Phone Cards Blog

June 1, 2009

VOIP is The Best Modern Communication Tool

Filed under: phone card — Tags: — admin @ 3:47 am

Communicational skills are one of the most vital factors in a person’s life. From the dawn of human beings living on the planet good communications were needed for people to interact between one another and thus build the processes in order to survive and flourish. The 21st century is the century for new and advanced technologies. You may well think that almost everything must have already have been invented.

What else can be thought of, I hear you say? Let us remember, once upon a time people had no idea what it meant to have such a thing as a telephone, then as time progressed and technology became second nature phones became normal. People soon began to suddenly wake up in the morning with the possibility of access to a vast international communications network, offering multimedia capability service, the internet revolution had arrived.

Along with many commercial changes came as we see revolutions in technology, a new word called VoIP came into being and soon became a byword and is now regarded as a major influence for all telephone providers like static or mobile operators. Its popularity status and usage is growing exponentially, if you have obtained a broadband internet access, by definition you have acquired a VoIP capability.

The abbreviation VoIP means Voice Over Internet Protocol. Perhaps we should discuss the advantages of this phenomenon.

First of all VoIP technology is very attractive to people because it is very convenient and cheap. You can reach the most distant places making international calls for very small investment. These calls are made on the basis of high-speed broadband internet connection, and in many cases such as Skype users are free or very low cost other than your monthly premium.

The second significant feature is that you can have all the detailed information about your and incoming calls. Also it is very opportune and easy for you to be able to make important calls even if you are out of your place of work just by having your laptop with you and connecting to a local service provider or Wi-Fi facility. But the most important factor that VoIP gives the user is far cheaper communication bills than they have ever had before. Alongside with a lot of positive moments, still VoIP is not that safe as it is supposed to be. So, if you have any secrets, try to keep them.

In conclusion, we would like to summarise that taking into account all the positive and negative aspects of VOIP technology, we believe it is the future but it is up to you to make up your own minds on the usefulness of this technology. We would like to inform you that MLL telecom is ready to manage wireless networks for you and provide you with hybrid WAN.

July 2, 2008

Prepaid Calling Cards Are Here To Give You Convenience

Filed under: phone card — admin @ 3:22 am

For several years now, prepaid calling cards became a growing business. Are you wondering when these cards were developed?

Way back in 1975, there was a shortage of coins when using pay phones, so the thought of using phone card by vending machine was introduced in Italy. And it was in 1976 when the fist phone card was introduced to people. This phone card was so thin, it was a paper-like structure with magnetic strips which can be inserted to phone and would deduct the minutes from the card as you make calls.

But these phone cards gained problems since it easily jammed the pay phone because the cards were too thin. But the idea of it went on and on, lots of countries adapted the idea and produced lots of phone cards.

Along with the adaptation, the quality of the phone cards became higher and better. Several countries made phone cards, the quality of the materials used where improved. And it gain popularity over the years.

With the technology today, the prepaid calling cards became more improved. Nowadays, the new system requires dialing a toll free access number and using a personal identification number or PIN, to put charges on your account. Thanks to the technology, with the use of these cards, you can make calls any where and any time. Another good thing about these cards is that you can use it with any type of phone, you can use it with your cell phone, landline, pay phone, and with hotels’ phones.

These days, prepaid calling cards are profitable business since there are more and more people who use these cards. There are lots of good reasons why people are into prepaid calling cards when making local or international calls.

There are lots of people who are being hindered to make international calls with their landline since it can give them huge monthly telephone bill. But with the use of prepaid calling cards, you an make plenty of international calls, so you can talk to your loved ones as long as you want to. Prepaid calling cards offer cheaper rates for local and international calls.

Another advantage of prepaid calling cards is that it is best for people on the go. If you travel a lot, you can still have ways to communicate with loved ones and friends, just bring the repaid calling card with you and viola, you can make calls any time and any where. And because it is too thin, you can put at in any of your pockets.

Using prepaid calling cards can offer you convenience and flexibility. With these cards, you can make a budget in your international calls on a regular basis.

There are masses of prepaid calling cards online. You can check out the internet and visit few websites that offers such products and services. Make a little research until you finally find the one that can suit your needs and wants. Just take time to know and find the features and services you needs.

The 5 Most Popular Prepaid Calling Card Names

Filed under: phone card — admin @ 3:20 am

It seems that having a prepaid call 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 ‘d 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 call 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 calling cards also have distinct advantages over standard 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 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 Cards Are Good For the Cost-Conscious

With using a prepaid call 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 call 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. Call cards are sold with varied minute allotments and at different rates. A person can purchase call cards with a certain amount of time on the card.

