Calling Cards

Making an international phone call, for those of us who just don’t need to do it very often, can seem like a daunting task. After all, calling from one city in the United States to another never means dialing more than 11 digits: 1, the area code, and the phone number. But making a call to London or Paris or Istanbul means dialing a sometimes perplexing combination of codes followed by a phone number that isn’t necessarily seven digits.

Dialing an international call really isn’t that complicated. Most of the time, anyway. For direct-dialing -- that is, calling without an operator’s assistance, most international calls start by dialing the digits "011". If you need to use an operator -- which is generally more expensive but sometimes necessary -- start with "01" instead.

Next, you must dial the country code for the country you’re dialing. Next comes the city code, which you’ll also need to know before you start to dial. Where do you find the country and city codes? You can look them up in the front of your phone book or online.

Finally, dial the phone number. It won’t necessarily be seven digits: other countries have phone numbers from four to nine digits.

Here’s a little-known tip: when you are finished dialing, press the * key. Depending on your telephone company, this can significantly speed up the process of connecting your international call. Why? There are so many possible combinations of country and city codes that the routing computer will usually wait a few extra moments before connecting your call, to make sure you’re really done dialing. Pressing the * key tells it "I’m done dialing, connect me now." (If your phone company doesn’t support this feature, pressing the * after the number won’t hurt.)

Have patience when dialing internationally: connecting the call can take longer than you’re used to for domestic calls. Also, it’s smart to know the time difference between your location and where you’re calling before you dial. You probably don’t want to wake up your friends or business associates for a chat at 4AM.

If you don’t have access to the Internet or a phone book to look up the country or city codes, or you are having some other problem placing your overseas call, help is available: hang up and dial "00" for the international operator.

Internet telephony conference call services are used to organize a virtual meeting point for different entities related to an organization. This may include employees of the same organization, country heads, suppliers, dealers, stockholders, and other government agencies.

Large corporate organizations have sister concerns operating in different countries across the world that constantly need to share information regarding production, sales, and revenues. A large amount of the company's resources are used in making travel arrangements for visiting area managers and country heads. Internet telephony conference calls help in saving traveling costs and the productive time of business managers. It also saves costs related to international long distance call charges.

Internet telephony conferencing provides easy access to participants located in other countries by using international toll free access lines (ITFS). Oversees participants have to dial a country specific toll free access number and enter a PIN number provided by the leader of the conference to join the conference call. The service can be used to provide critical inputs on issues that can affect the company's subsidiary in a particular country. Critical issues related to business operations can easily be resolved by exchanging personal views and ideas about a particular subject. The service can also be used for making sales and marketing presentations to motivate international sales teams.

Internet telephony conferencing rates differ from country to country. The total conferencing call charges are calculated by adding country-specific rates, multiplied by number of users, and fixed conferencing bridge rates, multiplied by total number of participants. Conference leaders can save costs by restricting the number of participants.

In spite of the huge benefits associated with Internet telephony conference calls, they are slowly being replaced by new technologies such as video conferencing. These technologies allow users to share audio as well as video content, and can be used to make presentations and demonstrations more effectively on participants' personal computers.

There can be nothing more exciting then to make unlimited long distance calls, for a single monthly rate and without changing the local phone service provider, if you are someone who makes a lot of long distance calls. It seems impossible, but it is possible in many parts of the world today. These long distance carriers make it possible for the user to make unlimited long distance calls by paying a single monthly fee. The customer can do so without having to worry about a per minute fee payment.

These unlimited long distance carriers make it possible for a person to call anywhere in the US or Canada, anytime. These also include interstate as well as intrastate calls. The distinctive feature about these long distance carriers is that, the users don't have to switch to any other phone company to use its services. There are no installation or cancellation fees and the service can be instantly activated. The account is maintained online and the customer has complete access to it. This ensures complete transparency. People do not need to have a special phone connection or extra equipment to log on to these unlimited long distance carriers. Once registered, the user can call anywhere in US and Canada, as well as other countries worldwide, depending on the specific service.

The charges of these unlimited call plans vary. They are different for unlimited long distance in the state, state to state and international plans. It is wise for the customer to check the in state and state to state rate while choosing an unlimited long distance plan. There is no limitation placed on the calls made, provided the person is not using it for telemarketing or to connect to a long distance dial-up for extended periods of time.

It takes a little research and discretion on the part of the customer to find the best unlimited long distance carriers, but it can be a very solid financial decision once the person finds the right one.

Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP has broadened up the perspective of Internet and traditional communication services. Businesses, large or small, are one of potential users who are availing benefits of the efficiencies associated with IP based communication and services. But services are not the same for everyone! VoIP services depend upon the size, operation and requirement of the business and corporate houses including the residential users.

VoIP is a technology one that allows the users to make voice calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular phone line. The VoIP phone service enable the users to send data, images, voice and video over the single IP network. Therefore, it can be said that user enjoys visual and verbal communication together in a more effective way. This increases the cost efficiency and call productivity of voice over IP services. While using the IP services, the user enjoys calling over longer distance or international calls at significantly lower rates compared to Public Switched Telephone Network or PSTN.

