Thread: US number while in Panama

I run a US business that needs US number for people to contact me. A few hundred customers have my cellphone number and I would have no way of informing them of the change. They may call every 6 months or even 2 years later.

My question is what is the best way to have a US number in Panama that I can be reached on 24/7?

I have an AT&T iphone. I was in Panama for a month and used it as a beeper and called back using Skype. At $2/minute picking up the phone is not viable. Data is also very important and the international rates are too high for doing anything more than checking voicemails and e-mails.

Is my only option a US skype number, my US cell number and a Panama phone for data and local calling?

I would spend time in Canada/US so having a US cell is not out of the question but at $100 a month is pricey.

A good friend of mine who is from Panama bought a Majic Jack for his mother who still lives in Panama. He bought it here in the US and it has a US based number. He took it to Panama and installed it for his mother. He calls her from the US and the rates are the same as if it were located in the US. The same rates apply when she calls back to the US from Panama.

I have a vontage line in Panama (with a US number) and it works fine.

I have Vonage and it hooks to the internet, not the computer, works great with no problems.

Hi!

I have an "800" number in the U.S. that is forwarded to where I happen to be. It is called Dow Network.

It is 18 cents for the first minute then it is 1.8 cents every 6 seconds. The reason it is so high because I currently have it going to my cell phone in PANAMA--if I am in the U.S. I have it switched to my phone there. They charge my credit card whenever it is more than $25 for the month.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Magic Jack - $30 for a year, crystal clear, and you can pick what US area code you want. There is also an option to have an 800 number, but I don't know the costs for it. I'm sure it is very very minimal.

There is also Magic Jack Plus, which is $10 more and does not require a computer to use it. Both need to be purchased state side.

Vontage is too expensive and no better then magicjack. I just have regular Magic Jack and have it plugged into a computer I never turn off. With a cordless phone, you'll feel like your in the States.

Another vote for Magic Jack. My husband's family lives in L.A. and he picked a local number that they can call for free. Sometimes there is a little lag, but it's not terrible.

Next time you are in the states, go to wallgreens or best buy and get youself a magicjack. $1.95/month. Hard to beat. You will need a computer with broadband internet to hook it up to.

Originally Posted by becky7474

Another vote for Magic Jack. My husband's family lives in L.A. and he picked a local number that they can call for free. Sometimes there is a little lag, but it's not terrible.

If you're experiencing lag, then you should increase your internet speed. We used to experience this too, but since upping the speed its like talking on a regular phone.

A router with QoS could take care of it. A VOIP call will normally not use more than 100 kbits/sec.

Most common problem is other people (or yourself) hooked up for torrent downloads and such.

Originally Posted by davidp

If you're experiencing lag, then you should increase your internet speed. We used to experience this too, but since upping the speed its like talking on a regular phone.

Magicjack would not be an option for me then. Much more flexible to have a handset with a base station that is connected to a router. Then anyone in the office can use it without needing a computer. Have used Skype-in like that for 4 years. Plus it will work even if the electricity goes out if router/base station is connect to an APC unit.

Originally Posted by Redneck

Next time you are in the states, go to wallgreens or best buy and get youself a magicjack. $1.95/month. Hard to beat. You will need a computer with broadband internet to hook it up to.

Originally Posted by davidp

If you're experiencing lag, then you should increase your internet speed. We used to experience this too, but since upping the speed its like talking on a regular phone.

We have ours hooked up to a WiFi computer......