Top 5 Prepaid Call Cards in The US

AT&T Prepaid Call Card – According to AT&T, ” Stay in touch without having to carry a lot of change or call collect. Whether you’re making a local, long distance, or international call, the CALL ATT® Calling Card will connect you quickly and reliably”.

Verizon – Verizon MCI Phone Card offers quality connection and great rates for USA Domestic Calls. Use Verizon Verizon MCI Prepaid Calling Card and enjoy 700 Domestic minutes of superb quality and unmatched service or use it to get outstanding rates and great connections to Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and more and to Call Back to the USA from most of the countries worldwide as well.

Sprint Prepaid Call Card – Sprint FONCARD gives business travelers reliable voice access to the Sprint communication network. Domestic or international, Sprint makes it easy to make the call. Sprint Cards offer Easy-to-use dialing instructions on back of card make calling virtually anywhere in the world convenient and calling features such as next number and redial offer greater usability and convenience

IDT Global Call- A prepaid call card service that enables customers to dial internationally from their cell phones at low rates.

Nobelcom – Nobelcom prepaid call cards are dedicated to provide cheap Nobel phone cards to make phone calls from USA to worldwide at discount rates.

The Best Prepaid Calling Card

Filed under: Phone Cards Benefits,phone card,telecom — admin @ 3:15 am

In 1975 a vending manufacturing company was the first to produce phone card. The first prepaid calling card was put by Italian company in the market in 1976.

These calling cards are made from a magnetic thin strip. They made this magnetic thin strip to replace coin payphone because this coin pay phone usually destroyed, vandalize and stolen. They change this magnetic thin strip because it usually jammed the machine. With the modern technology this magnetic strip was improved and more convenient to use. These are the magstripe we used today.

These prepaid calling cards are similar to credit card appearance. You can use them in long distance, domestic and international call. It is more economically and convenient to used. For the past decade over 500 million of calling card has been sold annually. The phone card can be purchased anywhere from gas station, groceries and store. You can even purchase them on line.

Prepaid phone card makes communication faster. You can make instant call either domestic or international call. They are affordable way in keeping in touch with your love ones, business and friend. They give great advancement in communication. Prepaid international calling card can be bought in different part of the world. You can even select the value of the prepaid card you want to use.

You may wonder which card you will buy. These phone cards are different from one another. They have different rates and service fees added, even tax fee. Before you decide which card you will buy be sure to read the terms and condition of any phone card. This will give you the idea which card is more suitable, affordable and with low calling rates.

Mostly prepaid card users are not aware the lower the cost per minutes, the higher the other fees they include. Calling card seller emphasize on the cost rate on the packaging. But the truth is the cost per minute of calling doesn’t give you accurate total on what you have paid. They include service fees, surcharge fee or any other fee for the prepaid calling card you were using.

Prepaid calling cards impose fees on connection fees, or as per call charging. This high charge fee can actually increase your actual per minute call. They give higher surcharge, include tax and maintenance fee for international long distance call.

Consider your calling habit, before you make final decision in which card you will use. Are you frequent user or not? The best card for you must have lower rate per connection and minimum rounding fee if you are frequent user.

If you are the type with less call and talk you need card with lowest minute rates. In which way you select you still pay for the surcharge, maintenance fee, connection fee and tax fee. Every person makes different types of calls. These prepaid phone cards give us more benefit. Always remember compare their service before you buy the prepaid calling card. Choosing the right card will give you maximum benefit.

Some calling card cannot be use international. If you travel a lot make sure the card you bought can be use in that place. Or you can search on the internet which prepaid calling card is suitable for you. You can even order from them. Thank you to modern technology calling from distance makes it easy with the aid of the card, communicating with your loved one is one call a way.

May 22, 2008

Buying Time:The Facts About Pre-Paid Phone Cards

Filed under: Phone Cards Benefits,phone card — admin @ 6:29 am

Pre-paid phone cards represent telephone calling time you buy in advance. You pay from $2 to $20 or so to buy local or long-distance calling time; the amount of time you buy depends on the rate-per-minute charged. For many people, pre-paid phone cards are very convenient. You’ve paid for the phone time and you can use the card from any phone to make your calls.

But the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says that some pre-paid phone cards can have hidden costs. As a result, they don’t deliver the number of calling minutes they advertise. Because you pay in advance, you may be out of pocket — and out of luck — if you discover a problem trying to use the card. That’s a big difference between pre-paid phone cards and traditional long distance calling cards, where charges don’t appear on your bill until after you’ve made the call.

You can buy pre-paid phone cards at newsstands, grocery and convenience stores, travel agencies, retail stores, and on the Internet. People who regularly call overseas use them, as do travelers, students, and those who may not have long-distance telephone service. You can add minutes to many pre-paid phone cards, usually by charging the additional cost to your credit card.

