My Phone Card, Your Calling Card

International Calling Cards: Can They Save Money On Domestic Calls?

2008-03-28T12:13:00.000-07:00

International prepaid calling cards are already pretty popular with millions of customers worldwide. They save money on long distance calls and are happy with it. However, many of us still stick to the usual telecommunication companies when placing domestic calls. But there are opportunities to save money by calling inside the USA with international calling cards. Did you know that? Well, now you do.

Calling cards providers offer plenty of various rates and destination packages to their customers trying to stay competitive on the overcrowded market. This is great for the customers as they have a plethora of choices. Those calling card companies, who are into a serious business, usually give their detailed rates on the official websites and these rates are final, therefore making a customer able to choose the offer that fits him best.

It is not an easy task for a prepaid phone card user to dig the rates and other features which are important in evaluation the provider’s offer. However, if the job is done right, chances are high to have your savings maximized and connection problems minimized.

Some companies offer US-Call-Back services, some give PIN-less accounts and some offer special bonuses and rewards if you call to certain countries on a frequent basis. If you know all these special offers and opportunities, it is possible for you to design a sort of a ‘combo’ where each call you place will be the optimal choice if to consider the price and reliability of the service.
Some people claim it is impossible to save on domestic phone calls with the help of prepaid long distance products. This is not true as many calling card providers offer special rates on calls to the USA which are sometimes significantly cheaper than those from your local provider. Yes, you heard it right - if you call to the neighboring state as if you’ve been calling from abroad, it may appear to be cheaper than using your standard telecommunication operator.

Information is crucial to make the process of calling cheap and pleasant. And while millions of people believe this is true only for the long distance international calls through prepaid calling cards, we now know there are additional opportunities to save money and still have a reliable and high-quality phone connection.

Phone Cards

2008-03-04T14:15:00.000-08:00

Phone cards (or calling cards), let me tell you a few words about them. If you know what phone cards are, you may skip reading this article, as the story goes about International calling cards.

Here it means to choose the way to make an international call to a country to talk to somebody you need to talk to. The choices are:
- use common phone
- call via cell phone
- use a prepaid phone card

Most of us use standard telephone service to make the calls we need. Maybe that’s not a problem? Maybe not, it is only depends on just how often you need to call abroad. If it happens once a month for a few minutes that’s fine. But, if you make international call more often, for a decent period of time, at least 20-30 minutes a month, you may consider using prepaid phone cards. Prepaid phone cards (international phone cards) let you save your money on international calls up to 80% over a standard dialing service.

So, answer these questions:
- how many international calls a month you make?
- How long does an average call last?
- How many minutes you spend for a call?
- How much money you spend on international calls?
- How much money you can save using phone cards?

Probably, if you answer these questions, you can make a choice what to use for your next international call.

So Many Cards, So Little Time

2008-02-26T23:34:00.000-08:00

There are so many international prepaid calling cards in the market today that it's easy to be duped by buying one that slaps you with hidden charges more than the actual call times you get to consume. Some prepaid call cards even have the gall to print low-cost rates on their surfaces and then surprise you with surcharges and taxes midway. Many a traveler has already been lured by "cheap" calling cards. Don't let this happen to you.

Having said that, I guess the million dollar question now is this: how do you choose the best (or the most decent) prepaid calling card for your international calls? The answer: you never really find out 100% unless you try.

Now before you go stomping off at this very obvious response, understand that prepaid calling card offers and activities change as often as you change clothes, so we never can be fully sure how each of them operate. Add that to the fact that there's thousands of types of prepaid calling cards out there. However, if you're eyeing a particular calling card, then the assessment might be easier.

Reading About The Cards
Find out more about the card through online reviews and peer referrals. If you don't want to risk your money by finding out for yourself if the international prepaid calling card you bought gives you the best value for your money, you can always ask the people who have used it before. People are unforgiving when it comes to criticizing the brand that made them lose call credits, so you don't need to worry about them telling you that so and so brand is okay to use.

Of course, when you make your choice, you have to consider how often you expect to use the prepaid calling card (as some expire after 30 days), the call tariffs implemented depending on your location, and how long you stay on the phone with another person (as some cards charge you a little extra connection fee -- the nemesis of those who make short calls).

