What is the best way for Military to call from Iraq to USA? Calling plan suggestions Phone cards? Need Advice?

Hi my husband is in the Marines and deploying to Iraq next week around the 16th does anyone know of a phone service that you deposit money to pay into for a card with minutes where they give the soldier a pin # to call home? You get minutes by the money you had payed in. He said something like Spyware or something, but i cant find any online info for it. Any suggestions on a phone company that does that or any good calling cards that you have had experience with? Know any companies that donate phone cards to the military? Thanks alot, Amber

What is the best way for Military to call from Iraq to USA? Calling plan suggestions Phone cards? Need Advice?
AT%26amp;T has the contract to provide phone service from Iraq for both military and civilians. They have calling center/internet cafe places on every base. The ones for the civilians have been connected via satellite to the home office in the USA so the calls are charged to the ATT phone cards as domestic calls.


The military calling centers haven't been connected by satellite and the phone cards are hard to obtain through the px's on the base. When they are available they are very expensive. The familys have to buy the phone cards in the US. These domestic cards are then charged with international rates so a 300 minute card is only good for about 90 minutes worth of calls.


Some of the bases have a program where the chaplains are getting AT%26amp;T cards donated so they are available to the members of the military whose familys can't afford the cards. This to me is a very bad system -in every other war zone in history-the military had free phone calls home. AT%26amp;T is making a fortune off our military and their familys.
Reply:The other answers are all great, but find out if he will have frequent computer access. During his 4th tour, my hubby was lucky enough to have frequent computer access so he used Skype to call home.
Reply:When I am away from for TDY or deployments I buy phone cards at the local AAFES, they are probably the best for the money. Phone cards are also donated by civilian organizations and businesses, however I don't know how to get hold of them.
Reply:HI there, yes I have both son over there right now.. the cards you want are the SPAWAR cards. go to the site and open a new account, then you can buy the minutes he will need. check out the rates also..





It is 4 cents a minute and what both son's use.. They have a special secured phone in the internet cafe's where they can use them.. Thank your husband for his service Ma'am..





Semper Fi
Reply:Depending on where he is going to be stationed, will depend on the best course to take. There are phone centers at most military bases in Iraq. However, you tend to have to stand in line waiting and then you might only get a few minutes to talk at a time. When I was in Baghdad, I was able to purchase a cell phone and charge it with minutes. It allowed me to call home and anywhere else I wanted to. It wasn't the most cost effective. About 30 cents a minute.





If he has a lap top computer and internet access (which is possible, but not as reliable as we have here in the states), then he can use Skype, or NetZero Voice. I used both of these, and for about $15 a month you get unlimited international calling, and you also get your own phone number. It is a good alternative, when the internet is working well.





The last suggestion, and one I did not try, is a satellite phone. These are expensive, and the monthly bill is outrageous, but it is the most reliable and can be used almost anywhere in the world.
Reply:You can try this one ATT card:


http://calling-cards-international.com/c...