This document provides tips for minimizing phone bills while traveling overseas. It notes that making calls directly to overseas numbers from your local SIM card or making SMS messages overseas can be very expensive. Instead, it recommends using an eSky account to make phone calls, which allows calling overseas numbers at much lower rates. It also warns that roaming SMS charges can be high and recommends using SmartRoam SMS if available. The document provides cost comparisons for calling different countries from Singapore networks and gives steps for using eSky to make more affordable phone-to-phone calls while traveling.

1. Going overseas
Minimized personal phone bills

2. Three big costly mistakes
While making travel plans in Singapore
1. Making call to overseas
2. Making SMS to overseas numbers

3. Making oversea calls on IDD rates
Country M1 IDD 021 Singtel v019 Starhub 018 eSky Cheaper , X
Australia 0.35 0.31 0.08 0.023 3.5
Vietnam 1.35 1.15 0.85 0.055 15.5
China 0.60 0.23 0.20 0.018 11.1
UK 0.34 0.30 0.08 0.116 0.7
Germany 0.44 0.39 0.15 0.017 8.8
Hong Kong 0.34 0.26 0.13 0.008 16.3
India 0.98 0.84 0.74 0.014 52.9
Indonesia 0.46 0.43 0.40 0.033 12.1
Malaysia 0.15 0.16 0.13 0.034 3.8
Philippines 0.47 0.39 0.31 0.182 1.7
Taiwan 0.50 0.33 0.30 0.018 16.7
Thailand 0.46 0.41 0.30 0.016 18.8
USA 0.30 0.15 0.10 0.018 5.6
Starhub 018 is Cheapest among the 3 local telcos

4. Roaming SMS is a big trap
Cost per SmartRoam
Country Cost per SMS
SMS
Australia S$0.60 S$0.10
China S$0.60 S$0.10
India S$0.90 S$0.10
Indonesia S$0.60 S$0.10
Philippines S$0.60 S$0.10
Thailand S$0.60 S$0.10
UK S$0.60 S$0.10
Time frame limit to 40secs
All three local telcos charge at about
the same rate for Roaming SMS

5. Making phone-to-phone call
Smartphone user :
1. Directly from eSky dial-pad - on-line
2. Make mobile Call back service - offline
3. Make direct call through gateway - offline
Regular phone user: Make use of either
callback or direct call gateway access number

6. How eSky reduces your phone bill
1. eSky to regular telephone number
2. eSky to eNUM (destination online)
3. eSky to eNUM (destination offline)
4. eSky (offline) – Call-back access
5. eSky (offline) – Direct call access
6. Choose the lowest price plan (Be smart)
7. Convert un-usued data plan to make local calls
8. Absolutely free: making eNUM to eNUM calls

7. Frequent travelers
Step1: Always authorize your new
phone number
Step 2: Remember to forward all calls to
your current local phone number

8. Important: Enjoy making free calls
Step 1: Invite all your family members or friends
and fellow students to join eSky
Step 2: Make use of callback function for regular
phone users
Condition: Free calls from eNUM to eNUM
Register a eNUM for yourself & your
family members at the same time