Phone Cards Blog

The Internet is no longer only used for accessing information, downloading of music files or video clips, or making the most of the news updates. As of now, the Internet plays a vital role in connecting and communicating with friends or family members, globally. This advanced network has changed the way people communicate with each other. As a matter of fact, it can be said that PC to phone solutions have taken communication to its next logical level.

Moving with time, these Internet telephony or PC to Phone solutions have reached a large number of homes, after proving their mettle in the big and not-so-big organizations. With the PC, an internet connection, the latest VoIP services and a headset, a user can now make unlimited calls to domestic as well as international locations. And the best part is that the quality of speech is in no way impaired. The user can get the best of both worlds; he can now enjoy long distance calls without having to pay anything extra for the same.

There are two types of VoIP services. In the first type of services, the users can make calls from the PC to other landlines or mobile phones. In the other, the users are able to make calls from one PC to other PC. As a matter of fact, there are many companies that offer PC to phone solutions. The services are based on the common technology of VoIP and the call quality is also not very much different from one company to the next. The two factors that differentiate one provider from the next are the costs and the “degree of usability” of these solutions.

The VoIP phone enables the end-users to send and receive the VoIP calls from any computer to any phone worldwide. Offering the latest features in the internet telephony technology, the PC phone dialer has a friendly user interface, access to voice mails as well as many more exciting features. With this advanced technology, the users can enjoy calling as well as accessing the internet simultaneously.

Calling over the VoIP phone service allows the people to spend less on monthly telephone bills. This is only the service that allows calling at significantly lower rates, especially with fixed lines. Unlike the fixed-line telecommunication services that are randomly used, the VoIP services do not allow the users to pay more for their day-to-day communication.

As a natural corollary, the ratio of people opting for these services is on the increase. Accordingly, the number of internet telephony companies are also increasing to cater the growing demand of the ‘next generation’ users. The benefits of making the PC to phone calls are many, which have resulted in a positive impact on the organizations for increasing their profits margin. PC phone is an innovative and low cost calling service that enhances the growth of VoIP business and revenues as well.

To conclude, it can be said that the pc to phone solutions have made lives easier for many categories of users.

Via ZDNet

State and federal officials are cracking down on prepaid calling cards that promise more minutes than they deliver to immigrants, soldiers in Iraq and other frustrated phone-card users.
Recent investigations, lawsuits and legislation focus on what officials say are deceptive advertising and unfair business practices by some calling-card companies. They accuse the companies of cheating card buyers of minutes purchased or charging poorly disclosed fees — such as 99 cents to use a pay phone — that reduce the balance on the card.

A study last year by the Hispanic Institute, which researches issues important to Hispanics, found that on average, prepaid calling cards deliver 60% of the minutes they advertise.
The cards are big business. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that annually the industry sells $4 billion in calling cards.

“This is particularly acute in minority communities, because many people are poor, don’t have cellphones, rely on this and get cheated. They’re victimized,” says Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y.

Engel, who says he was shortchanged when he bought a calling card last year, has proposed a federal law that would require companies to prominently display the terms of their cards.

“We would really like these companies to deliver the minutes they’re promising,” says Gus West, president of the Hispanic Institute. “The low-wage users of these cards often don’t have other options.”

Last month, the FTC filed a lawsuit against Clifton Telecard Alliance, a national distributor of prepaid calling cards sold under names such as “African Dream” and “CTA Mexico.” The company made more than $28 million selling cards in the last quarter of 2007, primarily to immigrants who want to call friends and family abroad, according to court documents.

The commission tested 46 of CTA’s cards, says Lisa Hone, assistant director of the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection. Three did not work, she says, and the rest delivered between 8% and 76% of the advertised minutes. In some cases, consumers who got a busy signal had minutes deducted, she says.

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order April 2 forcing the company to provide the number of minutes it advertises and clearly disclose all fees. The FTC is seeking a permanent order.

CTA did not reply to five phone messages left and one e-mail sent this week.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has subpoenaed 10 companies that sell or distribute prepaid calling cards. He is focusing on companies marketing to people who don’t speak English. In some cases, he alleges, disclosures about costs and fees are printed only in English, even though the cards and advertisements are in Spanish.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown’s office also is investigating calling-card companies, according to supervising deputy attorney general Margaret Reiter. “We are very concerned that what’s being represented to the public is not being delivered,” she says.

Last year, calling-card company Devine Communications settled with the state and was fined $118,000. It agreed not to mislead customers about the number of minutes on its cards.

A New Jersey law that takes effect Aug. 1 will require prepaid calling-card companies to register with the state and “conspicuously” disclose surcharges, fees and taxes on the cards and packaging. Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, a Democrat, says she sponsored the measure after learning that U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq received donated phone cards that didn’t deliver the advertised talk time.

