If you won’t be visiting India for the holidays this year, you can still have lots of opportunities to connect with friends and families using one of the many internet calling services that specialize in international long distance. In fact, rates have never been lower. However, with a wide variety of pricing options, calling plans, and promotions it can be somewhat confusing to determine what the best service is for your specific needs. It definitely pays to comparison shop and to make sure that you understand all of the fees and restrictions before you sign up with any provider. Here are a few of the best options for calling to India.

MediaRing Talk

With a rate of 1.7 US cents a minute and no connection fees or hidden charges, MediaRing Talk has the lowest rate for making PC to phone calls to India. PC to PC calls are free. The company currently has over 2.6 million users and is particularly popular with consumers who want an easy-to-use service for calling anywhere in the world that requires no monthly subscription. The service also offers additional features including instant messaging with presence and multi-user voice conferencing which can be extremely useful around holiday time for impromptu family phone get-togethers.

MediaRing Talk is able to offer this low rate because it utilizes a unique business model that derives income primarily through non-intrusive display advertising. Many industry experts are predicting that this ad revenue model will eventually be adopted by other internet phone providers if they want to remain competitive. In the meantime, MediaRing Talk’s innovative approach has made it among the best options for individuals wanting an inexpensive and flexible solution for calling India.

Skype

Undoubtedly, Skype is the most famous and ubiquitous internet phone provider. Like MediaRing Talk, it also offers free PC to PC calls, instant messaging, and voice conferencing. It also includes free video calls for those who have webcams.

For calling landline or mobile phones in India, Skype has two billing options. Their “Pay As You Go” plan allows users to purchase Skype Credit. Rates to India start at 9.2 US cents a minute plus a connection fee of 3.9 US cents a call. For frequent callers to India, they also offer subscriptions that start at $14.95 for 300 minutes of calls per month.

Besides long distance calling, Skype includes a variety of premium services including voice mail, call forwarding, and an online number to allow others to call you from a landline or mobile phone to reach you on Skype.

Lingo

Lingo is another internet phone provider that offers an inexpensive option for calling India. Per minute rates to India are 2.9 cents per minute. The company heavily promotes its World Max subscription plan that advertises a price of $4.95 for unlimited calls to over 80 countries including India. Besides unlimited calls, the plan includes voicemail, caller ID with name, call forwarding, caller ID block, 3-way calling, and a variety of other services.

However, with this plan, it’s important to read the small print. After the first month, the plan’s rate jumps to $23.95 per month. They also charge an activation fee and a $99.95 disconnection fee for cancelling your subscription before the two year contract has been completed.

Lingo is a good option if you want to primarily use an internet phone service instead of a landline and if you make regular calls to India or other global destinations. It might not be the best choice though if you are prone to frequently changing internet phone providers or if you only make occasional internet phone calls.

Vonage

Vonage is often just thought about as a provider of low-cost domestic phone service, but they also offer an affordable rate plan that includes unlimited calls to 38 countries. For just over $35.00 per month including service fees, users can make calls to both landlines and mobile phones in India. It’s important to note that there is an activation fee of $29.95 that must be paid the first month of service. Like with Lingo, Vonage can save considerable money for those who make a large number of international calls.

MediaRing Talk, Skype, Lingo, and Vonage all offer low-cost calls to India and other features that can be extremely useful when trying to stay connected with loved ones overseas. There are also a growing number of other internet phone providers to choose from. The key, though, is to compare prices and plans to determine the right provider for your particular usage pattern. This will enable you to maximize the money you spend on long distance and provide you with the most satisfaction from your service provider.