14 posts tagged “prepaid phone cards”

Phone Cards

An easy quick guide to choosing the right prepaid calling card.

Figuring out how to select the right calling card in an over saturated market can be daunting task. It seems like there are so many options. Googleing the keywords "prepaid calling cards" will bring more then 12,000,000 different responses. Many people simply search for the card that will provide them the lowest rates. However, often don’t realize that these cards are actually the most expensive.

In three easy steps learn how to pick the right calling card for your needs. This will save you money and put you on the right track.

1. Identifying your needs.
2. Understanding your options.
3. Making a Selection.

Identifying Your Needs

With so many different cards to choose from its important to identify exactly what your needs are. This will assist when trying to decipher between cards.

Important things to consider when identifying your needs:

• Destination – Where are you calling?
• Duration – How long do you think your calls will be? Under 30 minutes or over an hour?
• Frequency – Is it a one time thing where you need to make an international call, or do you frequently make international calls?
• Connection Quality – do you need high connection quality, or are you simply looking for the cheapest way to place a call?
• Traveling – Do you need a calling card for when you travel, or is it for use in the United States?
• Business Use – Do you plan to use the card for business or personal use?
• Recharge – Are you looking for a phone card that can be recharged?

Understanding Your Options

It is extremely import to never underestimate how much calling time a dollar can by you. Call to places like Europe, Parts of Asia, South America and Australia for 40 minutes on just 1 dollar.

Now that you have identified your needs, it is important to understand your options. Make sure you read all of the details of the calling card before you purchase it. Many companies are very sneaky and add unforeseen fees. Resulting in a one time use from the card, expiring the minutes.

Fees

Many prepaid phone cards have hidden fees. Companies have designed all sorts of creative fees. Such as connection fees, maintenance fees, termination fees, disconnection fees, etc. Almost all wholesale rates to major destinations are the same universally. Calling cards displaying low rates tend to have that have fees associated with them as way to make up for the low rates.

Depending on your needs, fees might not necessarily be bad. If you have identified yourself, as someone who infrequently uses a calling card, however have purchased one to make an international call, you should be solely motivated by rates. This is true especially for people who only plan to use the calling card once or twice then, no longer need it. Purchasing a card with biweekly maintenance fee is beneficial because in two weeks, the user will no longer need the card. However, if you are someone who frequently makes international calls and regularly uses a card, then selecting a card with no fees would provide great benefit. While the rates may be higher, you won’t have to pay a connection fee or almost a dollar in maintenance fees.

Minute Rounding

Minute rounding is another tactic calling card companies have designed to seek the most amount of money from their customers. Most calling card use 1 minute rounding. However, there is a large selection of cards that use 2, 3 and 4-minute rounding. Minute rounding is how your calls are charged. 

Source: http://www.ldpost.com/telecom-articles/Selecting-the-Right-Calling-Card.html

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With more and more people staying away from their families nowadays for a variety of reasons, it is small wonder that the telecommunication industry is inundated with an ever increasing flow of traffic. The high frequency of calling can also be attributed to the convenience offered by the calling cards since many people use these cards in the present era to meet their calling requirements instead of opting for the standard methods. This propensity of people living away from people to call up using prepaid calling cards can be due to the following reasons:

• It is but natural for a person who stays away from home to feel homesick once in a while and the only way to appease this homesickness is to call up home and hear the voice of the loved one. But making long distance calls everyday could prove to be extremely expensive and therefore calling cards should be used in order to limit the phone bill while making calls.
• It is through the use of calling cards that one is aware of the time which is spent on the call and can accordingly make amends and requisite adjustments in the calling pattern which would result in savings.
• Many calling cards offer special privileges like unlimited nights and unlimited weekends which would enable the caller to enjoy extra calls at the same proffered price.
• Prepaid calling cards charge different rates which depend on the country in which the call has been placed and this should be checked by the caller while purchasing the card.
• Apart from the rate of international calling, the caller can check on the coverage provided by the company as well as the expiration date both of which result in savings while making calls.

Those who make frequent international calls always look for a Phone Card.  This is because, a long distance call made through mobile or land line is quite expensive and the Phone Cards is the only alternative.  Then what are the advantages of a Phone Card?