How Pre-Paid Phone Cards Work

Most pre-paid phone cards display a local or toll-free access telephone number and a personal identification number (PIN). The companies that issue the cards have computers that use your PIN to keep track of your card usage — how much time you have on your card in minutes or units. To make a phone call, you dial the access number, enter your PIN, and at the voice prompt, enter the phone number you want to reach. A computer tells you how much time — or how many units — you have left on your card, and how to use other features your card may offer. If your pre-paid phone card can’t be recharged — that is, if you can’t use the telephone to buy additional minutes for the card — you’ll need to buy another card once you’ve used up the time or units on your card.

When you buy a pre-paid phone card from a store, it’s important to remember that the store doesn’t control the quality of the service. To make sure you’re getting what you pay for, try buying a card for a small denomination first to test out the service.

Consumer Concerns

There’s no question that prepaid phone cards offer convenience. But sometimes, the cards don’t work as promised. Some people who have bought and used these cards have registered complaints about:

  • cards that don’t deliver the number of calling minutes they advertise
  • cards that debit minutes or units even when you don’t connect with the number you’re calling
    hidden connection charges, taxes, and surcharges that increase the rate-per-minute
  • bad connections
  • access numbers or PINs that don’t work
  • customer service numbers that are busy or simply don’t work
  • toll-free access numbers that are constantly busy, preventing you from using the card
  • issuers who go out of business and leave card-holders with a useless card

Buying Time and Value

You can avoid many of these problems — and buy considerable peace of mind — by planning. Although many people buy pre-paid phone cards on-the-spot, you can avoid disappointment by doing some advance work:

  • Ask any retailer if they will stand behind the card if it doesn’t deliver the number of minutes advertised.
  • Check the card’s package or in-store advertising for domestic and international rates. If you can’t find the rate, consider buying a different card.
  • Look for disclosures about surcharges, “maintenance” fees, and fees for making calls from a pay phone, to a cell phone, or using a toll-free access number.
  • Compare rates. Very low rates, particularly for international calls, may be a warning sign that the card won’t deliver the number of advertised minutes.
  • Look for expiration dates.
  • Look for a toll-free customer service number. If the customer service number isn’t toll-free or displayed, it may be difficult to contact the company if you have a problem with the card.
  • Make sure you can understand the instructions on the card.
  • Make sure the card comes in a sealed envelope or that the PIN is not visible. Otherwise, anyone can copy the PIN and use the phone time you’re paying for.

Via: The Facts About Pre-Paid Phone Cards

April 25, 2008

Shortchanging phone cards probed

Filed under: phone card,telecom news — admin @ 2:48 am

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

April 10, 2008

Getting Phone Cards To Stay In Touch

Filed under: Phone Cards Benefits,phone card — admin @ 2:31 am

If you have never heard of phone cards you are either really young, or just never used one. Think of it like a debit card for pay phones. Using phone cards are easy. You simply type in the number that is on the back of the card, and then make the call you want to make. Before your call goes through they will tell you how much you have left on your card. Then your call is placed, and you did not have to put in any money. I think that is why phone cards are great gifts, because they just keep on giving. Now you may say that not that many people use pay phones anymore.

The cell phone has made it a thing of the past. For the most part you would be right, however, you cannot say that everyone in the world has a cell phone. So phone cards would be good for those people. For the rest of us that do have cell phones, the phone cards have adapted to our new way of life. When you use the phone cards on your cell phone the money goes to the cell phone company, and you do not use up any of your minutes. This is perfect if you have used up all your minutes, and you do not want to spend more money on getting time to talk. Of course, you have to make sure that the phone cards work with your cell phone company. This is because some will and some will not. It is always better to check, just to be sure.

When you go out to buy one of the many phone cards on the market you may want to start your search online. Sure you can buy phone cards in just about any store, but you can get a better deal online. That is right I said better deal. Lots of times when you buy phone cards you can get more money added to the card for free. These are just special offers that you have to look for. That is why shopping online is the best. You can go on there, and compare deals to see who is going to give you the most money on the card for the least amount of your own money.

Like a lot of places have a deal when you buy 20 bucks worth of time on a phone card you get 5 bucks free. That is just a great deal that is going to be hard for anyone to pass up. Of course, some deals are better, and some are worse; but if you keep your eyes open and look online, you have a better chance of finding the calling card for you. Do not spend more time looking for gifts that they will not like, get them a phone card and see how happy they get.

April 3, 2008

Why phone cards?

Filed under: Phone Cards Benefits,phone card — Tags: , — admin @ 2:37 pm

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.

Prepaid Calling Cards

Filed under: Phone Cards Benefits,phone card — admin @ 1:41 am

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.

April 1, 2008

How to save money on Long Distance calls using Phone cards

Filed under: phone card — Tags: , — admin @ 8:01 am

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.

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