Skype To Go: international calls from your mobile at local rates
Update: Skype To Go is now part of our subscriptions.
You live in Sweden and you have a mobile in your pocket. And a friend in San Nicolás de los Garza. But calling this impossibly beautiful-sounding place in Mexico would burn a hole in said pocket.
Enter Skype To Go. It’s part of Skype Pro and you can use it to ring your Mexican friend — let’s call him Ishmael — from your mobile phone for as long as you want. It’s not entirely free, but at least there’s no burnin’ holes in anybody’s pants.
Allow me to demonstrate:
]]>Start by downloading Skype onto your computer. Sign up to Skype Pro for €2 (€2.30 with VAT included) per month and, as a Skype Pro customer, you will receive a Skype To Go number at no additional cost. To activate your Skype To Go number, enter Ishmael’s number and in return, you’ll get a local number to use instead. To reach Ishmael, just dial this number from any phone. Including the one in your pocket.
Voila! Calling San Nicolás de los Garza now costs the same as calling the bowling alley across the street, plus the small SkypeOut rate to call Mexico. (For an official explanation, see the official Skype To Go page)
Skype to Go is not yet available in all Skype Pro countries, however. So for now, I’m afraid you need to live in one of these places: Australia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, Poland, Sweden, UK and the US.
I tried it out and it worked perfectly. Though i have one question – how many skype to go number can i get? Only one? I have several clients who live in other countries and i would like to assign skype to go number for them also.
How many numbers can we have ?
same question as above
You get one ‘To go’ number and you can change the number it connects to once a week so it’s not very flexible but could still be useful and does add value to Skype Pro.
It’s nice to see this added value for Skype Pro but it would just be so much more useful if Skype Pro calls worked for international calls instead of just national ones. Obviously it would also be great if we could have a few ‘To go’ numbers per account.
Also it’s clear that that Skype’s international rates no longer seem that competitive so I’d like to see them reviewed. The SkypeOut Global rate should become a maximum rate instead of a flat rate so that certain countries could be much cheaper to call thus making Skype competitive again. This would also improve the ‘To go’ deal. It’s crazy that I can call France from the UK with a certain telecom provider for 0.5ppm whilst Skype costs more than twice the price and calling UK mobiles costs more with Skype than with BT. We also really need to get rid of the connection charge for Skype Pro users so that we have something comparable to the N American plan.
I have in the past suggested that it would be incredibly useful if jajah.com’s idea of using standard landline phones for VoIP was adopted by Skype to enable us to make VoIP calls with our Skype accounts. Perhaps ‘To go’ numbers are the beginning of this.
Anyway I hope Skype Pro (and Skype in general of course) keeps evolving.
What’s the difference on Skype-no#-to-go(skype pro) vs. skype-in-number.
I have already skype-in-number purchased and been using. Should I purchase the skype pro for skype number to go? and would it be any smart purchase? or is it just waste of money as I do have skype in number in certain country already?
artroadmn a SkypeIn number is meant for other people to make calls to you but a Skype To Go number is meant for you to make calls to other people with your Skype account using a mobile or landline phone.
Here is an example of how I have used it:
I have a friend in France so as a Skype Pro user I set up my To Go number by entering my friend’s name and number in the form. I’m then allocated a To Go number here in the UK so now when I call this UK number the call is routed through to my friend’s number in France. I have inclusive minutes with my landline so I can call this UK number for free and only pay Skype’s charges for calling France. If I had inclusive minutes on my mobile phone I could call my friend in France and still only pay the normal Skype to France charges.
Skype To Go could be useful for someone who wants to keep in touch with someone abroad from a normal phone when away from the computer.
What about Germany???
“Skype to Go is not yet available in all Skype Pro countries, however. So for now, I’m afraid you need to live in one of these places: Australia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, Poland, Sweden, UK and the US.”