Despite these possible problems, using prepaid phone cards for international calls is still a very convenient and smart way to get in touch with the important people in your life. Once you get past the choosing stage, it's not likely that you'll have any more problem with the calls.

Calling Card Rates to India

2008-01-29T14:07:00.001-08:00

Rates on prepaid calling products to India have dropped significantly over the past couple of years. A year ago it was difficult to find a product to call India for less than 10 cents per minute unless it was poor quality. Now there are several high quality products offering rates as low as 4.5 cents per minute. For example, NW-IP recently introduced the Golden Lotus calling card that charges as little as 4.2 cents per minute and customers are rating the card very high in terms of reliability and call quality. Even Tel3Advantage is only charging 8.5 cents per minute to users of its the high quality Flex Plan while one year ago it was charging 12 to 15 cents per minute.

So what has changed? We have been investigating and we cannot find the answer except, perhaps, increased competition. Rates on calls to several markets have been dropping recently but it seems that India has seen one of the most dramatic decreases. This is good news for people with friends and family in India and want to make frequent calls. Now there are several high quality prepaid calling products on the market for making cheap calls to India.

Calling Card Rates to India

2008-01-29T14:07:00.000-08:00

Rates on prepaid calling products to India have dropped significantly over the past couple of years. A year ago it was difficult to find a product to call India for less than 10 cents per minute unless it was poor quality. Now there are several high quality products offering rates as low as 4.5 cents per minute. For example, NW-IP recently introduced the Golden Lotus calling card that charges as little as 4.2 cents per minute and customers are rating the card very high in terms of reliability and call quality. Even Tel3Advantage is only charging 8.5 cents per minute to users of its the high quality Flex Plan while one year ago it was charging 12 to 15 cents per minute. So what has changed? We have been investigating and we cannot find the answer except, perhaps, increased competition. Rates on calls to several markets have been dropping recently but it seems that India has seen one of the most dramatic decreases. This is good news for people with friends and family in India and want to make frequent calls. Now there are several high quality prepaid calling products on the market for making cheap calls to India.

Calling Cards with Maintenance Fee-Merits and Demerits

2007-12-15T10:18:00.000-08:00

When you need to purchase a phone card on-line, you make a suitable request through calling card search box on tried web site. In reply a seller offers you as a rule a few phone cards for given destination. Among of these, cards with maintenance fee stand out especially. Some calling card users fear to use ones, but to no purpose, as it will be shown in this article.

Maintenance fee is charged to maintain services. It will be taken from your calling card balance every one or two days/weeks/months (depends from the card) since you made a first call and as long as there are still minutes available on your card or until the end of validity period, which ever comes first.

Merits of such cards:
The rates are lower at least on 10 percents than those without maintenance fee.You can request call history records from card's customer service: calling dates, from-to, duration, and charges. In other words the services allow you to trace the phone calls.

Main demerit of these cards: the more time passes since you made a first phone call, the more money you lose. For saving money, use these cards no longer than 3 - 12 weeks. Let's name this period by benefit period. Because the lowest rates benefit that so characteristic of the cards discussed is saved in this interval.

Note: the higher a nominal price of a card, the longer a benefit period and the more money will be taken from your calling card balance at maintenance fee. For this reason, you must make the benefit period shorter. You can do it at least in two ways:

Buy a phone card at low nominal price and recharge it as needed.
Make your phone calls as frequently as possible.

Then your money so difficulty earned will be used with the largest advantage. However, you can use the cards longer, enjoying the services benefits.

For a long-term and if you make phone calls just once in a while, use the calling cards without maintenance fee. These cards usually have higher rates, but you do not have to worry about your calling card balance going down if you do not call.

Features to Look for in International Calling Card

2007-12-13T11:27:00.000-08:00

There are a number of prepaid international calling cards to choose from, all of which have their own features and system that they use.

Some of their features and benefits include conveniences such as pinless dialing and speed dialing, recharge and auto recharge, and no hidden charges. If you are one that uses these prepaid international calling cards for personal or professional purposes, then choosing the best prepaid international phone card company is essential for you, especially if you want to get the most out of your money.

