For example, Melbourne’s city code is 3. Sydney’s city code is 2.

To review, say you’re calling Sydney. To make a call to a landline phone, you would dial 011-61, then 2, followed by the 9 digit phone number.

To review, to call a cell phone in Australia you would dial “011-61-4” followed by the cell phone number.

Many of these services require a small attachment for your computer. YMax magicJack, for example, comes with a small attachment that must be plugged into a laptop’s USB port. Usually, you must purchase the software for a fee. Some fees are as low as $40, while others are as high as $250. Once you purchase the software, however, rates are fairly low. Some services only have a yearly subscription fee, which can be as low as $320.

Log into Skype, click on “contacts,” and then double click the party you wish to call. There are two icons, one of which looks like a phone. You should press this button, which will allow you to make a voice call. Skype also allows you to call multiple people at once if you need to do something like a conference call for work.

You can make an international call by clicking “call” on your Google voice account. You would then enter the number as you would normally enter an international number, including things like the calling code. Keep time in mind, as Google calls are not free. While rates are cheaper, you still to make sure you do not let the call go on too long.

With a calling card, you pre-pay for the minutes. This can stop you from receiving high fees as you’ll have to make sure you do not let calls run too long. However, read calling card contracts closely. Some have a variety of hidden fees, and you can rack up extra fees fast. You do not want to end up spending the same amount, or more, on a calling card.

A country specific calling plan is best. If your calling plan assures you can make calls only to Australia, it may not cost as much as a general international calling plan. If you only make calls to Australia, you will not need to pay for other services. As with a calling card, be wary of hidden fees. Read any contract you sign closely and scan it for any fees that look suspicious or extravagant.

Use social media to your advantage. Add international friends to social media accounts and communicate with them via things like Facebook and Twitter. You can also email. You can agree to email back and forth with a friend to update him or her on your life. This can be a free way to stay in touch with a long distance friend.