In September, Vonage Chief Executive Officer Marc Lefar and the University of Virginia’s OpenGrounds — the school’s collaboration hub and cross-disciplinary think tank — challenged the student body to kickstart the next generation of social messaging.

By December, the results were in.

As a public research university founded by President Thomas Jefferson, and with a program like OpenGrounds, U.Va. was a perfect fit for a partnership like this. The Vonage-OpenGrounds Future of Social Messaging Concept Competition produced exactly the kind of innovative ideation for which the university and Vonage are known. In fact, there were so many worthwhile entries, Lefar noted, that the judges (himself included) were unable to pare down the finalists to just a top three, instead opting for two third-place prizes, resulting in a grand total of $28,000 in awards.

Vonage Chief Executive Marc Lefar presents U.Va. Computer Science major Brent Baumgartner with the $15,000 first-place prize. Baumgartner won for his concept, Attendr, a localized social messaging virtual event platform.

It should be noted that Lefar is a U.Va. McIntire School of Commerce graduate. As both an alumnus and someone who’s spent his entire career in the communications industry, there are few in a better position to vet the candidates’ social messaging creations. Lefar was very pleased by the results, offering, “We challenged U.Va. students a little more than 10 weeks ago to develop ideas that could define the next evolution in social messaging, and they delivered.”

The competition, opened exclusively to the university’s undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral population, gathered a total of 38 entries, which were allowed to take the form of just about anything, including new platform types, interfaces, apps or even hardware.

It wasn’t just the students’ creative spirit that caught the judges’ attention, however. According to Lefar, the judging panel was impressed with the entrants’ dedication to each of their concepts.

“The students’ energy and passion in bringing their concepts to life was matched with poise and professionalism, comparable to the business pitches that venture capitalists see regularly.”

The winning concept titles and students were:

• “Attendr” by Brent Baumgartner (1st)
• “Listen-In” by Damian Warshall (2nd)
• “Planr” by Ben Terner and Nik Phillipsen (3rd)
• “Sort” by Murali Varadaraj (3rd)

Lefar hopes to continue to harness the creativity found in top schools like U.Va. “to stimulate disruptive thinking and innovation, benefiting business and society.”

Looking to make cheap calls to the Philippines?

Calling the Philippines from the U.S. isn’t easy. You need a time that works for both you and whomever you’re calling, the proper dialing instructions and a way to call that doesn’t break the bank (like Philippines calling cards). Until now, you’ve had to dedicate a significant chunk of your budget for calls to Philippines. However, Vonage and Globe Telecom have put together a calling plan that’s sweeter than halo-halo.

Introducing the Vonage Unlimited to Globe Philippines Plan!
Read more »

You never thought it would, but now calling the U.S. from Denmark just became one of the most important issues in your life because you’ve opted to study overseas.

So now you need a regular, trustworthy way to start calling the U.S. from Denmark. But what about the actual country itself? Well, Denmark is a nation of very high standards. Clean, joyful and charming, Denmark’s a welcoming and refreshing place for many Americans who may be used to grittier cityscapes. A unique place to take in, from the modern but history-steeped capital, Copenhagen, to the Viking ruins, this country could keep any student busy for many, many semesters!

But first, back to how best to call loved ones back home, we can help you call the USA from Denmark! With our top plan, Vonage World^®, you can stay connected to your loved ones back home for a low monthly cost! Head over to our site, Vonage.com and sign up for the Vonage World plan, and shortly thereafter you will receive a Vonage Box™ from us. You just need to connect your box to any high-speed Internet service and as soon as that’s taken care of, you and your friends and family can all enjoy transcontinental chats! Since the Vonage Box comes equipped with a U.S. phone number, you can make unlimited¹ calls to your loved ones’ landlines or cell phones for the price of a local call.  They can also reach you with unlimited¹ calling to your Denmark-based landline.

As an added bonus, when you return Stateside, you get to keep the same box and number. No international dialing fiascos ever again! Always be able to reach the people for whom you care most at the same number.

All of a sudden the question stops being how to call the US from Denmark but when. Take a look at what also comes with this amazing plan:

• Unlimited¹ calling to landlines in over 60 countries — like the U.S. and Denmark!
• Unlimited¹ calling to U.S. mobiles as well as more than 10 other countries!
• Free Vonage-to-Vonage calls.
• Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting and many other standard features.

