Does anyone know how to do this? We would leave her phone here (if need be), charged and on. It's an android phone, any app or other service out there that could re-route her calls. I know she can forward to another number within China.

Any ideas?

You could turn on international roaming and take the phone to the US. When the phone is called you either take the call or note the number and call back on a IP phone for cheap rates, (if you are trying to save money).

@Yuantongsi - Brilliant. Any idea if this works with China Unicom? Have you tried it? Costs?

Thanks!

I was able to go to the larger China Unicom store near the intersection of Qingnian and Remin lu and have them turn on international roaming. I had to bring my passport and then deposit an additional 500rmb. The 500rmb actually goes into phone credit, and the rep said I wouldn't have to maintain over 500rmb for my phone to roam outside of China. Subsequently my phone worked in HK whereas it didn't before. The rep asked which countries I wanted it for, and I included the USA, but ended up not using my phone in the US. You get an sms once you arrive in the country and it tells you in Chinese what the roaming costs for minutes and data are. If I recall, HK was very affordable for roaming minutes and bit worse for data. USA was competitive (not ridiculous like an American telecom would charge). The rep at Unicom can pull up a chart for each countries roaming.

Beware though, I speak fluent Chinese. I think I would show up with some things written out (by hand or on mobile) if you wanted to try this in English.

Here is the actual sms with rates for USA roaming China Unicom (for my phone/plan anyways)

中国联通祝您美国旅途愉快！免费客服热线+8618618610010。拨国内电话+86加手机号码(区号和固话号码),发短信(彩信)回国,直接输入对方手机号码。美国漫游标准资费：拨叫当地0.86元/分钟,拨回中国大陆1.56元/分钟,接听0.86元/分钟,短信发回国0.29元/条,数据10.24元/MB。推荐您选择AT&T网络享受优惠资费：拨叫当地0.56元/分钟,拨回中国大陆0.96元/分钟,接听0.96元/分钟,短信发回国0.16元/条,数据5.12元/MB

Hi. I can't read Chinese and can't seem to get on the international Skype website right now to check its available in China, but they have two services I've used in the past (in Europe and US) which can be combined to do what you want, without leaving a phone or anything in china. "Skype To-Go Number" (you get a local phone number, i.e. a chinese one), the call is received on your Skype app assuming its installed on your phone, anyplace you like. Another service they have is "Skype call-forwarding" which forwards the calls anyplace you like, e.g. to a phonenumber in the US. Both are paid services but very cheap.

@faraday - thanks I'll look into that too!!! Looks like we have two good solutions already!

SKYPE

Many options

What works for you?
Get a USA number that can answer calls when not on line
Get a Chinese number
Works with mini I Pad

Several CHinese software options

We need to keep her existing number and get the calls regardless of location. So I think the International Roaming option for China Unicom is likely the best choice.

Oh one more thing you should check. Better make sure your phone works with USA carriers, otherwise, you'll be buying another phone in the US. Just because it works with Unicom here doesn't guarantee it will work with ATT in the US, though chances would be high.

Good thinking... it's a Samsung S-III (s3?)

I think it should work. It was purchased in Hong Kong.