My youngest is currently in UK and only has a mobile (backpacking)
any comments on the cheapest calls to mobiles?
Skype?
Pennytel?
any others?
might have found my own answer.
Virgin prepaid mobile ... 10c a minute to mobiles in the UK
It would be splitting hairs if you are seriously worried if it is cheaper than Skype. Its something like 4 cents per minute. My lad spent 12 months away last year and we Skyped him on the mobile or he would call us via Skype at internet cafes throughout Europe UK and South America. Admittedly I dont know of alternatives to Skype but I think Skype might be easiest.
yep will be using skype when they are in an internet area and have their laptop with them.
To use skype to call a mobile is 26.7c per minute, which is cheap but just thought there might be something better
might as well save a penny if you can 
cheaper...how about free, and using your regular phone 
?
have a look at http://www.jajah.com/
basically...
you create an account and specify your phone number(s)
your son does the same, with his phone number(s)
you then log into the web page to initiate the call to your son
a few seconds later your phone will ring, your son's phone will ring, and you will be connected.
as you are both registered, your calls will be free if they are landlines, or 21 US cents/min for mobile
the free calls remain free so long as you make one paid call every 6 weeks
I think that my lad took his Aust (Telstra) mobile with Int roam with him. That enabled him to call us to make contact with us from any where at exhorbitant rates. We could text/leave messages for him to call us as required when he logged on. When in a location for a while he would purchase a prepaid local simcard and we could call him on that number via Skype at Skype rates or he could call us via Skype from internet cafe. We tried to limit calls to and from Telstra Int roam to emergencies or to make contact for a Skype to Skype call. Takes a little bit of mucking around but in the end it is pretty low cost communication
It may not be all that practical but there are so many places he could phone you from (landline).
Lots of UK numbers have free global calls and other prices range from 2p a min. He should bear this in mind when making friends as he may get to use their phone. He could certainly use ours.
OK its a lomg shot but an option