We’re not even close to done yet because if you want to hear about another cost-effective option for how to call the U.S. from Denmark, well, boy do we have one — Vonage Mobile^®.  The app is free for downloading and for use. All you have to do is double check that the other person on the call or text is using the app as well and then texting or calling the USA from Denmark is free. The app is very adaptable because it was designed for Android^TM  devices and iPhone^® use. Snag the app at Google Play^TM or iTunes^®. Has calling the U.S. from Denmark ever been so easy and free? Find out more about Vonage Mobile below:

• Free to download, free to use⁺.

• Call and text worldwide for free⁺. Call and text free of charge to any smartphone around the globe that also has the Vonage Mobile app.

• Call any phone in America for free. For a limited time call any phone in the U.S. from Denmark (landlines or mobiles), Vonage or non-Vonage, absolutely free!

• International calling rates. Vonage Mobile provides great low calling rates to all non-Vonage Mobile contacts: 30% less than Skype^TM and 70% less than other major mobile carriers!²

Now that you can call the U.S. from Denmark, let’s take a moment to examine some of what Denmark has to offer and what you can expect from a long-term visit there:

• Fine dining. Maybe a little too fine. Put together, the restaurants in Copenhagen alone have more praise from distinguished restaurant ratings organizations than all of the rest of Scandinavia combined. So you definitely have the option to eat well. The question is, do you have the funds for such gastronomical adventures? Even on a tight budget it’s worth splurging to experience fine Danish cooking at least once.

• Do they stay or do they go? Thanks to a highly literate citizenship, free educational system, a reliable public transportation system, a sturdy social safety net and beautifully designed municipal centers, Denmark is often ranked as the top country in the world for happiness. Not too hard to see why. Getting to Denmark may not be the tough part. Getting yourself to come back to the U.S.? That’s a whole other story.

• Go green and (re)cycle. You’ll find that environmental awareness is very much a part of the public consciousness. Because of this, cycling is an exceedingly popular method of transportation in the cities. (It also doesn’t hurt that the country is almost entirely flat.) Next time you call from Denmark to the USA to talk to your folks, you can proudly inform them, “I’m a biker now.”

So what are you waiting for? Get calling from Denmark to the USA ASAP. Remember, both Vonage World and Vonage Mobile are great options. Just choose the one that’s best for your particular situation. Good luck!

+Standard data rates apply.

*Free calling service is for personal, non-commercial calling to the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, and does not include calls to certain geographic locations, premium and special services numbers, satellite telephony services and other call forwarding services. Not to exceed 3000 minutes per month.

¹Unlimited calling and other services for all residential plans are based on normal residential, personal, non-commercial use. A combination of factors is used to determine abnormal use, including but not limited to: the number of unique numbers called, calls forwarded, minutes used and other factors. Subject to our Reasonable Use Policy and Terms of Service.

²Based on per-minute rates to the top 50 countries called. Comparison reflects published rates of leading mobile carriers in markets representing the majority of iPhone® and Android™ users.

Of all the places to study abroad, few countries offer the same breadth of experience and cultural horizons that India can impart to a young American. So if you need to know how to call the USA from India, keep reading because we can help!

India is a vast land of great ethnic and topographical diversity. A trip to India, especially for a young student, will leave an indelible impression. So much to see and do, you’ll definitely feel the need to be calling U.S. from India. After all, what good is an amazing story unless you can share it with someone? Well, Vonage will be there the whole way, so you can call the U.S. from India without thinking twice about the cost or connections.

When you sign up for our top plan, Vonage World^®, we’ll assign you a new domestic U.S. phone number, which will be programmed to the Vonage Box™ that we’ll send you. With this box, you can call the USA from India to any cell or landline. Conversely, your loved ones can reach out to you…all for the same basic monthly payment! Just take the Vonage Box to India with you and plug it into a high-speed Internet connection. Then you’re all set and can start calling the USA from India whenever you want. Also, since you’ll be taking a U.S. phone number with you (via the Vonage Box), your friends and family will be reaching you at a low, domestic price. Even better, when you return to the U.S., your number doesn’t change. It’s international dialing made easy.