The use of prepaid international calling cards is now becoming a popular option for callers, however, not everyone knows exactly what features to look for when choosing which prepaid phone card service to sign up with.

One feature that can help make a prepaid international phone card more appealing is if it is very easy to use. Callers will feel a lot less hassled if the prepaid international calling cards that they are using are very simple to use, and not that complicated to operate.

There are some calling cards that eliminate the need for you to dial the pin number in every call, making the whole process a lot simpler. All you have to do is register, and that would be enough. Some even eliminate the need for you to dial the destination number when you make an international call.

Another feature that helps make it more appealing is if it does not cost you a lot just to get the service. Having no extra fees and charges for getting it connected, and having no penalty charges for canceling the service, is a feature that helps set a prepaid international calling card apart from other calling cards that does not have this particular feature. These extra payments, which include the connection and maintenance fees, are the hidden charges that are usually paid after the initial fees after you have subscribed to a particular service.

Finding a company that can offer and provide you security regarding your account and account information is a must in any service. A customer’s privacy should be kept, and your account information should be protected from other callers, especially if you are joining an online service. Make sure that your prepaid international phone card is able to provide you with the security for your account that you may need.

Having a very reliable and accessible customer care service is also a great feature to have for prepaid international calling cards. It gives the callers the opportunity to be able to manage their accounts, and at the same time, get the service that they need whenever they may need it. Having help documents readily available in the net is also a good feature, especially for those that offer services online.

Whatever prepaid phone card service you may decide to sign up with, it is important to remember that it must meet all of your needs, so make sure that you check all of the features that it has to offer and check if it fit your needs.

Don't be Ripped off by Your Calling Cards

2007-12-01T17:22:00.000-08:00

Calling cards industry is huge and problematic at the same time. Many phone card buyers report that they have been ripped off, millions of dollars in total. Some calling cards fail to deliver the promised minutes. Others tack on confusing fees that may not be listed in the microscopic print on the back of the card. Still others round up each call to the nearest three-minute mark.

Lack of Regulation
A 2004 study led by University of Georgia economics professor emeritus Julia Marlowe found that the cost-per-minute rates for prepaid calling cards were on average 87 percent higher than those advertised. However, that's beginning to change. In the past year, attorneys general in Florida, California and several other states have begun to take a closer look at the phone card industry, as has the Federal Trade Commission.

Swindled by the Minute
If a phone card gives rates that are too good to be true, it might just be too good to be true. The most popular cards among immigrants, and the ones least likely to deliver promised minutes, are those offering super cheap rates to countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Haiti and India.

So be careful on your next phone card shopping. I'll post more articles on how to choose the best calling cards.

The International Calling Card Prepaid Minutes Will Unleash The Freedom To Call From Anywhere (Part 2)

2007-11-20T17:14:00.000-08:00

For those who hang onto the use of phone cards, there are some real advantages:

Savings
The online, domestic and international rates are much more cheaper than the services provided by the phone companies. Not only do they help you to bring your phone expenses within budget but also offer calls that are cheaper than collect calls and operator assisted calls. Mobility Phone cards provide solutions to all type of people like travelers, truck drivers, students and international visitors. They can call anytime from their home, office, cell phones, pay phones and foreign countries.

Convenience
You can get a wide array of phone cards ranging from the lowest to the highest prices. The Internet helps you to get access to PIN number and Access number instantly at any place and at anytime. There are no hassles of phone bills and extra payments.

Plus Side of Using Prepaid Calling Cards

2007-11-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

It seems that having a prepaid phone card these days is a must-have, since we make a lot of calls everyday. There is always someone we want, or need to to talk to, or we would like to share stories or information with someone else.

Prepaid calling cards are a great way to make calls from nearly any phone, and just about anywhere in the world. Call cards were first sold in Italy during the 1970's and have since then become very common worldwide.

Low Call Charges
Prepaid phone cards offer users low costs, and provide an easy method of making long distance calls, and are great to have in case of emergencies. Prepaid phone cards also have distinct advantages over standard (non-prepaid) calling cards.