At the outset, by selecting the right Prepaid Phone Card,   it is possible to reduce the expense on the telephone bills by about 50% to 80%.  This is because, per minute calling rate is always quite minimal.   Further, these are prepaid tariff plans and therefore normally, they do not have any hidden cost.  There are no connectivity charges.    Those who are frequent callers enjoy special discounts and many calling companies offer seasonal gifts too.

The second reason why people prefer calling card is that it is very easy to buy them.  It is available in most of the retail outlets like grocery shop, petrol bunk, coffee club, pubs and restaurants, news paper agencies etc. It can be bought online also.  There are no paper works like an agreement with the calling company, payment of minimum of deposit etc.

The third reason for buying Phone Cards is that it is very easy to carry them.  These are in the size of a credit or debit card and simply fit into the wallet. There enough security measures so that no one can misuse the cards.  Once the credit balance reduces, the caller can buy additional calling time and so the value of the tariff plan is restored to its original position.  All the calling companies have multi lingual helpline which is available for service 24/7. 

Having been the landmark invention of the nineteenth century, the telephone not only became the main form of communication throughout the world but also acquired the status of being the most preferred mode amongst the people. This bias towards the telephone is largely due to the speed and the convenience with which the message is conveyed as compared to the other forms of communication like letter writing and telegrams. The introduction of phone cards further acted as a catalyst in raising the popularity of the phone because of the numerous advantages which are associated with the use of such cards. Phone cards are definitely considered to be better and this is because they possess the following advantages:

1. A calling card is the most convenient device which can be accommodated easily and can be carried anywhere without being cumbersome. So for a parent whose child is staying away from home due to studies or work, a pre paid phone card is the most assuring method of communication which would help them to keep in touch even in the absence of other phone facilities.

2. Calling cards ensure a safe as well as secure method of communication because each individual card has a distinct activation number which acts as a security for that particular card only and prevents it from being used by others.

3. These cards are readily available at grocery stores, departmental stores and other shops and can be easily bought as they are available at a range of prices starting from the lowest to the highest. As a result, one need not spend a bulk amount at one point of time and has the choice of settling down for cards with lesser talk time which cost less.

4. One of the biggest advantages of a calling card is that it is fully suited to the present day concept of a global village. Nowadays, people travel between countries like they used to travel between regions a couple of years ago. Therefore, a card which offers standardized rates of call from most of the countries and is available in almost all major locations around the world can be considered nothing short of a boon in disguise because of the ease of keeping in touch from wherever you are.

5. Most calling cards are self explanatory and easy to use because they come with a set of simple verbal instructions which are conveyed in any language that the caller chooses to use.

6.  The phone card system is supported by an excellent customer care which is available at all times and anywhere. This makes it virtually impossible for a person using the card to be stuck unattended for long as help-lines are always open and responsive.  

7.  The calling card system boasts of a good connectivity and can be used in any telephone instrument be it a land-line, a mobile or a calling booth.

8. This system also maintains a steady rate of call which does not depend upon the time of the day, the area from which the call is made or the area to which the call is being made.    

There is some uniqueness in the telephone numbers in Russia.  In most of the countries the area code remains the same for both the land line and the mobile phones.  But in Russia the area code differs.   Of course, this system has an advantage; that it is easy to identify whether the call is from land line or from mobile.  But it is convenient to the caller because he has too much remember; the PIN number of his calling card, then the country code, area code and then the telephone number in Russia.

Coming to call rate, long distance calls costs comparatively high in Russia. The person calling Russia should necessarily have GSM connection.  It is said that some of the visitors would prefer to purchase a new prepaid card in Russia than carrying their mobile phone. 

Those who want to call Russia and have GSM connection would take the Phone Card from their long distance service company.   But, they have to check the connectivity quality provided by the Company.  There are many service providers who offer competitive rates. 

