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Many people overlook added features, like call history, when shopping for phone cards. They are simply too interested in things like cost per-minute for making calls to their desired destination and call quality to pay attention to seemingly unimportant added features like PIN Free Dialing, Speed Dial or Call History. Most of these added features may not seem very valuable but they can make using a phone card much more convenient. For example, international callers who have used phone cards with a PIN Free Dialing feature find it very difficult to use a card where it is necessary to enter a PIN code each time a call is placed.

The phone card market is confusing to most consumers because phone card carriers have been creative in devising hidden fees and other tricks so they can advertise extremely low rates and still make money. In most cases, because of hidden charges, callers end up paying more than they expect when placing calls. We have listed the common hidden fees below and have provided some tips so phone card shoppers can at least make an informed purchase and have a basic understanding of the market.

To avoid many common consumer mistakes, we suggest purchasing phone cards from websites where all of the fees are fully disclosed in an easy to read format and customers rate phone cards. There are websites that provide simple to use tools so users can compare phone cards in a simple to understand format. Websites like smartglobalcall.net display customer ratings for all of the phone cards they sell.

1. Check the rate (usually cents/min) to the destination you want to call. Remember that the rates listed or advertised are normally to house phones (landlines). Calls made to cell phones often have higher rates. Also, the advertised rates typically do not include phone card fees or taxes that can significantly increase the cost of a call.

2. Look for added fees, taxes and hidden costs. These should be listed in an easy to read format but can also be buried in the fine print. Remember you will likely pay more than the advertised rate when using a phone card so the trick is to minimize the added fees. Added fees will be called things like connection fee, disconnection fee, taxes, maintenance fee, pay phone fee and long call fee. These fees will vary between calling cards. Some phone cards will have all or most of these added fees and others will not have any of them.

3. Phone cards will also have different rounding or billing increments. These are often in one, three or 6-minute increments. The billing increment can have a significant impact on the calling cost depending on how the calling card is used. A calling card with a one-minute billing increment will charge a customer 4 minutes for a 3.5 minute call while a calling card with a 3 minute billing increment will charge a customer 6 minutes for the same call. The cost of a call is rounded up to the next billing increment so; in general, a card with a lower billing increment has a lower cost.

4. Phone card fees are typically minimized if calling cards are purchased in smaller denominations and used for one call or over a short period-of-time. In general, phone card fees do not start until it is used the first time. Many companies offer calling cards in denominations of $5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. We recommend trying a small denomination card ($5 to $10) before making a large purchase. In most cases, it is generally better to buy several small denomination cards than to purchase one with a big denomination.

5. The call quality of a phone card depends on the international carrier used and is not always equal between vendors to a given location. There are many international telecom carriers and call quality will vary between carriers. There are generally three levels of call quality (referred to as Tier 1, 2 and 3) with regard to telecom carriers. Tier 1 carriers offer the best quality but they also charge the highest rates. Therefore, in general, calling cards with the lowest advertised rates also tend to have the lowest call quality because they use lower Tier carriers.

6. Check for local access number availability. Many cheap calling cards have low per minute rates but have few local access numbers and charge 1 or 2 cents per minute extra for using a toll free access number.

7. All phone cards carry an FCC imposed fee for using a pay phone in the USA. However, the rate will vary between phone cards (it ranges from around $0.49 to $1) so check this rate if you plan to use a pay phone.

8. Phone cards typically have an expiration date so be sure and use the card before it expires.

9. Purchase phone cards from a vendor that has 24/7 customer service. If nothing else, you may have a question or need some advice.

10. Look for added features. Many phone cards have a full range of useful features that some users may value while others may not. For example, the AT&T phone card has very high call quality (also high rates) but almost no features. Others have features like PIN free dialing, call history, speed dial and automatic recharge, which make the cards easier and more convenient to use.

So, how should a consumer use this information? There are a few things to consider. First, try to compare phone cards on the same basis. When phone card rates are adjusted for hidden fees, taxes and other billing tricks, many calling cards with very cheap advertised rates actually cost as much or more to use than a moderately priced card with higher call quality. Remember, a calling card that cannot be used nor has extremely poor quality is worthless to the user. Any money spent on a purchase is simply lost.

