Using a US cell phone + # in Cuba

Most US landlines and most US cell networks are not equipted to forward to intl #'s, you can check with your carriers and find out for sure.

Some VOIP services may have this feature, but you would need to make sure their VOIP service can really connect to Cuba.

The you would forward your landline/cell to the VOIP #, and set VOIP # to forward the call downstream to your Cuba cell phone...

The issue in Cuba is their internet connections are not fast or reliable enough for good VOIP service - come connects yes - but many no.

You could setup the receive - but without going sat phone your outgoing will need to be a Cuba cell phone back to the US ... I don't think the caller ID on the recipeints phone will show Cuba, since most outgoing NA calls from Cuba are reruted thru 3rd party countries.

Unfortunately, a sat phones are illiegal in Cuba, and you would need to be smuggled in...

No easy thing to do... if it was me, I would setup US voicemail-to-email service on your main #...take a headphone for a computer with you to Cuba...pickup the email/voicemail attachments over the net (lot cheaper than using minutes to pickup voicemail)...then make selective call back home..

Keep the beat !

Tks fabbrisd.
I actually have intl call forward set up. Only problems is that it does not work in Cuba. I also would like to be reachable constantly, so going to hotel internet services to retrieve/make calls is not improving on simply communicating by email.
I guess it is just impossible without Cuba being serviced by a US provider - and fantasiaferries will surely have a typically acerbic comment to that idea.

OK, your landline carrier does not have connection to Cuba... I get that...

I would recommend check with IDT on their VOIP voiceline product to see if the IDT VOIP # would allow call forwarding to Cuba... IDT does have a very good Cuba conection (one of the best) on their calling card product...so it would be good odds (check firstz) their VOIP intl forwarding would connect tthru.

Then you forward your land and cell pine to the VOIP # set for Cuba call forward... get a Cuba cell, forward the VOIP to the cell to that Cuba cell and you could have downstream direct....

If you really-really need to do it.. with some research you can get downstream done... if you don't really-really need to , then its too much of a hassle..

Since you say cost is not a big concern, check this out: Mobal
You can buy a phone from them, or if you already have an unlocked GSM phone then you can buy the SIM card only.
The phone number will be a UK number, so if you are able to forward your US number to the UK then this will work fine for you.
I did this myself last year. Calls placed from this phone to the US should show up on caller ID as "unknown number" (at least it did for me).
This is a pay as you go plan, so you only pay for the minutes used. Per minute cost is pricey, $2.95 for outgoing calls, $1.75 incoming.
The only thing that didnt seem to work was text messaging. I could send a text from the phone and it would be received on the other end,
but I never did receive any texts sent to me.

The issue in Cuba is their internet connections are not fast or reliable enough for good VOIP service - come connects yes - but many no.

That's the crux of the matter, I suspect.

You might contact VoipYourLife who have a good VOIP connect with Cuba. I get the clearest reception I've ever had with them. They have the capability to do call forwarding and they can setup a "virtual" phone number for you in a variety of countries, just not sure Cuba is one of them.

You can accomplish virtuall free voice calls from Cuba by using the wireless internet connects at the Hotles Saratoga, Melia Cohiba and that other one in Miramar. With Skype loaded on your notebook and a headset attached you can call all over the world for free on PC-PC connections and for quite reduced rates PC-Phone.

I've been reading a bit about some of these new broadband speed devices that can work off of a cell phone for internet connections and they are on my list for further exploration before departure. I also need something that works in Central and South America and the VOIPYOULIFE works great there, but again, it's achilles heel is the need for a broadband speed at least on the upload side.

That's interesting that it's the Redhat guys at play. It makes it even more intriguing to explore.

Congrats, congrats and congrats are in order, my friend. Good for her, good for you, good for her and for you. I love sad stories that have such happy endings.

I don't think I'll be back down there until September-October as things stand now. You gonna be around?

#5
I checked with VOIPYOURLIFE and they don't offer call forward to Cuba. Tks anyway for the tip.

Bearchaser-
Did you buy their '140 country' or '160 country' phone? The former is $ 50,- cheaper and they claim enough for Cuba.

PS

Any problems to be expected to get this gizmo thru Cuban customs? They are probably not thrilled to have visitors circumvent their rather onerous local arrangements...