On the other hand, buying a Phone Card in Russia is easier and much cheaper.  It is much more convenient to purchase the Card online when in Russia.  Once the purchase formalities are complete, the Card is instantaneously mailed.  Of course, the purchaser has to examine the suitability of the tariff before he purchases the Card.   There are many companies who offer special rate for calling certain areas in Russia like Moscow etc. These cards will have crystal clear dialing instructions and has many security measures to prevent misuse of the card by a stranger. Payment can be made from debit or credit card, PayPal etc.

Poland phone cards

Calling Poland?

Making calls to Europe can be costly if you’re not aware of the deals you can get to cut expenses. As necessary as it is, calls are just one of those things that you can’t limit or stop especially if you’re calling someone important – say family, or your boss.

Poland boasts of several telephone companies that offer the best phone cards.  You have the power to avail from a wide array of options in calling Poland.

Cut down on your call costs now by learning how to effectively call Poland.

Tips in calling Poland

What to use?

Phone cards can be easily bought anywhere in the world, even online. There are companies that offer lower call rates when dialing Poland. Companies who specialize in internet or long-distance calls are sure to have an offer or two. When you’re using a phone card, the telephone company who hosts your calls will be kind enough to guide you through it. Most of them have instructions to keep you from dialing someone else’s number.

Phone cards offer discounted rates for users focused on calling specific countries frequently. There are several deals and packages that you can choose from in calling Poland.

How and who?

So you’re decided on using phone cards to cut your call costs, but are hopelessly lost in choosing which telephone company to go with, and which card to avail.

Telephone companies now have websites of their own. You can check their rates, review their call quality, read testimonials, and even buy phone cards online. This is a great help for people who are clueless in choosing which phone card to use. These websites have toll-free numbers, hotline, or even e-mail address that you can contact when you want something explained further. It wouldn’t be hurt to ask, send, or even dial a question.

What are the numbers?

If you’re calling within Europe, countries such as Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland have direct dial-system. You wouldn’t need to enter a country or area code to call Poland.

If you’re calling from other countries, within or outside Europe, you will need to enter area codes to connect to Poland. Due to this phone numbers may vary in length, you maybe dialing an 8-digit number but really are attempting to reach a 9-digit phone.

How much are they charging?

The beauty of using phone cards is that they make the charges universal. You can use phone cards that allow you to call Poland from different places of the world and still get the same rates. Usually these rates are in dollars if you’re calling from outside Europe, but companies may charge in other currencies depending on which country you are.

When?

Telephone companies offer call cards featuring discounts and special offers when calling at specific times of the day. Some companies may offer off-peak hour discounts for example. It is important to know if this would be the right offer for you. Perhaps you’re calling someone who’s up at nights and rather asleep on days, then this may help you save a lot.

The caller should know the time difference. If availing the off-peak hours discount means dialing at 3:00 am, then you might want to get another call package instead.

Making Long Distance Calls

There are many situations when a person may need to make international calls. The most common is when one wants to communicate with loved ones who have moved out of the country. Other condition is when a person wants to make an international call for their business reasons or line of employment. However, if people make these calls through traditional telephone, there may be risk of getting high bills at the end of each month. Mobile phones are not much better either. In fact, their calling rates can be worse, since most of the policies do not provide as many minutes during the day time. The only exception is if the calls are between mobile phones, which may be free if both are using the same provider. But if you are making a call in some area that has bad reception, even this cannot be relied on. So what will you do if you want to make affordable international calls?

The answer is getting a VoIP service. VoIP (Voice over internet protocol) is athelatest technology , which provides voice communication through the internet. It can be stated in the following ways: computer–to-phone, computer-to-computer, or VoIP phone to another VoIP phone, computer or a regular phone line. In terms of international calls, it is possible to have 100% free minutes if a person uses the right VoIP service. For instance it is noted that PC to PC VoIP communication is free of cost. This includes both international and national communication with both types being done through Messengers such as MSN, Yahoo or AOL.    

Phone Cards

Phone cards help us to save money on phone charges because the rates of domestic and international calls are much cheaper than the traditional phone services. The operator charges to pick up the call are higher than the phone cards. You may budget your call when you use them.

