Ok in dumb dumb terms... lol

I have a Skype account. How do I set it up so I get a local number so my Oregon penpal can call me but be able to talk to me (I am in AUSTRALIA)?

I will download google voice if that will work too.

I NEED to know how to work this... I have tried my local phone company and they don't allow it because it's overseas. I can't call him (which would have been 1000% easier)

Help. I am terrible at the computer and all this technology

Go on to skype, READ and then FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS.... Also sent PM

THANK GOD I FINALLY GOT IT~!

I have a blog post on it, with detailed help. It's on my profile

Edit: Oh, I just saw you already got it. Okay! Yaay!

I dont get it, it doesnt give me an option to get a local number, does someone have an idiot guide?

I don't know anything about Skype but if you are talking about google voice, yes, it does give you an option to choose a phone number. You must not only pay attention to the area code, but the "prefix" It's like this: area codeXXX- prefixXXX-rest of numberXXXX. It's the first 3 numbers of the phone number, after the area code, that must be the local number prefix for the prison. It's not enough to just have a number in the same area code.

Find out what prefix the prison's phone system serves and get a number with that.

Thanks, but i can't find a link to set up Google Voice!

Originally Posted by Witchypoo

Thanks, but i can't find a link to set up Google Voice!

https://www.google.com/voice

You also have to turn off the call screening feature, as YMIhere just told me to do in another thread, otherwise it will not work with the prison phone system.

Just used my new number yesterday for the first time and it sounded good, a little echo for a minute but then that went away. That's nothing new though, I've often had bad connections, echos, warbling, lost calls. Nothing is perfect.

do those only work with federal prisons or does it depend on the prison? think this was talked about before but people said google and skype is considered call forwarding by prisons, which usually isn't allowed...