If you've ever called family abroad from your cell phone and then checked your bill, you know the feeling. It's the same feeling as accidentally leaving your car unlocked in a bad neighborhood.
What carriers actually charge
Let's look at what the big US carriers charge for international calls (without a plan):
- Philippines: $2.50–3.50/min
- India: $1.50–2.00/min
- Nigeria: $2.00–3.00/min
- UK Mobile: $1.00–1.50/min
A 20-minute call to the Philippines costs roughly $60. For context, that's a month of Netflix, two months of Spotify, or 12 months of Jaambo numbers.
"But I use WhatsApp"
Sure. WhatsApp calls are free. But they require both sides to have:
- A smartphone
- The app installed
- A decent internet connection
- A WhatsApp account
Try explaining to your grandmother in Manila how to download WhatsApp and create an account. We'll wait.
A regular phone call just... works. You dial, they answer. No app downloads, no accounts, no "can you hear me now" on a laggy connection.
VoIP: the 80% solution
VoIP (Voice over IP) services route calls through the internet instead of cell towers. The result? Dramatically lower rates:
| Route | Carrier | Jaambo | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines Mobile | $3.00/min | $0.12/min | 96% |
| India | $1.50/min | $0.03/min | 98% |
| Nigeria | $2.50/min | $0.15/min | 94% |
| UK Mobile | $1.00/min | $0.08/min | 92% |
That 20-minute call to the Philippines? $2.40 instead of $60.
The catch (there isn't one)
Modern WebRTC calls sound as good as — or better than — traditional phone calls. Jaambo uses the OPUS codec with echo cancellation and noise suppression. Your calls are crystal clear, and they connect to real phone numbers, not app accounts.
The recipient doesn't need an app, an account, or even to know you're using VoIP. Their phone just rings.
Check your rates with our rate calculator or start calling for less.