Fring users have recently been blocked from using Skype accounts to make phone calls in Fring. (Skype Users Are Now Blocked From Making Calls Using Fring) Previously, Fring software had allowed one to use a mobile phone to call landlines and mobile phones through their Skype account (using Skype credit and call rates), rather than needing to call from a computer. When using Fring and an existing wi-fi network connection, only regular Skype call charges applied, and no extra mobile phone data fees or voice talk minutes were used.
Here are two alternatives to Fring that use Skype to make calls from an Android mobile phone.
Update: A Skype app is now available for Android mobile phones.
Use Skype To Go to Replace Fring For Mobile Phone Skype Calls
A free Skype solution guaranteed to work from your mobile phone is Skype To Go. Without any extra charges, Skype To Go allows you to make international calls with your Skype account at Skype rates, but it is not a software application for your mobile phone.
A Skype To Go number is your own personal phone number (a local number in your area), that you dial before you enter the long distance number you wish to call using Skype rates. Basically, Skype To Go works like a long distance calling card that is connected to your Skype account. From the Skype FAQ (How does Skype To Go work?):
Skype To Go lets you make calls abroad at low rates from your mobile. If you have Skype Credit or a monthly subscription you can set up a local number that you can call to reach your favorite numbers abroad.
When you activate Skype To Go, we give you a local number to call that then lets you reach numbers abroad. This is your Skype To Go number. Save this number to your mobile phone’s address book. When you call this number your call will be connected to a voice menu. Here you can select a pre-saved speed dial contact or call any other number, and save money with your monthly subscription or Skype’s low calling rates.
Skype To Go fees and charges:
- Without a Skype monthly subscription, for all Skype To Go calls, you will be charged standard Skype calling rates, deducted from your Skype Credit balance.
- With a Skype monthly subscription, for Skype To Go calls to countries included in your subscription, you will not be charged any further.
- With a Skype monthly subscription, for Skype To Go calls to countries not included in your subscription, you will be charged standard Skype calling rates, deducted from your Skype Credit balance.
Note: For all Skype To Go calls made from your mobile phone, Skype-related fees are the same as compared to using Skype from your computer.
Mobile phone fees and charges:
Calls made using Skype To Go will count as voice talk minutes on your mobile phone plan, so be aware of your mobile plan’s talk time limits.
This was not the case for Skype calls with Fring, which counted calls as part of your mobile plan’s wireless data usage. Accordingly, also unlike Fring, Skype To Go does not require a wi-fi network data connection.
Activate Skype To Go:
From the Skype FAQ (How do I set up Skype To Go?):
To set up your Skype To Go number, all you need is some Skype Credit or a monthly subscription. With either of these you can activate your Skype To Go number from your account overview page at no extra cost.
If you don’t yet have Skype, you can set up a Skype To Go number as soon as you register.
Skype To Go is only available in a limited number of countries at this time:
Skype To Go is currently available in Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, the UK and the US.
Use Nimbuzz To Replace Fring For Mobile Phone Skype Calls
Another free alternative to Fring for making Skype calls is Nimbuzz Mobile. Nimbuzz is very similar to Fring in terms of how it works. Like Fring, Nimbuzz is a software application for your mobile phone, that connects to your Skype account to make Skype calls to landlines and mobile phones (using Skype call rates, either from your Skype credit balance or your monthly Skype subscription). That is, like Skype-To-Go, you are not charged any extra Skype fees for using Nimbuzz, as compared to if you were using Skype from a computer.
Nimbuzz fees and charges:
- Without a Skype monthly subscription, for all Skype calls in Nimbuzz, you will be charged standard Skype calling rates, deducted from your Skype Credit balance.
- With a Skype monthly subscription, for Skype calls in Nimbuzz to countries included in your subscription, you will not be charged any further.
- With a Skype monthly subscription, for Skype calls in Nimbuzz to countries not included in your subscription, you will be charged standard Skype calling rates, deducted from your Skype Credit balance.
Note: Though Nimbuzz does offer its own calling rates and charge you for making calls through Nimbuzz Out, you will not be charged by Nimbuzz for making calls through your Skype account in Nimbuzz.
Mobile phone fees and charges:
Skype calls made with Nimbuzz will not count as voice talk minutes on your mobile phone plan.
As Nimbuzz requires a data connection to work, it is recommended to use an existing wi-fi network connection, or an unlimited data plan, to avoid any extra data fees charged by your mobile phone service provider or carrier. From the Nimbuzz home page:
Nimbuzz Mobile free to download and use: Nimbuzz will not charge or bill you for anything. However, since Nimbuzz uses your internet connection, incremental data charges from your provider will apply. We therefore strongly recommend to use the mobile client only with a flat-rate data plan or free Wifi connection.
Install Nimbuzz on your mobile phone (link):
How do I get Nimbuzz on my mobile phone?
- Simply point your mobile phone browser to http://get.nimbuzz.com
- choose your mobile phone brand and model
- choose your language and click on Download
Nimbuzz works for most Internet-enabled mobile phones, so in other words, if you can browse the Internet on your mobile, you can use Nimbuzz.
Skype Connection Issues In Nimbuzz
Some users report that sometimes Nimbuzz will regularly disconnect from Skype, or else that they can not sign in to Skype through Nimbuzz. This does not seem to be related to Skype being blocked on Fring, and currently there is nothing official from Nimbuzz or Skype regarding this issue.
Some possible solutions to some Skype-related connection problems in Nimbuzz can be found in the Nimbuzz forums. For example, some users report that some Skype contacts do not appear in Nimbuzz.
New contacts added from Skype are not updated automatically on Nimbuzz. Please disconnect your Skype account and reconnect it back on Nimbuzz to refresh the data. After it you should be able to load your new Skype contacts into your Nimbuzz contact list.
Another forum tip is that to call landlines or mobile phones using your Skype account, those phone numbers should first be saved in your Skype contact list, instead of entering the number directly in Nimbuzz.
We do not have a dialpad available at the moment.
You can call your Skypeout numbers if they are saved as your contacts on Skype.
Related Information
» Skype Monthly Subscriptions vs Skype Credit
» Skype To Go: How To Save Money On Long Distance Phone Calls