In addition, with every Vonage World plan you’ll get:

• Unlimited¹ calling to landlines in over 60 countries — like the U.S. and India!
• Unlimited¹ calling to U.S. mobiles as well as more than 10 other countries!
• Free Vonage-to-Vonage calls.
• Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting and many other standard features.

If you think you’ll be spending most of your time on the go rather than in one spot like a dorm or apartment, then Vonage Mobile^® might be a better fit to help you call from India to the USA. It’s a free-to-download app that will let you call to the USA from India whenever for however long you want¹! Grab it for virtually any smartphone, whether Android^TM  or iPhone^®, at Google Play^TM or iTunes^®. All your calls or texts will be free as long as everyone on the call or text has the app on their phone. Not too bad, right? Some other included features are:

• Free to download, free to use⁺.

• Call and text worldwide for free⁺. Call and text free of charge to any smartphone around the globe that also has the Vonage Mobile app.

• Call any phone in America for free. For a limited time, call any phone in the U.S. from India (landlines or mobiles), Vonage or non-Vonage, absolutely free!

• International calling rates. Vonage Mobile provides great low calling rates to all non-Vonage Mobile contacts: 30% less than Skype^TM and 70% less than other major mobile carriers!²

You’re going to have an unbelievable time in India and now you know about two fantastic options for calling from India to the U.S. Here are a few other important items you should be prepared to confront:

• In development. India is as famous for its beautiful scenery as it is for its emerging economy and enormous influence in the high-tech world. However, it is also recognized for its significantly high rate of poverty. You’ll find that overcrowding is prevalent in many cities, yes, even in the more prosperous. You should prepare yourself emotionally to encounter some visible misfortune on your travels.

• Hydration nation. Whether you’re in a monsoon- drenched or desert-covered area of India, you’ll need a ready supply of clean water that you can trust. It’s always a good idea to boil open-source water (for example, from a tap), but you can try bottled water as well, though you’ll be adding to the unnecessary plastic waste. Just make sure the seal is intact before drinking, and that the bottle doesn’t look as if it was previously crushed/overly dented. Water-purification tablets are an even easier option and much more cost effective.

• Rest well. A lot of U.S. travelers who spend excessive time overseas in hot, humid nations eventually experience something called tropical fatigue. Besides the weather/climate, the main causes are emotional and mental strain due to a lack of proper relaxation, heavy drinking and partying or over-exertion at work or study. So take it easy on yourself.

Calling from India to the USA can be a no-brainer with the help of Vonage Mobile and Vonage World!

+Standard data rates apply.

*Free calling service is for personal, non-commercial calling to the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, and does not include calls to certain geographic locations, premium and special services numbers, satellite telephony services and other call forwarding services. Not to exceed 3000 minutes per month.

¹Unlimited calling and other services for all residential plans are based on normal residential, personal, non-commercial use. A combination of factors is used to determine abnormal use, including but not limited to: the number of unique numbers called, calls forwarded, minutes used and other factors. Subject to our Reasonable Use Policy and Terms of Service.

²Based on per-minute rates to the top 50 countries called. Comparison reflects published rates of leading mobile carriers in markets representing the majority of iPhone® and Android™ users.

The next semester is on its way and you’re about to say goodbye to your nearest and dearest as you leave to study abroad on the other side of the globe. Lingering in the back of your mind is the question of how to call the USA from New Zealand. Fortunately the answer is right below!

New Zealand is a stunningly beautiful country. You will discover lush valleys and vibrant cities around every corner, just 900 miles east of Australia. Calling the U.S. from New Zealand is going to be in big demand for you if for no other reason than to share all the newfound wonder in your life. You can hike a glacier or volcano, catch a rugby match, go on a wine-tasting tour at one of the many world-class vineyards, or just lounge on a beach…that is, after you’ve finished studying for the day. What better time to start calling America from New Zealand than right after a trip like that! And to make the most affordable international calls, you are going to want Vonage.

Our #1 plan for international calling, Vonage World^®, allows you to call your family for as long as you want¹ and reach them on both their cell phones and landlines! And all for just a small monthly rate. When you sign up at Vonage.com we send you a Vonage Box™ which should then make its way to the land of the Kiwis with you.  It has a U.S. number assigned to it, and that’s why all calls back and forth through Vonage World are domestic even when you and yours are on opposite sides of the world. All you need to do is plug it into a high-speed Internet connection to start calling the U.S. from New Zealand. The magic of the Vonage Box doesn’t end when your trip does, however. When you return to the States, as long as you hold on to your Vonage Box, your phone number will stay the same, as will the convenient domestic calling. International dialing has never been easier.