So, Germany ist nicht dabei?…
I just created a Skype To Go number in the US. The setup process allowed me to select what area code the skype to go number would be in (nice), so I clicked on 708, my preferred area code. At the end of the process, I was allocated a number: (509) 708-xxxx (not so nice). That’s one incredibly annoying bug.
“To activate your Skype To Go number, enter Ishmael’s number and in return, you’ll get a local number to use instead.”
Does someone please know if I can assign a mobile number instead of a landline number to my To Go Number ?
Let’s say, I leave in the UK, and I want to assign my To Go Number to a Mobile number in France. Would that be possible ? If yes, What would I have to pay per call ?
Thanks in advance.
yes – I’m with jackk763. I signed up for a number in the 818 area code (free for me)and was given a 704 area code number ( I gotta pay each time I call!). Incredibly annoying! I’ve e-mailed Skype twice about it. No response. Not very nice at all.
i am almost paralysed by this To Go stuff. i can’t get my brain around it, and i dont want to activate it till i get a handle on it, as i can see that heidi.spiegel and jackk763 have very sensible beefs about it.
bring on the Germany “Skype to go” and do it now!
I signed up for a SkypeToGO number in the USA and got given another USA number – I am in Australia. No response yet from Skype as to why or of this is how system works. I suspect not and have probably racked up a couple of hefty international call bills.
…continuing on from previous comment; i have rung the assigned Skype to Go number (in USA) a couple of times before realising that I should have been given a local number. As I can’t change the number for a week, I guess I will have to be patient and wait ’til then, or wait for Skype response to inquiry.
Similar issue to the jackk763 and heidi.spiegel, but in a different country. I requested a call number in Melbourne, but got one in Sydney. Other than that, it works really well!
Bugger eh, I just realised that the number i thought was a strange Perth phone number is actually a number in Brisbane.
One more person with an incorrect number assigned.
Otherwise, this system works preety cool.
I have just subscribed to Skype Pro in anticipation of being able to use the Skype ToGo facility , I am in Adelaide, South Australia, but when I went to enter my friends mobile number (+861) who is in China, there was no availability for numbers in China – does this mean that it won’t work between Australia and China?
it’s kind of cool. to be honest i’d like to see the free international call set-up like vonage have. i only just signed up for Skype (I want to use my laptop rather than cart the router around with me all the time.) today assuming that it was a similar service and that I could still call numbers local to my Skypein number for free. Its a great feature and is the only thing stopping me from binning off my Vonage account.
What would be even nicer is if the skype to go destination number could be dynamically changed by SMS. What if Ishmael was on business in Bulgaria?
For Skype in is it possible to change your forward number every day? How about with every call? My brother does this with Vonage. He changes the forward number so he can call people long distance. He put their number into the forward number and then calls his own Vonage number.
Could someone help me. I am going to tanzania in september and I have a to go number for my boyfriend who lives in the UK. I want to be able to phone him. I know its say about only certain countries have to go numbers, but will this work for me?
I know UK has to go numbers, but tanzania doesnt.
Hi mate, just checking out the skype to go thing and saw your comment. I was wondering if you know which local calling rate is talked about. Landline to cell, cell to cell… ? if they are landline calls then it would be worth it for me. Would be great if you could give me a hint.cheers Si
Hi mate, just checking out the skype to go thing and saw your comment. I was wondering if you know which local calling rate is talked about. Landline to cell, cell to cell… ? if they are landline calls then it would be worth it for me. Would be great if you could give me a hint.cheers Si
I downloadede Skype po but I am yet to get a “To Go” number
Hey do you need internet connection for Skype To Go? On the website they say that I can use up my mobile credit, which comes with my mobile plan, on Skype To Go. Is that true?
Do I need a internet connection on my mobile for it? Can I call the local number with my given minutes without internet?
‘Failte’from the land of saints and scholars! Tell me this, and tell me no more, when are us Paddy’s going to be able to use ‘Skype to go’, or is it even in the pipeline yet. I’ve installed it on my cell and, being a skype virgin, wasn’t aware it wasn’t active here. Is it worth keeping? Or should I uninstall it for now, since it’s inactive? If it’s not likely to go live in the near future, I’d rather uninstall.
