Few things can beat the intimacy of a phone call when you are overseas.
Then again, few things can beat the shock of the hefty phone bill you get for your long-distance excesses.
Here are pocket-smart ways to keep in touch with loved ones here when you are abroad.
Callback services
Such services work by taking advantage of free incoming calls.
You make a call to a provided number.
The call will hang up on its own.
Within seconds, you will receive a call.
Pick up the call and punch in the phone number of the person you want to talk to.
Your call will be connected in another few seconds.
That incoming call is free but you will have to pay a fee to your callback service provider.
The rate can be a quarter of what your telco charges.
However, for this to work overseas, you will need to replace your SIM card with a local prepaid SIM card - preferably one that offers free incoming calls.
Check out absolutetelecom.com.sg or sunpage.com.
Call diversion
Now that you have a local SIM card, you can make your loved ones call you on that number instead of your Singapore one.
Or you can use a diversion service to route calls from Singapore to your overseas cellphone number.
Again, check out absolutetelecom.com.sg or sunpage.com.
You will need to register your overseas number.
Absolute Telecom or SunPage will issue you a Singapore number for you to divert your voice calls to.
With that done, your loved ones here can continue calling your mobile number but it will be diverted fuss-free to your overseas cellphone number.
According to SunPage, a call you receive in China, that would otherwise cost $1 to $3 a minute, costs only 28¢ a minute with its service.
Skype
Say you have access to a broadband connection - either in your hotel room or at a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Use the Web-based phone service Skype.
You will need your laptop with the Skype software installed.
Skype is free for calls made to another PC.
However, you will need to pay for calls to a mobile phone or a residential line.
For that, you must buy some Skype credits, which start at US$10 (S$14.50).
A Skype call to a Singapore phone number cost 2.1 US cents a minute.
Skype should be installed at cybercafe PCs.
However, if you are chary of entering your user ID and password into a strange computer, use a U3-based USB flash drive on which you can install and launch programs from.
Install and set up Skype on it.
Your own Skype program can be launched with a mouse click after you have inserted the U3 drive into the PC.
Blog
Using a blog, like an online diary, is second nature to many.
If you are still not with it, set up a blog account.
Go to Blogger.com and click on the blue "Create Your Blog Now" button.
Submit an e-mail address with a password for your blog.
Choose a blog name and pick a template. You have just created your blog.
To start blogging, click on New Post, give your entry a title and start entering your thoughts.
Hit the orange "Publish Now" button when you are done.
You can also upload photos and videos on your blog.
This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.