Here are some more great features included in the plan:

• Unlimited¹ calling to landlines in over 60 countries — like the U.S. and New Zealand!
• Unlimited¹ calling to U.S. mobiles as well as more than 10 other countries!
• Free Vonage-to-Vonage calls.
• Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting and many other standard features.

Besides Vonage World, we have another great way to help you when you need to know how to call the U.S. from New Zealand… Vonage Mobile^®! It’s our new app that’s free to own and free to use. You can text or call the USA from New Zealand for free, but the one thing users need to know is that using Vonage Mobile is no cost only if both the caller and the person being called (or texted) already have the app. Oh, and it’s available for Android^TM devices and the iPhone^® — just go to Google Play^TM or iTunes^® for the version that’s right for your smartphone. Here’s how the rest of it works:

• Free to download, free to use⁺.

• Call and text worldwide for free⁺. Call and text free of charge to any smartphone around the globe that also has the Vonage Mobile app.

• Call any phone in America for free. For a limited time, call any phone in the U.S. from New Zealand (landlines or mobiles), Vonage or non-Vonage, absolutely free.

• International calling rates. Vonage Mobile provides great low calling rates to all non-Vonage Mobile contacts: 30% less than Skype^TM and 70% less than other major mobile carriers!²

If this is your first time abroad, let alone to New Zealand,  we’re here to help with a few suggestions for how to handle the transition, in addition to how to call America from New Zealand of course!  As we said, there’s plenty to do and to see in New Zealand, and because of that, there are just as many issues to consider:

• Kiwi cost. Thanks to a thriving tourist industry, the price of visiting and of living in NZ has shot up in recent years. The U.S. dollar’s relative weakness also makes a trip there more expensive than even just a few years ago. Banks and ATMs are readily available, though, and you’ll need them since food, in particular, is surprisingly pricey — as it often can be on island nations due to the extra cost in transportation.

• Park it where you can see it. There’s not much violent crime in New Zealand. But one crime you will need to watch out for is theft from parked cars. A common enough occurrence for tourists is to discover their backpacks or other items missing and stolen from a rented or borrowed car while they were away from the vehicle. Avoid this scenario altogether by taking your belongings with you if possible.

• Don’t take waves. While shark attacks are rare, a much greater threat to those enjoying New Zealand’s many beaches are the sometimes deadly undertows that can pull an unwary swimmer out to deep waters. Knowing how to call the U.S. from New Zealand is valuable, but knowing where it’s safest to swim…just a tad more important.

So call the U.S. from New Zealand using either Vonage World or Vonage Mobile and start saving today. They’re both great options for calling from New Zealand to the USA, but it’s up to you to pick which best fits your life and needs!

+Standard data rates apply.

*Free calling service is for personal, non-commercial calling to the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, and does not include calls to certain geographic locations, premium and special services numbers, satellite telephony services and other call forwarding services. Not to exceed 3000 minutes per month.

¹Unlimited calling and other services for all residential plans are based on normal residential, personal, non-commercial use. A combination of factors is used to determine abnormal use, including but not limited to: the number of unique numbers called, calls forwarded, minutes used and other factors. Subject to our Reasonable Use Policy and Terms of Service.

²Based on per-minute rates to the top 50 countries called. Comparison reflects published rates of leading mobile carriers in markets representing the majority of iPhone® and Android™ users.

Knowing how to call the USA from Brazil without going broke is important. But if you’re heading there to study abroad, the need to know becomes paramount.  At Vonage, we’re here to  help.

Brazil is now widely acknowledged as the most expensive South American country to visit these days, although you can still find affordable accommodations and food if you’re on a budget — we’ll get to that in a bit. In the meantime, though, you’re probably most concerned with finding the best way to go about calling the U.S. from Brazil.. Luckily we have a couple of great options for you.

Let’s start with Vonage World® Plus Latin America 100.

