There is a big german provider of internet calls using BETAMAX technology, which has substantially lower rates to Philippines than Skype. The rate to a philippine landline is 8 euro cents pr. minut + VAT (app. 0,60 DKK + VAT) and the rate to a philippine cellphone is 10 euro cents pr. minut + VAT (app. 0,75 DKK + VAT). You can avoid paying VAT, if you register your account to an adress outside of the EU. If you reside in the EU, you must add 15% VAT to the above rates.
The BETAMAX based solution also offer some different facilities mainly the option of making phone to phone calls. This has the advantage, that you just need internet to establish the call, but you can speak from a normal phone. If you use this option, you will need to pay for both calls, however calls to a danish or swedish landline is free of charge. You can make calls by logging on to a webpage, or from a dialer which you download to your PC (just like Skype). You can also send text messages at reasonable rates.
The german provider sell its product under many different names, but the underlying technology is just the same, whichever one you choose. However prices to individual countries vary. These are just two of the available options:
http://www.voipcheap.com
http://www.voipblast.com
I have used this solution to make cheap calls to the Philippines for years, however I still use Skype to chat and to make free webcam calls.
If you are going to call the same person very regularly, helping that person to get internet installed in his/her house is probably the best and cheapest solution in the long run. Webcam calls are very nice for keeping in contact with loved ones, and you can even consider to install a swedish IP telephone in the house of eg. your family. If you do that, you will be able to call them from any swedish phone, and pay only the local rates. And they will also be able to call u. But an IP telephone requires internet, as do PC to PC calls using Skype.
