Hey everyone,
I'm currently living in Hungary as an expat and need to call some government and bank numbers back in Turkey. My mobile plan does cover international calls, but they are super pricey. Lately, I've been relying on WhatsApp for calls and texts, but now I need to get in touch with landlines. I've tried looking up options online, but there are so many choices and potential scams. Can anyone shed some light on this situation and help me out?
5 Answers
It's actually not that hard to call landlines abroad; it's similar to calling cellphones. However, WhatsApp only works for calling other WhatsApp users, not regular phone numbers, since it uses their own system. To call landlines, you'll need a phone plan that supports international calling. I get that your current provider is expensive, so it might be worth looking into other options that offer cheaper international rates or even eSIMs if you have a newer phone. That way, you could have one plan for local calls and another one for international calls, which could save you money.
Honestly, it's just expensive because telecom companies tend to overcharge you. Like my provider back in Romania offers calls to Turkish landlines for just 0.05€ per minute plus tax. The competition isn't as fierce in Hungary, allowing these companies to maintain high prices since there's little incentive for them to be more affordable.
Have you checked out Viber Out? It looks like calling Turkey from Hungary only costs about 5.7 cents per minute, which sounds way better than traditional phone plans. Might be worth giving it a shot!
Calling landlines abroad can be tricky because of outdated systems and differing international dialing rules. Each region has its own telecommunication infrastructure, so things can get complex fast, especially with how technology is shifting away from traditional landlines in general.
In the USA, calling between landlines used to be a nightmare with tons of different rates and bills. Some parts of the world are still stuck in that mess, making things more complicated than they need to be.
I remember when using Skype made calls so much easier! I used it from Austria to a Ukrainian landline without any hassle, and it was much cheaper than traditional rates. You might want to consider getting a prepaid plan with better international rates compared to what your mobile plan provides.