and got 5...

 

It's variable. Like skype on wifi!

 

And this I don't understand. Yes, I know it is, but why? Our home
phone is now purely VOIP, and is 100% fine just using normal home
phone equipment (wireless, as it happens). Why is Skype so much worse?

 

<paging Simon!>

Some calls it is fine. Others not. Particularly for Group calls. I expect it
is down to QoS issues on carriers and peering points on the way.

 

I suppose that could make some sense. As our VOIP servie is part of
the whol package provided by Orange/France Telecom I suppose they're
taking care of all connections into the 'proper' phone network, so can
better control the whole process.

 

Yes, this is my understanding too. I have the SFR service in France and
it is consistent quality, but much lower bitrate than Skype can
potentially use. I do prefer the high quality Skype calling in general
these days, and I only get problems rarely. We are more and more using
group video when we call each other as well.

 

18+ only, obviously.

 

Just spoken to my Italian colleague and he advises that wind,
Vodafone, etc block VOIP unless you have a business account. So, no
cheap calling.

 

**** them right between the eyes!

 

Only time I've noticed problems with Skype was lebanon and I suspect
that was their poor connections out rather than anything else.