The limit of 1 To Go number is a real shame, otherwise this feature would have been a real competition-beater.
Is there any reason why we can’t have more, even if it meant a nominal charge?
I think you’ve missed the point, tnz917 and altern8ive1.
Skype To Go gives you a number, ideally one that’s local to where you are, which redirects to any number you like. For example, mine (I’m in the UK) is 0115 xxxx xxx, and when I call it, I’m redirected to a US number I call regularly. Effectively, therefore, I’m only calling an 0115 number in the UK, which is free from my mobile’s inclusive call minutes. The cost of redirecting that call to the States I assume comes out of my Skype balance just the same is if I were sitting at my desk using my Skype phone to call the US.
Can Ishmael’s phone number be a mobile phone? Can pre-paid Skype cards do virtually the same thing, that is, call internationally cell to cell?
In order for this to be a useful service there needs to be a way of calling a wide variety of numbers rather than one that we can only change once per week.
I personally would pay more for a service that really let us call anywhere in the world from a land line just by dialing an initial skype out number to connect to my account.
Also Skype pro should have more capability of managing multiple skype accounts so that we can be online for multiple purposes and know by the account that is being called whether the call is related to business or is a personal call.
It would also be good to see some integration with a incoming call switching service similar to One Box so that calls could be automatically routed according to departments.
Another feature that would make this “Pro” would be email notices of voice mails.
This doesn’t all have to be in a single package. It can be modular, meaning we add the features we need and the price goes up accordingly.
Oh yeah, and one last thing… France. this service should definitely work in France or I won’t be getting it.
OK got a question…. I am visiting Estonia in the summer from the U.S. I will have my cellphone while over there. How do I take advantage of this using my cell phone? Do I get a to go number in the U.S. and call it then home or in Estonia? Will my cell provider charge me a bunch of money for calling a pro number and using my cellphone in Estonia? or is this a way around that?
Skype is not as good as other voip in this context of the “TO GO”… If u wanna call directly from your cellphone and achieve a local number for that person,,, its unlimited in rebtel, that means u can get local numbers for unlimited contacts and way cheaper than skypeout rates.
BUT i have to say one thing,, SKYPE is DEFINITELY the best service if u are looking out for PC-PC communication or local/long dist. within US….
Hope the moderators dont mind on this note of mine.. its a fact and right to information is everyone’s right…
Just sharing my experience with fellow skypers…
Good Luck to all///
am not an agent to either skype or rebtel.. just an experience sharing as i use rebtel instead of skype “to go”….
Is it possible to change the To Go number? I relocated, and would like to change the number I call, since I am in a new area code.
Thank you for the help.
When do you think we will be able to pick a local Skype to Go number? Right now, Skype assigns a number in the same state but it’s rarely a local number. In my case it’ a long distance call so I still have to pay Verizon to call from a landline. (I don’t have enough minutes on a mobile to use my cell, nor a laptop with me all the time). So, it would be great if we could pick the exchange number (the xxx), not only area code, ex: 856-xxx-….. Right now if you don’t use a cell it’s pointless to buy a skype subscription to use with skype to go. It costs me $0.03 to call Europe but $0.06 to call Skype to Go number in my state!
Any idea when this improvement will be available?
Thank you.
I have now everything for that skype to go and in skypes account says that everything is ok etc but when I call there comes menu voice and when choosing to call person in spain from Finland, voice says that has happened technical fault, please try again after few minutes and after that connection gets cut off. And that happens always when try to call.
Why not pay the $10 (or whatever) for Skype Unlimited. You get global calling for free, including from the To Go number. It’s like a calling card, only with Skype Unlimited the onwards cost is free.
(Skype Unlimited offers all sorts of other benefits, like voicemail, 3 Skype in numbers etc).