Usually, a credit call card will charge varied rates depending upon the time of day or the day of week users place the call, however a prepaid phone card will charge a set rate per minute. Do take note that some prepaid cards' international long distance is charged at a higher rate than for domestic long distance.

Prepaid Calling Cards Are Good For the Cost-Conscious
With using a prepaid phone card, one simply dials a toll free number, enters a personal identification number (PIN), and dials the number. In most cases users will be informed of how much time they have remaining on their card.

Prepaid calling cards are also very convenient, one would never have to look for change when they need to use a payphone and you always know exactly what your charges will be. Managing your expenses can also be very easy with using prepaid call cards, since they allow you to budget how much you spend on your long distance calls.

Instead of paying a monthly charge, users pay for their calls up front so they never end up with monthly charges that are heavy on the budget and difficult to pay. Prepaid phone cards can be bought in a lot of different places. They are sold in convenience stores, airports, hotels, malls, and other high-traffic areas or locations. Calling cards are sold with varied minute allotments and at different rates. A person can purchase calling cards with a certain amount of time on the card.

The International Calling Card Prepaid Minutes Will Unleash The Freedom To Call From Anywhere (Part 1)

2007-11-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

I have yet to find that phone cards can help to make international calls easy. Phone cards are small cards that are decorated with pictures and logos and can be bought to operate public telephones. It is an easy way to make calls on a national and international basis. They are the cheapest source available that offers you to stay in touch with your family and friends.

There are several types of phone cards that are available in the market:
- Rechargeable phone cards: these provide excellent deals because the additional minutes you purchase are basically cheaper than the original cost of the card. You can refill the cards anytime by visiting the website of the phone company. You have to receive a PIN number that becomes the permanent number and every time you refill your card, your PIN number gets activated.

- Non-refillable online phone cards: this card does not allow you to make phone calls after the balance on this card becomes equal to zero. These have a validity period of 3 to 4 months.

- Call & Talk: this is a rechargeable prepaid international calling card that can be accessible from at least 50 countries all over the world. It has no maintenance charges, no expiry charges, no contracts or hidden charges, and no connection fees. They can be used from any phone lines like office phones, home phones, pay phones, hotel room phones and cell phones.

It is easy to understand the working of the phone cards. You simply have to pay for calling time in advance and reduce the prepaid balance as you continue to make the phone calls. To make a call you have to dial Toll Free Access Number or Local Access Number. After a voice delivers its welcoming speech, you have to enter the card’s PIN number and then dial the Destination number.

Living in Dilemma

2007-11-03T17:01:00.000-07:00

I know I'm not alone in feeling as though I'm in the Dark Ages when it comes to figuring out phone services and various calling plans. I'm truly not a Luddite, but with the plethora of phones, phone cards, calling cards, long distance phone service options, and local phone service options available, how is the average consumer supposed to make an informed decision? There are times when I find myself longing for the old days, when AT&T was the only game in town - or the country, for that matter. Sometimes, I just feel like screaming for help.

Recently, I received a call from my phone company about a week ago. It turns out that my DSL contract is up at the end of the month. The funny thing is I didn't even know I had a contract for DSL. I thought I just signed up for it, get my service, and live happily ever after (well, sort of). The sales representative on the phone started asking rapid-fire questions about my current phone service and rattled off different types of phone service and rate plans. To be honest, I was completely stunned. First, I didn't understand why, if she was from the phone company, she didn't already know my calling plan. Second, I have a deep distrust in this phone company, and simply wanted to keep my service, and for her to go away. After the call, I feared my next phone bill, because she might mess with my plan up. But thankfully, it stayed the same.

In the meantime, I decided to hold my breath and dive into the world of telephony in an attempt to figure out what options are out there. What I've discovered is that there are many new technologies and plans available for virtually every need. For example, dial around is a great option for people who want to save money on domestic and international long distance while still using their own phone (cell, home, or business) and not changing companies. It combines the convenience of a calling card with many of the features found with traditional long distance.

Right now, I'm deciding which option to use for low cost international calls, since I have some relatives overseas. Although my cell phone service touted low international rates, my last bill was astronomical. I'll definitely never call them from my cell phone again.