“Here we were sending cards to the troops,” she says, “having expectations of their having a certain number of minutes to talk to family and loved ones back home, and they were getting a fraction of that.”

Via: USA Today

An important part of successful wireless cost-control is understanding the exact components that make up your monthly wireless bill. Admittedly, analyzing a wireless bill can be about as much fun as completing a tax return or watching paint dry. Routine analysis and auditing of wireless bills will help reduce overall telecom costs if you know what to look for - and if you know what actions to take in the case of billing errors.

It is important to understand that all of your wireless activities (i.e. making calls, receiving calls, text messaging, directory assistance, etc.) are meticulously tracked by telecommunications carriers’ large computer databases.
At the appropriate time of the month, your recent cell phone activity is collected from the carrier’s database by management software. The billing information for each component of the bill is then combined together to form your current wireless statement. Because these systems churn out hundreds of millions of wireless bills every month, it is easy to see why wireless bills are rarely “error-free.”

Wireless carriers do not produce CSRs (customer service records) the way local phone companies do. The key to understanding exactly what is contained on your wireless billing statement is the account summary page. The following will give you a step-by-step explanation of the components that go into making up the typical wireless phone bill.

1) Number/Name and Plan

The area of the bill that contains the name and number of the account holder and the specific plan the phone is contracted. The number of minutes the plan offers is often contained within this column as well. Phones that are added to the account and/or are part of a “pooled minute plan” are listed as “add-a-phone” or a similar term.

1) Monthly Recurring Access Charges

This section states the monthly fee for the phone that is under contract. This is the typical “recurring” fee that does not change from month to month. Calling plans can vary tremendously and change constantly in the marketplace but this number should stay consistent unless you specifically migrated to another plan the previous month. Additional phones added to a “pooled” plan are usually in the $10-20 per month range. This number usually reflects factored in discounts and/or service adjustments. (see next)

2) Service Discount/Adjustments

Service discounts and/or adjustments reflects the percentage that is “discounted” based on the wireless contract already in place. Always be certain that the percentage negotiated is correct. More importantly, be sure that the discount is properly applied to the monthly access charges. The amount of this discount can vary widely from contract to contract.

3) Cellular Minutes/Charges

This column lists the exact number of minutes used during the billing period, rounded up the nearest minute. Remember that wireless companies count incoming and outgoing calls as part of a wireless plan. The key here is to compare your typical usage during a 3 month period with the number of minutes that plan contains. Most wireless companies now allow plan adjustments (up or down), but be aware that making any adjustments usually means locking in for another year with that carrier. Under and over usage of minutes should be adjusted appropriately to maximize cost-savings.

4) LD/Other Charges/Credits

This column can include charges such as long distance calling, taxes and credits. This information will vary depending on the wireless carrier. For example, Verizon bills will include taxes on services and airtime, while Sprint does not. Long distance charges are generally not an issue since virtually all carriers include domestic long distance calling as standard on most calling plans.

5) Directory Assistance Charges

Directory assistance charges (sometimes called “related call charges”) are listed in this column. Dialing 411 for directory assistance is one cell phone expense that can easily be eliminated. There are many free 411 services available now in the marketplace that retrieve information from the same databases used by the big carriers.
For more information on using free 411 services, refer to this article: How to Get Wireless Directory Assistance Calls for Free

6) Equipment Charges

This column contains charges for handsets and other related equpment ordered for the previous month. In the corporate environment, wireless handsets come and go frequently. Oftentimes employees order phones on their own, only to expense them at the end of the month. The best way to control these types of charges is to insist that all equipment charges are handled by the corporate office. This is the only way to accurately track inventory of equipment as well. For more specific information, refer to this article and video: 6 Proven Strategies for Controlling Wireless Expenses

7) Direct Connect Services

Carriers (Nextel and Sprint) who offer direct-connect services to and from other subscribers will put those charges in this column. Since direct-connect is usually included in business plans, the use of this feature is the same as every other call. If charges occur in this column, make adjustments to your plan accordingly.

Text Messaging Charges

The amount of text messages made in the previous and their total charges are found in this column. The popularity and wide spread use of text messaging by wireless subscribers has created a “cash cow” for the wireless industry. Text messaging is probably the most expensive activity you will engage in with your wireless phone. At 10-20 cents per message, these charges can really add up fast. There are plans available that allot a certain (even unlimited) amount of messages per month. If you engage in any amount of “texting”, consider a plan that offers a small amount, then discipline yourself to stick with it.