And… and this is the really big difference between a calling card and this… you can give your To Go number to other people, and they can call you on it. (It’s not how they describe it, but there are thousands of calling cards which do what Skype To Go markets itself as).
e.g. I live in the UK, and give my To Go number (and PIN) to people in the US so *they* can call *me*. Because *I* have Skype Unlimited, they can call me for the cost of a US number, which is good from *their* cellphones, and I don’t pay for it either.
P.S. Skype Unlimited is cheaper if you set Skype to give you prices in dollars, rather than Pounds or Euros.
Kindly put me through this redirecting calls to mobile phones, I live in UK but going for holidays in Ghana. So how can I take advantage of using my cell phone while i’m there?
I’ve been a Skype Pro user for some time now. I would like to know whether it is now superseded by the newer ‘Unlimited’ plans (Europe/World) which appear to be more competitive. And if so, how does one migrate from a Pro account to an Unlimited account and keep the same numbers/IDs, etc? Any feedback would be most welcome.
I have a 512 (US) SkypeToGo number. If I were to call my friend with the same area code (512) from Thailand via my cellphone, how much would my friend be charged? I know I would be charged for calling the SkypeToGo number from Thailand but that’s ok with me. But will he be charged the local rate like calling from 512 to 512 or international rate like from thailand to US?
ok i would like the best of both worlds
i have a Grand Central/Google Voice # so calling all of the USA is free
now i want get a Skype ToGo subscription from one of their “The Unlimited Country subscription” http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/subscriptions/
and i will choose a USA # as my free call in #
BUT does that mean i get a USA access # so that i can call it with my Grand Central and then in theory i will get access to one of the supported Countries also for free
is this correct
@thegreatfixer yep – absolutely correct
Folks, I have just incurred over $250 in roaming charges due to the false advertising of this product;
1) many countries do not have this service such as France, Germany, Spain or Greece. Why do they post these rates?
2) If you use, for example, the US skype to go #, and call back to the US from one of these countries then you will be charged the Skype to Go fees and the international roaming charges.
3) I do not see this is a service at all as many cell phones already have international calling capability. You will essentially be paying two companies for the one call. Read carefully before buying or using- I am seriously annoyed and feel ripped off, my hope is that you will be more informed now
SKYPE TO GO numbers don’t work in the US right now. For the second day in a row I get a message that says they are having a “Technical Fault”. This means you cannot call anywhere with that number; neither the stored contacts nor direct dialing works, for a US based Skype to Go number calling a US or Canadian destination.
Odd that there is no message or Service Advisory of some sort, or posting on Skype Heartbeat about this. I guess it must be because it happens all the time?
Come on Skype- is this a permanent failure? Do you know about it? Will it get fixed?
Hello!
I’m not sure what is the best way for me to do this. My client in Japan wants to contact me. I am in USA. I want to be able to pay for the service for my client and have him call my mobile phone from his Skype. Is that possible?? How should I proceed and what kind of the service plan will be best for this situation?? Will my mobile just use local minutes when he calls??
Thank you very much for your help!
@wendyong3 take a look at our Business Control Panel – let me know if that helps
I work in a company in Sydney and we have a large number of people who travel overseas on a regular basis and as such the Mobile Phone Bill for overseas calls is very high. What I need to know is the following:
The SIM cards are all registered in Australia
What Skype to Go service do we need to purchase for staff travelling to the USA, Japan, China, France, Germany, Belgium?
If a person is in the USA and has numbers setup in the Skype to Go service, how will this be charged?
I suppose my question is really, if a person wants to use this service and call numbers in the USA, does the SIM card have to be registered in the country from which the call is being made? Otherwise, wouldn’t it incur global roaming charges?
I would appreciate any feedback.
@michael.steers you’re correct – Skype To Go is most useful if you’re calling abroad from your home country. Otherwise, you’ll need a local SIM to avoid roaming charges.
If you have staff who travel a lot, one of our mobile apps might just do the trick.
I live in Australia and I am travelling in Europe in August. Is a Skype To Go number the best and cheapest way for me to stay in contact with Australia while I am in Europe?