Another option is to use a prepaid calling plan like Tel3Advantage. It is loaded with features like on-line call history, PIN free dialing and speed dial. It is also one of the most popular calling plans in North America. It can be used to make cheap long distance calls from any kind of phone in Canada or the USA.

The next time you are in a hotel and want to make a long distance phone call you might want to try a prepaid phone card rather than placing a direct-dialed long distance call through the phone in your room. Using a phone card is just as convenient and has far cheaper long distance rates than those charged by hotels (including tax and surcharges). It is easy to shop and compare phone card rates on-line from any location in the world. Phone cards can be securely purchased on-line and they can be instantly used to make cheap domestic or international long distance calls. Rather than paying $0.50, $1.00 or more per-minute to make a direct-dialed call from a hotel room, the same call can be made for as little as 1 cents per-minute with a prepaid phone card.

Phone cards are also easy to use. All a caller needs to do is dial and access number (local or toll free depending on the phone card), enter a PIN code and place a call to any phone in the world. Many on-line phone cards include features such as speed dial or PIN free dialing which makes it very easy to place a call to any location. In many cases, they also include an on-line call history so a user can track the details for every call made with their phone card. Phone cards are also very portable, they can used from any kind of telephone (mobile, home, hotel, pay-phone or business phone). They can also be used to make calls from nearly any country in the world.

One popular virtual phone card that can be used to make cheap long distance calls from the USA or Canada is offered by Tel3. The Tel3Advantage flex plan is a very popular prepaid calling plan with more than 100,000 frequent users in North America. It is a high quality product that can be used from any kind of phone without changing service providers and has very low rates to any location in the world. It is a very good option for people who travel in North America and want the ability to make cheap international calls from any location.

It is easy to save money on long distance calls from any kind of telephone with prepaid phone cards.

France is a very popular international calling destination from the USA, Canada and other countries. With new technology, low cost international calls can be made to or from France from any country in the world. However, when it comes to international calling, one best option does not fit every situation so we have provided the following review of some popular products that are recognized for both high quality and low cost.

For people who want to call France from the USA or Canada than Tel3 is hard to beat. They offer the Tel3Advantage Flex plan which is essentially a hybrid virtual phone card. Without going into a lot of detail, it can be used with any kind of phone and any existing service provider. Tel3 is also reputable supplier who has been in the prepaid calling business for more than a decade and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau…..the only firm in this industry with such a rating. They have great service and great rates. They also have a promo going now where new customers can call France from the USA or Canada for as little as 1.4 cents per minute and get up to 643 Free Minutes. Visit cheap calls to France for more details.

For people who want to make low cost international calls to France from other locations we recommend International Phone Cards. We, of course, recommend virtual phone cards that are purchased on-line because it is easier to shop and find the optimum phone card for your situation. On-line phone cards also tend to have lower rates, more features and performance is guaranteed. On-line phone cards can be used to make cheap calls from over 130 countries.

People who want to explore these or other international calling options in more detail should visit a website like Smart Global Call which specializes in low cost options for making calls over land-lines, mobile phones or computer INTERNET connections.

Web Call is a superb product for making cheap international calls using any phone in the world that can receive a call. Due to the name, many people confuse Web Call with PC-to-Phone, VoIP or other INTERNET based calling services but it is much different. The main difference is that calls are not placed over the INTERNET with Web Call, they are made using any kind of phone including cell phones, home phones, business phones or any other phone that can receive a call. In this case, the term Web Call refers to the way the calls are placed. With Web Call there is no need to dial an access number or enter an account number or PIN code when making a call. All a caller needs to do is sign-in to their on-line account and enter the country and phone number they want to call from and the country and phone number they wish to call. After they enter the information they push the call button and the computer connects the two phones…..it is that simple.

Some countries charge a high surcharge on out-bound international calls. International callers in these countries can save a lot of money with Web Call since they they will be paying for an in-bound international call from a low cost, third country not an out-bound call from the country where they are located. The following table shows some examples of the potential savings over typical phone card rates for calls to the USA from some high cost countries. Rates are in USA cents per minute.

A comparison of phone card rates versus Web Call rates on international calls to the USA from some selected countries.

