Webster Telecom is a low cost calling service that offers calls abroad cheaper than BT or cable or mobile providers for FREE using your inclusive minutes, without the need to open an account or have a credit card. Sound good? Thought so.. so how does it work?

Rather than make customers register or buy any cards (from newsagents, etc), they operate a selection of telephone numbers which fund the cost of the calls.
These cost from 3p per minute from BT lines, according to their website up to 90% cheaper than BT standard calls!

The website provides information on various services offered by the company that offer the possibility to make international calls cheaply using a variety of different calling methods. There are a number of information and FAQ pages which provide answers to common questions. The website address is www.webstertelecom.com

Customer services is provided through the website only, which at first I thought was a little concerning. I did make use of the contact form and was very impressed to receive a response within 10 minutes. The response was polite and comprehensive, so I can't fault this side of the service.

So let's have a look at some of the services they offer:

Mobile users can call for FREE!

How's that for a money saving deal? You'll like this.. and it has been recommended in the National Press by Martin Lewis.

I have a mobile with Orange, and pay through the nose for it! However, this does mean that I get 1000 free minutes every month.. which I can now use to call abroad for free - which I do as my sister lives in Spain (yeah, I know: lucky cow!)

Calling abroad for FREE using your mobile: 07744 974327

To dial abroad using your cross network minutes, you dial 07744 974327 and at the announcement dial the full international number. Instead of calling the international destination directly, you are making a cross network mobile call, which means, if you have cross network minutes included in your contract, that you don't pay for these calls!

This works on Orange, T-Mobile and according to the website on Tesco mobile, and Virgin Mobile - however the website states that it DOES NOT work on Vodafone or 3 (three) who have decided to charge for these calls, even on cross network contract plans.

When you call the number there is a recorded announcement explaining how it works and where to obtain further information. On the website there is a list of destinations permitted on the service which includes Australia, America, India and Pakistan.

For O2 customers, they do a free service on 0844 570 7990. This number is included in O2 contract plans, so you can simply use your inclusive minutes to call abroad.

Getting cheap calls

How do I make it work?

First, you select your destination. For most popular destinations, you can simply dial 0870 794 7990 at National Rate. For instance USA, USA mobile and most of Europe can be reached on this number, and even Australia!

It's simple, even I can do it! You dial the number, then hear an announcement prompting you to dial the international number you want to dial. This is followed by a list of the destinations that are available. I've reproduced them here, scroll down if you don't like long lists!

0844 570 7990 (5p per minute from any BT phone)

Algeria; Andorra; Antartica; Antartica, Mobile; Argentina; Argentina Buenos Aires; Armenia; Athens; Australia; Austria; Bahamas; Bahamas, Mobile; Bangkok; Bangladesh Dhaka; Belgium; Bermuda; Bermuda, Mobile; Bolivia; Brazil; Brazil Rio De Janeiro; Brazil Rio De Janeiro & Sao Paulo; Brazil Sao Paulo; Brazil Sao Paulo & Rio De Janeiro; Brunei; Brunei, Mobile; Buenos Aires; Bulgaria; Canada; Canada, Mobile; Caracas; Chile; China; China, Mobile; Christmas Island; Christmas Island, Mobile; Cochabamba; Cocos Island; Cocos Island, Mobile; Colombia; Colombia, Mobile; Costa Rica; Costa Rica, Mobile; Croatia; Cyprus; Cyprus, Mobile; Denmark, Mobile; Dominican Republic; Finland; French Antilles; Georgia; Georgia, Mobile; Panama; Paraguay Asuncion; Peru; Peru Lima; Portugal; Puerto Rico; Puerto Rico, Mobile; Reunion Island; Rio De Janeiro or Sao Paulo; Russia; Russia Moscow; Russia Moscow, Mobile; Russia, Mobile; San Marino; San Marino, Mobile; Santa Cruz; Sao Paulo; Sao Paulo or Rio De Janeiro; Saudi Arabia; Serbia and Montenegro; Singapore; Singapore, Mobile; Slovakia; Slovenia; South Africa; Switzerland; Taiwan; Taiwan, Mobile; Thailand; Thailand Bangkok; Thailand Bangkok, Mobile; Thailand, Mobile; Turkey Istanbul; Ukraine Kiev; Uruguay; US Virgin Islands; US Virgin Islands, Mobile; USA, Mobile; Uzbekistan; Venezuela; Venezuela Caracas; Zambia; Zambia, Mobile; Zimbabwe; Ghana; Gibraltar; Greece; Guadeloupe; Guam; Guam, Mobile; Hong Kong; Hong Kong, Mobile; Iceland; Indonesia; Indonesia Jakarta; Ireland; Israel; Israel, Mobile; Istanbul; Jakarta; Jamaica; Japan; Kiev; Korea South; Korea South, Mobile; Kyrgyzstan; Liechtenstein; Lima; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macao; Macao, Mobile; Malawi; Malawi, Mobile; Malaysia; Malaysia, Mobile; Mariana Islands; Mariana Islands, Mobile; Mexico; Mexico City; Mexico Mexico City; Mexico Mexico City, Mobile; Mexico, Mobile; Monaco; Monaco, Mobile; Mongolia; Mongolia, Mobile; Moscow; New Zealand; Nigeria; Nigeria Lagos

Pay using text:

Many mobile companies charge for calls to National Rate (0870) numbers whilst they bundle minutes to geographic (regular... like 0207) numbers.

In answer to this, Webster Telecom have a service whereby you can pre-pay by text message, either £3 or £5 - then access the service through a standard geographic number.

This service is most like the traditional calling card service - where you purchase a card from a newsagent. Except of course you don't have to visit the newsagent, and can "top up" at any time. Another advantage of the "Top Up To Talk" service is that there is no minumum call fee, whereas the "newsagent" style calling cards often impose a minumum fee - as much as £1 - which is no use if the person you are calling is out and you reach an answerphone. Ominously, these "newsagent style" calling cards often expire 30 days after the first use - there are no such terms with the Webster Telecom SMS Top Up Card.

So what about the quality?

This is a very good point. This has also been a huge consideration with calling cards, as the quality of these varies immensely.

I have called several destinations using the service as I have made use of it over the past year. I must have made hundreds of calls using them, and maybe two or three I have had to redial. You suspect that this has been due to the networks in the other countries not being as efficient as ours - as when I have called Germany, the USA or Australia I have never had any problems at all. The quality is crystal clear - the same sort of quality you would expect when directly dialling the call with BT.

Summary:

In summary, Webster Telecom offer a comprehensive range of services, and I really like the "free mobile calls" service. All the services seem very flexible and easy to use. They have also always been available when I want to use them.
Check them out!