9) Roaming Charges

Just a few years ago, roaming charges were feared by consumers. Making calls from outside your calling area could make bill go through the roof in no time at all. These days roaming charges are not an issue as they have been in the past. Wireless networks are now much more robust. Unless you are subscribed to an economy plan, you should not experience excessive roaming charges when making calls from outside your calling area. If you travel often, be sure to check your wireless bill for any charges that might appear here and make a note of the location(s) from which they originated.

10) Data and 3rd Party Services Charges

As wireless technology evolves, so do the columns that contain billing charges. Since a majority of wireless phones today have internet capabilities, data transfer and internet usage charges are now a billing issue that requires diligent monitoring. The best advice here is to make certain the plan chosen will accomodate the internet usage that will be used. Data transfer is recorded in kilobytes and is rounded up the the nearest kilobyte for billing purposes. Data sent and received usually includes, but is not limited to downloads, email, overhead and software update checks.

11) Taxes and Surcharges

A wireless bill would not be complete without excessive local, state and federal taxes and carrier surcharges. Keep in mind that some bills will separate these charges into specific columns. There is not much you can do to eliminate these annoying charges other than complain to your state and/or local government representatives about the escalating taxes placed on wireless bills. Here is a list of the top 10 states for wireless taxes

Wireless usage is the fastest growing segment of the telecommunications industry. As cell phones become more feature rich, the probability of errors only increases. The time spent becoming familiar with usage patterns and billing will pay off in the long run.

The Asia Domain Name Registration Limited report that : eBay’s Skype Internet phone sector has announced the first overseas long-distance telephone call when the package is not limited programme.

In charge of Skype North America’s vice president and general manager, Albert said that the new package will allow users no time limit applies to the 34 countries of the fixed telephone call per month for a 9.95 U.S. dollars.

Usable in most countries, including European, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, China, Singapore, China Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Malaysia. Packages also include domestic fixed-line and mobile phone call, you can also call Canada, China, Hong Kong and Singapore, the mobile phone in these areas, but can not dial the phone in other countries.

Skype has been in the United States and Canada to the user sales of the three U.S. dollars per month for unlimited calling package, the company will also sell 5.95 U.S. dollars per month for the new package allows users free calls to Mexico City, Guadalajara And Monterrey, Mexico, and also provides other parts of the call preferential measures.

Skype usually installed on a computer applications, and with a microphone, speakers or wearing headphones. However, users can choose a telephone call the local number, or to connect to the Skype service under the international number, users only pay for local telephone access fees or phone calls.

Via: link

America’s leading wireless carrier, AT&T Inc., has introduced a new mobile phone
plan designed specifically for small businesses.

Similar to the company’s FamilyTalk service, which allows two or more family
members to share wireless airtime, the new “BusinessTalk” plan lets as many as
40 small business employees draw from a single pool of Anytime Minutes.

The new service stats at $60 per month for five employees to share 700 minutes
of airtime, and can be scaled to support up to 40 users sharing 20,000 minutes.
It will be targeted towards small business owners seeking to reduce overall
communications costs and simplify billion, according to the president of AT&T’s

small business wireless division, Kent Mathy.AT&T officials say that some small companies could save almost 20% on their monthly wireless bills by switching to BusinessTalk from a standard voice pool
plan.

Via: http://www.teleclick.ca/2008/04/attlaunchesbusinesstalkpooledwirelessplan/

Telecom is hoping it can retain its mobile customers travelling to Australia, once the network they use there is closed down.

The Australian Government said it would let Telstra close its old CDMA mobile phone network from April 28.Unlike Vodafone mobiles, standard Telecom mobiles are not compatible with other existing mobile networks in Australia.In January, the Australian Government gave Telecom a three-monthreprieve when it forced Telstra to postpone the network’s closure.The shutdown will prevent Telecom pre-paid customers with CDMA-only phones from using their phones in Australia.On-account customers who do not already have a WorldMode phone
capable of connecting with both Telecom’s existing CDMA network and
second generation networks, will need to upgrade their phones or borrow

WorldMode phones from Telecom if they go to Australia.Telecom said it had been running a customer communications campaign since last year, focusing on customers who have roamed in the past two years, and offering special phone upgrade deals.Spokeswoman Katherine Murphy said the most regular roamers have been offered free WorldMode phones. Telecom has kiosks at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports where its customers can buy or borrow a WorldMode phone.As a last resort, customers who arrive in Australia without a WorldMode phone can buy a phone from network operator Optus, on which
they can use their Telecom number.

Telecom is building a new $300 million WCDMA network, which will be
compatible with Australia’s networks. It is expected to be operating in
November.

Telecom acting chief executive of retail Simon Moutter told analysts
at a briefing last week that he expected that the company’s contingency
plans and its range of four WorldMode devices would help the company
“ride out the period where we have a poor roaming proposition to
Australia”.