There are many advantages of using Voice over IP services like:

1.It lowers Phone Bills up to 50%
2.Offers mobility i.e. you can carry phone line along with you
3.Reduces longer distance or international bills
4.Extenuate surcharges
5.Many providers, avoids monopoly

There are many VoIP service providers in the market. Some may provide their services onto the same telephone service, while others offer their services on the other telephone lines or numbers - including local, long distance, mobile and international numbers. Moreover, while selecting the best service provider, the potential user must check the hardware essentials. To bring into notice, some VoIP services work over computer or a special IP phone whereas other services allow you to use a traditional phone connected to an adopter. Lastly, branded VoIP ineternet phone service providers offer a lot of features along with their services like three way calling, call waiting, caller ID and call forwarding.

Revolutionising the system of voice communication, VoIP has emerged as a smooth and cheap way of telephony now. It is a technology that allows you to make international calls at a much lower rate in comparison to the other traditional means of communication. In order to avail the benefits of this technology, all you need to have is a PC, an Internet connection and a few other minor accessories.

Apart from making calls at a lower rate, you can do a number of other things with VoIP. It will facilitate you to build an in-house phone network for your office. You can even create a world-wide network with your distant business partners. This technology can further be used to stay connected with others while on the move. It will necessitate proper equipment like a mobile satellite Internet connection.

Another great thing about VoIP technology is that you can make and receive phone calls through it, without disturbing your normal Internet browsing. Most of the networks that use this technology ensure that all incoming phone calls come automatically to your phone through the computer which you are using, no matter where you are. This means you will not miss personal calls at work and you will not miss business calls at home.

Like any other technology, VoIP also has its share of disadvantages. It can cause you a headache if you do not have a good set up. Another disadvantage that many users report is that they experience "echo" when making and receiving calls. However, experts say much of this problem depends upon the user.

Another potential disadvantage is that there can be a slight lag at the beginning of the conversation. The last problem that VoIP users may face is that it operates through the Internet. This means that if you get out of Internet service for power-cut or any other reason, you will not have phone access until the service is restored. Minus all these minor issues, VoIP can be a superb means of communication.

With the passage of time, the Internet has become all pervasive. People in the present day world are dependent on the web as much for accessing information as for their daily dose of entertainment. However, the most recent application of the Internet pertains to communication. Cheap long distance calls are now possible due to the emergence of Internet telephony and PC to phone solutions.

People across the globe are using their personal computers, an Internet connection and latest VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services to make cheap long distance calls. This way, they do not have to pay exorbitantly for communicating with their near and dear ones, located in different parts of the globe. A number of Internet telephony companies are coming up which offer innovative PC phone solutions to cater to this growing demand.

There are quite a few merits of using PC-to-phone solutions. The overall quality of PC to Phone calls is satisfactory, especially when the same is delivered over a broadband connection. The savings one can accrue using VoIP PC to phone solutions are significant, especially if one has the habit of making frequent long distance international calls. Moreover, some other Internet and telecommunication services are made available that users can access in addition to the telephony solutions. E-mail, voice mail, faxing and video conferencing are some of these specialised services - which are made available to the subscribers at industry leading costs. In addition, the security issues are well taken care of by the service providers and users generally do not have any reason to worry.

However, the degree of congestion on the Internet when a person dials could have an adverse impact on the call quality. The installation of the right equipment would take care of this problem. A computer equipped with a fast processor would suit the bill perfectly. A sound card that allows both the parties to communicate at the same time and a headset with a built-in microphone would also go a long way in improving call quality. The headset would reduce the echoes caused by feedback from speakers.

Last but not the least, PC-to-phone solutions from a reputed VoIP Solution provider is often the best bet. One can then make cheap international calls at unbeatable prices; and the net phoning experience is guaranteed to be more than satisfactory.

Prepaid Calling Cards

A prepaid calling card is purchased with a set amount of funds on it. Phone card users can use the card on any phone, charging the call to their card. Once the funds have been depleted, the card must be either recharged or discarded. Prepaid calling cards can either be purchased in increments of dollars or minutes. Typically only domestic calling cards are quantified in minutes, because all calls within the United States are billed at the same rate per minute. International calling cards however, are quantified in dollars, because each country has its own rate per minute. This allows cardholders to use the card to call to any country they wish.

Credit Based Phone Cards

A credit based phone card is a post-paid phone card. It allows the same convenience of a prepaid calling card, however there is not a constant declining balance. Instead, the calls are billed on a per call basis and the user receives a monthly bill. Often times credit based phone cards are charged right to your credit card.

Rechargeable Phone Cards

Rechargeable phone cards are calling cards that can be recharged after the minutes expire. Depending on where you purchased the card determines how the recharge can be applied. For calling card purchased over the Internet, return to the site where you purchased the card and there will be a recharge option. Rechargeable cards that were purchased in the store, should have all recharge information on them.

Depending on the company issuing your card, recharges can be done via, credit card, money order, personal check, or cash.

Instant PIN

The term instant PIN (Personal Identification Number) can be applied to most calling cards bought over the Internet. PINs are shipped over e-mail as a way of avoiding shipping costs and eliminate lag time between the purchase date and receiving date. With instant PINs the user does not receive the actual card. Instead they will receive an automated e-mail after the purchase has been completed. The e-mail will contain all information necessary to begin using the card, including PIN number, access numbers and technical support. In many cases, the email includes the image of the card with detailed information. The card image and information can be printed and cut out to fit in a wallet, like a traditional store bought card.

International Phone Cards

An international phone card is a phone card that is designated for international calling. International phone cards can be used from the United States to call worldwide. Many international calling cards can also be used for traveling purposes. They provide international access numbers. Card users dial the local access number for the country they are in, followed by the PIN, and destination number.