Bahrain: Phone Card Rate 21 cents/min, Web Call Rate 9.7 cents/min
China: Phone Card Rate 11 cents/min, Web Call Rate 2 cents/min
India: Phone Card Rate 11 cents/min, Web Call Rate 5.9 cents/min
Jamaica: Phone Card Rate 17.5 cents/min, Web Call Rate 8.5 cents/min
Jordan: Phone Card Rate 28 cents/min, Web Call Rate 8.6 cents/min
Kazakhstan: Phone Card Rate 55 cents/min, Web Call Rate 7.3 cents/min
Nepal: Phone Card Rate 105 cents/min, Web Call Rate 15.1 cents/min
Nigeria: Phone Card Rate 50 cents/min, Web Call Rate 10.5 cents/min
Syria: Phone Card Rate 112 cents/min, Web Call Rate 13.7 cents/min
UAE: Phone Card Rate 95 cents/min, Web Call Rate 14.7 cents/min

As the information above shows, the savings can be significant. The rates shown are for calls to the USA but Web Call can be used to call any country from any other country. It is a high quality product that can also be used as a phone card to make calls from over 60 countries. However, Web Call has better rates than a phone card and is more convenient to use as long as the caller has access to the INTERNET. Visit Web Call for rates to all countries and information on opening an account. Happy calling.

Tel3 announced recently that they have a new dialer application for iPhone users that will allow them to make direct dialed international long distance calls over the low cost Tel3 network. This application, called the Tel3 Dialer, is a free download that can be used by Tel3 Customers. With this application, users will have the ability to make direct dialed international calls from their iPhone using either the address book, or the recent call history or directly on from the dial pad. People who want to make cheap international calls will no longer need to dial an access number or enter a PIN code or account number before placing a call. Tel3 also has similar applications for other SMART phones. For further information on the iPhone application, visit Tel3 Dialer or call 800 441 0321.

This is a new application but Tel3 is not new to the prepaid calling market. They have been selling prepaid calling services for more than a decade and are the only company in the prepaid calling business with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Their Tel3Advantage prepaid long distance calling plan is one of the most popular plans of its kind in North America with more than 100,000 active customers. It can be used to make cheap domestic and international long distance calls from any phone in Canada or the USA without changing companies. It also has low per minute rates to all locations with no hidden fees or taxes.

On June 30th Tel3Advantage announced new, lower rates on international calls to the following popular destinations. Some rates were lowered by as much as 74% which makes Tel3 the low cost provider for these and other destinations around the world.

Rates on international calls to Antigua & Barbuda were lowered from 14 cents/min to 11.7 cents/min (16%).

Rates to Santa Fe, Argentina were lowered from 2.9 cents/min to 1.9 cents/min (34%).

Rates on international calls to Bolivia were lowered from 11 cents to 8.1 cents/min (26%)

Rates on international calls to Bulgaria were lowered from 8 cents to 3 cents/min (62.5%)

Rates on calls to Cape Verde were lowered from 28 cents to 17.9 cents/min (36%)

Rates on international calls to Guadaloupe were dropped from 13 cents to 3.4 cents/min (74%).

Rates on calls to Jakarta, Indonesia were lowered from 4.5 cents to 2.8 cents/min (38%)

Rates on Calls to Kyrgyzstan were lowered from 15.4 cents to 9.2 cents/min (40%)

Rates on calls to Toluca, Mexico were lowered from 6.5 cents to 1.9 cents/min (71%)

Rates on calls to Norway were lowered from 3 cents to 2 cents/min (33%)

Rates on calls to Palua were dropped from 40 cents to 24.1 cents/min (40%)

Rates on international calls to Sri Lanka were lowered from 18 cents to 10.6 cents/min (41%)

Rates on calls to Thailand were lowered from 5.5 cents to 1.5 cents/min (73%)

Rates on calls to Zambia were lowered from 12 cents to 4 cents/min (67%)

Rates on calls to Zimbabwe were lowered from 10 cents to 6.8 cents/min (32%)

Tel3Advantage is a prepaid calling plan that can be used to make low cost domestic and international long distance from the USA or Canada. It is a high quality call plan that can be used from any kind of telephone (mobile, home or business) and any existing phone service. It offers some of the lowest rates in the industry and has now hidden fees or taxes like many phone card type products. New customers can get free minutes and a 30% discount on all calls for the first 30 days by taking advantage of their current Triple Promo. Visit Tel3Advantage in order to get these rates or call 800 441 o321 and ask for the Triple Promo.

