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Orientation Material |
Getting a Phone
Most students use cell phones for their calling needs and no longer buy landline service for their dormitories or apartments. That option is still available. If you area interested in it, see Shelley Bertolino, in #224 for information about landline service. Cell phones are generally cheaper and more convenient. That’s what we recommend.
Some CELOP students bring their cell phones from home and purchase SIM cards for them. Others buy “pay-as-you-go” or “pre-paid” style cell phones and service because it doesn’t require a contract or a deposit.
The nearest stores to buy SIM cards or “prepaid phones" are:
- Radio Shack, 730 Commonwealth Ave, (617) 734-5855 (AT&T, Virgin, Net 10, Track)
- Small World Wireless AT &T, 1089 Commonwealth Ave, (617) 787-5454
- T Mobile, 1047 Commonwealth Ave, (617) 779-0250
For making long distance calls, there are three options:
I. Calling Cards
II. Skype
III. Your Cell Phone
I. Calling Cards
Many stores in Boston sell calling cards. Rates vary depending on what country you are calling. You may have to experiment with several cards to see which one is best for you. Continuing CELOP students from your home country are a good source of information for which cards have good rates to your country.
One last thing, always be sure to look at a phone card’s CONNECTION FEE!
We have found that the best cards do not charge any extra fees.Where to buy phone cards:
City Convenience or Store 24: There are several City Convenience and Store 24 shops on BU campus. They sell a variety of international phone cards. The closest one to CELOP is at 957 Commonwealth Ave, just past the BU FitRec center.
CVS: 900 Commonwealth Ave. (Across the street)
Super 88 Food Court Kiosk: 1 Brighton Ave, Allston (near BU campus)
Online you can buy many types of phone cards instantly. If you have a credit card and are comfortable with making purchases on the internet, you can buy phone cards at websites like http://www.cloncom.com or http://www.pingo.com. The Pingo card has received high recommendations by CELOP students.
International Calling. We have also set up in our computer labs applications to make free or very inexpensive international calls from the computer using Skpe, MSN, iChat, and Yahoo Messenger. See MLL staff when you arrive at CELOP or see the Skype orientation material (PDF.)II. Skype
The computers in the MLL labs have Skype software. Ask Lesley the lab assistant in 267b for help or Rudy in 253. Shelley, in office 224, also has printed information on how to use Skype.
III. Your Cell Phone
This is the most expensive option. Ask about rates when you purchase your SIM card or pre-paid telephone.
How to make a phone call
To Place Calls within Boston University using a BU landline phone (from BU to BU):
Dial the last 5 digits of the telephone number.
Ex. Shelley office number, 617 353-7908 = 3 – 7908To Place Calls in Boston, you need to use the area code along with the seven digit number. Most cities in the US do not require this.
Ex. To call CELOP front desk dial: 617 353 - 4870To Place Calls within the US: Dial 1 + area code + 7-digit number Area codes for US states can be found online with goggle.
To Place Calls Internationally:
Dial 011 + country code + city code + number
Misc Info:
9-1-1 is for emergencies.
4-1-1 is directory assistance. It is expensive to use on most cell phone plans.
The pay phones in the lobby cost 50 cents for local calls.
Toll-free calls (ones beginning with 800 or 888) are free from pay phones.
Cell phone calls in the US deduct minutes from both parties during a call: the caller and called.
Most cell phone services give you free minutes when you call subscribers of the same service. Ex. You and your cousin both have Verizon. Neither of you would get minutes deducted when you call each other.
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