So how do you make a phone call from Namiba to Texas using your calling card? Both AT&T and SBC have no access in Namibia.

Don't know. I always just leave the number with the wife and let her worry about calling me To hard to work the phone in the evening with a cigar in one hand and a cane and coke in the other.

I am considering to rent a satelite phone for a month...Can call from any place on earth..As long as you can see the sky...

Mike

We have a Satalite phone in Tanzania...In Dar es Salaam I just call home collect..and its costly.

Sat phone rental fees are ridiculously high. If one is going to be abroad with any regularity, even GSM cell service is too costly. The only viable long term option is sat phone purchase. One can get "africa time" for around 82 cents per minute (in 300 minute blocks) and I've got a contact for NEW Motorola 9500 phones for around $800 (the newer model 9505 is around $1100). Not cheap but better than what Ray was undoubtedly paying for his collect calls. Further, I see GSM cell time going for over $2.00 per minute depending upon one's location (and that's assuming you even have service).

JMHO,

JohnTheGreek

We used an AT&T prepaid phone card to call from Namibia to Texas. Purchased at Walmart. I don't remember the cost of the call, but to call from Texas to Namibia it's appx 39 cents a minute. Here is one link I found
http://www.consumer.att.com/prepaidcard/fy/htw.html#international
Click on the link "From an international country to the U.S." and then on "country code and city code" and it will show from where you can call. We called from an hour north of Omaruru (3 hours north of Windhoek).

Use email, most ranches have internet access now. It doesn't cost a thing.

Has anyone ever tried internet telephones? Or internet voice connections?



They are free I think if you have an internet connection at both ends (?)

I havent but talk to Alan Bunn. He uses one on a regular basis and really likes it.

Alan is in Africa........


Kathi

I have a sat phone. While they are expensive to buy initally, but when you consider that you will have it for a long time and might go other places here in the States or else where where there isnt cell service they arent a bad deal. The air time on them is comming down in price a little too. Its a tool for me that I must have. For others it might be a luxery. just depends on your needs.

I guess I just can't figure out why in the world a guy would want a phone while on Safari in Africa? Or anywhere else for that matter.

I highly recommend satellite phones. Emerald Isle Communications is great to work with. Bert will let you rent one for your trip and then, if you decide you like it, he'll apply the rental you already paid to the purchase price. The website is www.eic-inc.biz - tell him I sent you. Also, his phones are guaranteed to work in like 95% of the world and I know they work in Tanzania.

Good luck!

Thanks Kathi, I knew he was going but lost track of the time. On the subject of Africa, I need to talk to you about flights for Oct. I dont know if you have been getting my emails or not.
Mike