Skype and phone calls in Bali

Some products come onto the market and don’t even need advertising. Here in Bali every other person is wearing Crocs (the rip off version) because they allow air to circulate and water to drain, perfect for Bali in the wet season. Another product that is so popular you can’t keep people from it, is Skype.

Skype allows phone calls to be made over the internet using a pair of head phones. Most of the decent internet cafes in Bali can support Skype. In order to talk to another person they have to have Skype on their computer and have a profile. Signing up for Skype is free and takes 5 minutes. The sound quality is excellent, way better than a regular phone call. If you are on a business trip you’ll be able to hear your wife’s boyfriend snoring in the background. Downside of Skype is that everyone else in the internet cafe can hear your conversation. Being in a crowded internet cafes when 4-5 people are chatting on Skype is like a night in the lunatic asylum. Things are looking up though and a mobile phone provider is getting Skype mobile.

If your mates are not on Skype and you want to make an international call from Bali, the cheapest way to go is the pre-paid phone cards available at Post Offices. There is a Postal Office in the parking area of Bintang supermarket and you might pick one up there. People coming to Bali and who are in need of keeping in touch with their family members / party friends while here might like to pick up a new phone. In my opinion the best Bali phone is the ‘chocolate bar style’ with a simple display, no extras and low cost. You can pick up a new model outside Bintang and at many other small phone shop for 500,000rp.