This calling plant allows you to call the U.S. from Brazil with ease. First head over to our site,Vonage.com, and sign up for Vonage World. In due time (we’ll give you a delivery window), a Vonage Box™ will be sent to your home, to be taken with you when you head overseas. The box simply needs to be plugged into your high-speed Internet connection and will then let you call the U.S. from Brazil via the Internet. It’s the easiest solution for when you need to know how to call the U.S. from Brazil. And beyond the ease of use, the value is spectacular too.

You can always be reached for the price of a domestic call from any phone at any time. Plus, when your travels have come to an end, you’ll still have the same number because you’ll still have the same Vonage Box. Pretty simple, right? Keep the box, keep your number. Your friends and family will always be able to reach you the same way every time you call, no matter where he or she may be at the time, whether you’re in the U.S. or in Brazil.

Check out these other included options:

• Unlimited¹ calling to landlines in 60 countries — including 8 Latin American countries!
• Unlimited¹ calling to mobile phones in the U.S. and more than 10 countries and territories.
• Unlimited¹ calling to landlines in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.
• Great rates to Latin America, even after you use your 100 included minutes.
• FREE Vonage-to-Vonage calls.

Our second option for you is Vonage Mobile^®, an app powerhouse for texting and calling the U.S. from Brazil. It costs nothing to download or use (just ensure everyone on a call or text has the app) and it works with just about any smartphone, Android^TM deviceor iPhone^®. For access to the right app, visit either Google Play^TM or iTunes^®. Vonage Mobile answers the question of how to call from Brazil to the USA for free and also offers the following perks:

• Free to download, free to use⁺.

• Call and text worldwide for free⁺. Call and text free of charge to any smartphone around the globe that also has the Vonage Mobile app.

• Call any phone in America for free. For a limited time, call any phone in the U.S. from Brazil (landlines or mobiles), Vonage or non-Vonage, absolutely free!

• International calling rates. Vonage Mobile provides great low calling rates to all non-Vonage Mobile contacts: 30% less than Skype^TM and 70% less than other major mobile carriers!²

Brazil is the largest country in South America. Your experiences abroad will be broadened if you find the time to take in as much exploring as possible –while  also keeping up your studies, of course. So before you get out there, as important as it is for you to know how to call from Brazil to the USA, it’s just as important to know as much as you can about your new host nation. Here are a few thoughts we had on the subject:

• Keep it “real.” The Brazilian dollar is called the “real” (R$). A dollar can still go a long way, but don’t expect to live on a few reals a day, especially during Carnaval! This is a nationwide celebration that often leads to extravagant increases in prices, especially for visitors and for accommodations. And don’t forget, you can save on those reals when you call the USA from Brazil with Vonage!

• Teeming Brazil.  If you’re an animal or plant lover, Brazil is going to be one of the most exciting places you’ll ever visit, thanks in large part to the wildlife diversity imparted to the country by the Amazon. You should definitely take in these amazing sights and sounds and smells, but do NOT try to take any of them home. You’ll need to keep the wildlife where you find it, even though as a hardcore naturalist you may be sorely tempted to bring a keepsake back home. Instead, just try calling from Brazil to the USA to talk about all the amazing things you’re experiencing.

• Words, words, words. The national language of Brazil is not Spanish. It’s Portuguese.  But if you already know Spanish, you’ll be able to get around well enough since it is still a widely-spoken tongue regardless. That said, you should take the time to learn as much of the Portuguese language as possible since without it you’ll be incapable of fully experiencing the Brazilian culture.

With Vonage World and Vonage Mobile on your side calling the USA from Brazil can be a simple, fast and enjoyable process. So log on today and let us help you keep it “real” when you need to call from Brazil to the USA!

+Standard data rates apply.

*Free calling service is for personal, non-commercial calling to the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, and does not include calls to certain geographic locations, premium and special services numbers, satellite telephony services and other call forwarding services. Not to exceed 3000 minutes per month.

¹Unlimited calling and other services for all residential plans are based on normal residential, personal, non-commercial use. A combination of factors is used to determine abnormal use, including but not limited to: the number of unique numbers called, calls forwarded, minutes used and other factors. Subject to our Reasonable Use Policy and Terms of Service.

²Based on per-minute rates to the top 50 countries called. Comparison reflects published rates of leading mobile carriers in markets representing the majority of iPhone® and Android™ users.