Chief executive Paul Reynolds has described his inherited CDMA network as a dead end for the company.

At the analysts’ briefing, he said: “We’ve got to get out of this CDMA cul-de-sac.”

The new network would allow the company to offer new services and devices.

“And, finally, our ability to address the really lucrative
international roaming revenues which Telecom New Zealand is currently
virtually out of.”

Via:http://www.stuff.co.nz/4483376a13.html

Do you remember when phone cards first appeared? They were like a credit card, plastic, and too expensive. But, as communication has developed, phone cards prices become lower, and the ease of use is now better, so that you no longer need a thick plastic card, you just need the PIN number. Now, imagine having a choice of over 850 different phone cards! You can now do this by going to Inacall.com, where we have masses of international calling cards of differing prices and values. Some are unlimited phone cards, but all are good loading, and have to be, as you can do a search right there online to see how cards compare for the location you plan to call. And the even better news is that to obtain the PIN, you don’t even have to wait for a call-center to answer, as the number can be supplied online in just a few minutes.

The savings by using a inacall.com phone card are so great that it really makes having a long distance plan on your phone an obsolete thing to do. If you look at your bill, you will probably find that the more expensive calls are to a single number, or maybe a few numbers that are all in the same global location, making a Inacall card a good deal on all sides. So, we give you an opportunity to end the monthly commitment of a long distance calls, plus you can prevent other people from running up your bill, because with the card system, there is no longer any need for a long distance bill.

In the mid 70s, a European vending machine company introduced phone cards as a means for individuals to easily make toll calls from any phone via a pre-selected long distance carrier. The popularity of phone cards, or prepaid calling cards,
spread throughout Europe, and eventually to the United States in thelate 80s. Prepaid calling cards were initially intended as a cost efficient way to place toll calls from pay phones or hotel rooms. However, in recent years their popularity has extended to residential use as well, as the long distance rates offered by many cards are preferable to the cost of monthly long distance phone service.

Defining Prepaid Cards

Prepaid calling cards are generally defined as telecommunications credit cards enabled to access a predetermined amount of service from a specific long distance provider . A unique PIN (personal identification number) imprinted on each card acts as an identification code, and monitors the time available to the account. This allows you to pick up virtually any phone, such as a payphone, hotel phone, or residential phone without long distance services, and place a prepaid call. You can do this by simply dialing a toll free access number and providing the card’s identification code. Prepaid calling cards can usually be purchased in increments ranging from $5 to $100. The cards are then divided into units, which can either apply the value directly to the long distance service, or function as a flat number of minutes. In addition to long distance minutes, many cards also apply these units to other charges as well. A lot of prepaid calling cards carry an additional connection charge, which can vary in size depending on the type of phone the call is being placed from. This
connection charge is usually largest with payphones, and can amount to several units. For example, a $5 phone card might be good for 60 minutes/units, but the card might entail a four unit payphone connection fee, so a six-minute call from a payphone would deduct ten minutes from the card. The value of prepaid calling card units might also vary according to when the call is placed. Many card providers double the value of units at night and on weekends. Using a prepaid calling card during peak hours or from specific locations may also diminish the amount of available units. Before placing too many
calls with your prepaid card, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the provider’s terms and rates so you will be able to maximize the prepaid minutes available to you.

Why Use Prepaid Calling Cards?

Prepaid calling cards have also become a popular alternative for people who don’t have a traditional residential long distance provider. They can be purchased by anyone, and don’t require a credit check, authorization, complicated registration, or even a permanent address. A person whose profession demands a lot of travel may find it preferable
to use a prepaid card from their hotel room, rather than use their cell phone minutes. College students are another prime market for prepaid phone cards. Dorms and off-campus housing are often not equipped with
long distance service. College students also often lack the financial security to consistently cover a monthly long distance bill. Prepaid calling cards provide a good alternative by allowing students to purchase their long distance time beforehand, and place calls from anywhere they choose. Prepaid calling cards are also invaluable to travelers. The cards provide an automated and standardized means for making international calls from various countries. What used to be a
complicated process involving the international operator, and an assortment of confusing, ever changing rates and hidden fees has become somewhat regulated thanks to prepaid calling cards.

Currently, people can easily think of saving good amount of money on long distance calls, thanks to big number of phone cards available in the market. It is very easy for any person or organization to save up to 80% of money on the phone bills by choosing varieties of phone cards options.
Anybody can easy choose a calling card as per his requirements and needs because there are many countries and requirement specific cards available in the market. These calling cards provides a great help to the huge population of people living outside their countries or organization doing business in different parts of the world. People can also get the advantage of websites like comfi.com for selecting their calling cards.