The charges and rates are usually the same 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. There are no phone bills waiting at the end of each month. These are some reasons why people use phone cards. If you want to get cheap long distance calling cards then prepaid calling cards are the best option. You can get these from anywhere like phone shops, gas stations etc. These phone cards also provide great convenience to their customers. You are not only free to go anywhere with your cell phone but there is no need to worry about any phone bills at the end of every month.  

Prepaid calling cards, also known as “pay as you go” plans, are best for people on a strict budget. You can easily choose the calling card that best fits your budget and finances. Prepaid card minutes are also best for students and teenagers. You can supply them with a phone card every month and once the call time has ended, there are no extra charges to worry about. The phone card service providers offer convenient and reliable pay as you go services, many offer free cell phones or special reduced charges on new mobile phones. There are also no monthly fees and few termination charges. People who want to stay in touch with their family by using cell phones then prepaid minutes along with free cell phone is the perfect choice.      

Make long distance calls with calling cards

One of the important reasons to buy a prepaid phone card is for making calls to family, friends and loved ones in other countries. Whether your family is in Mexico, Canada, China, South America, Pakistan, India, United Kingdom or Australia, calling cards will provide you affordable and convenient way to make calls.  Even if you are unable to secure a long distance cellular plan, you can easily get phone cards that can be used from any type of phone and use them whenever you require to.

People who make a lot of international calls find it difficult to have affordable rates for a long distance phone service in their office or home. A prepaid calling card can be really helpful in such situation. Calling cards may be the answer to your requirements for many reasons, starting with the fact that you pay as you move further so there will never be a chance of paying huge bills at the end of each month. This is very beneficial for  parents who have concerns that their teens and kids will make large monthly bills. If everyone in the family uses calling cards then no one will get a monthly statement of bills.

As long as you make calls with prepaid phone cards, you may expect that you will only need to pay for the basic service of phone in your home. This will be only a few dollars a month. Firstly you have to go through the motions of dialing a calling card number before you make any call, but that will be a small cost to pay for affordability and convenience. You can get phone cards in different locations as well as on the website. Nowadays, you can get calling cards online; you don’t need to leave the house to take benefit of the best calls all around the world. Long distance or international calling has never been so easier.

It is suggested that before buying your calling card, read the terms and policies. There are some cards that have low rates and hidden fees that can be added onto a phone card, it is good to know all the required details so it would be easy for you to know if it suits your budget. Yes, it may looks like the card is being offered with low price but it contains hidden fee that can make you surprise at a long run. Make it sure that the card is not been tampered with. You should check the PIN code number and make sure that everything is properly sealed. There are conditions that it won’t have complete minute value or it will not work if it seems it has been tampered, so you need to look if it is tampered or not. It is for your own good.  Generally, you will get satisfaction if everything looks like to be checked out. In checking all the things will give assurance that you will get the worth of what you pay for and not be scammed with some calling card companies out there.

In this post, I want to cover the basics of who and what makes your phone card work. To start form an obvious answer, it’s the existence of phones, of course. :)

Ok, so let’s move to some not so obvious people/technologies that have made this possible. First of all, there’s VoIP (which stands for Voice over the Internet Protocol). This has made it possible for people to use internet connections to transmit voice packages (the most well-known example for this is probably Skype). However, VoIP has not reached a level where it allows you to make calls from an actual phone, using the Internet Protocol. This is what phone cards do.

In order for phone card provides to ensure you can make a call from one end of the world to the other, they have to collaborate with telecom network providers. These guys sell traffic minutes in their networks, which are then used by people when placing phone calls.

The routing dept. in a phone card provider (such as www.nobelcom.com) will pick the least expensive route for your call from one destination to the other: this means they will pass your call through various network owners (or carriers) to get YOU the lowest possible rate.

So what else does the phone card provider do? Besides simply routing your call through various carriers, they also negotiate the price for traffic minutes they buy from carriers. As they usually but bulk minutes of talk-time, they get pretty good rates, which they are then able to pass on to you.

As the end-user of this service,  you can gather all the info you need to pick the most appropriate phone card for your needs by looking at: the rates, customer support services, and a few others – usually available on the online phone cards providers’ sites.

If you’re interested in what to consider when choosing a phone card provider, here’s one good resource: Things to Look for in Your Calling Card Provider