Visit Tel3Advantage and sign-up for their prepaid long-distance phone service during the Father’s Day promo and get double the normal sign-up bonus. This promotion lasts from June 16 through June 22, 2009. During the promotion period a new customer will get up to 946 free minutes just for signing up for the Tel3Advantage Flex Plan. There is no cost to sign-up, all a new customer needs to do is open an account and make an initial deposit ($10 - $100) and bonus funds will be automatically added to their account. The higher the initial deposit, the more bonus funds added as shown below.

Deposit $10 and get $2 in Bonus Funds

Deposit $25 and get $10 in Bonus Funds

Deposit $50 and get $14 in Bonus Funds

Deposit $100 and get $18 in Bonus Funds

Not a bad deal considering Tel3Advantage offers the most popular prepaid calling plan in North America. The flex plan has over 100,000 active customers who routinely use the service to make cheap international calls to any location in the world. The service can be used with any existing service and any kind of phone (cell, home, business, etc.) without changing anything. It is convenient to use and very easy to make calls. The service can be used from the USA and Canada. Tel3Advantage is an honest calling plan with no hidden fees or taxes. This can be verified through an on line call history in every customers personal on-line account that records the length and cost for each call. Now is a great time to try Tel3Advantage and save money on calls to Dad.

The summer travel season is fast approaching and many Americans will be heading to Europe for vacation despite the weak economy. If fact, there are some good deals to be had on air travel, hotels and rental cars because of the weak economy in most locations around the world. We were recently in Moscow and paid ½ the rate we paid 6 months ago for the same hotel room.

Most people will want to call home a few times during a trip abroad so it is a good idea to carry a phone card. We suggest purchasing a phone card before you leave home because you have more time to shop (on-line) and choose the right phone card for your trip. You will likely find a better quality card at a better price than if you wait and purchase one abroad at a hotel, airport or other location frequented by tourists. Most on-line international phone card merchants provide customers with an on-line account. This is a handy feature for travelers because they can access their account via the internet from any location in the world to find a local access number, add funds or make other changes to their account. Many on-line phone cards also include other handy features like Speed Dial, PIN free dialing and call history that make international calling much easier.

We have a couple of phone card recommendations for people who want to make cheap calls to the USA or other locations from Europe. The first phone card we would recommend is a new card called Solaris. It has high user ratings for quality and has a wide range of local and toll free access numbers in every European country. It can be used to make cheap international calls from over 100 countries so it has very wide coverage and is ideal for people who plan to visit several countries during a trip. It also has no maintenance or connection fee and some of the lowest rates on international calls. Another high quality phone card is Continental. It can be used to make cheap calls from over 60 countries. The continental card comes with several features like speed dial, call history and PIN free dialing which makes it very convenient to use. Smart Global Call Phone Cards International sells these and other high quality calling cards.

People who want to make cheap calls to Europe have a wider range of options. Rates are generally cheaper on international calls from the USA or Canada to Europe than they are from Europe to the USA or Canada. Therefore, it is cheaper to make calls that originate in North America if possible. This is not always possible so a high quality phone card is the next best option.

We find that many people are interested in finding ways to save money on international mobile phone calls. It is now possible to make cheap international mobile phone calls from nearly any country. We have listed three of these options below. One nice thing about these options is that they can be used with any existing service provider without changing anything. They are also convenient to use and there are no extra fees for activating or maintaining the service. Therefore, they are good options for both short and long-term use. Two of these plans offer free international call trials so interested parties can try them out before making a purchase.

The following three options for making cheap international calls from mobile phones offer high call quality at low prices. They also do not charge hidden fees or use other tricks to rip-off consumers. The best option depends on the location of the caller and other factors so it is best to review all of the options before making a purchasing decision.

Tel3 Mobile – This is a relatively new mobile phone international calling plan that can be used to make cheap international calls from mobile phones in the USA and Canada. It is a sister plan to the Tel3Advantage Flex Plan which is one of the most popular prepaid long distance calling plans in North America. The company has been in the prepaid long distance business since around 1990 and they are known for high quality, innovative technology and fair prices. It is a very good international calling plan with competitive rates on calls to almost any country.

Rebtel – This is a relatively new international prepaid calling plan that has a different twist. For one, it can be used to make cheap international calls from over 50 countries and calls can be made without dialing an account number or PIN code. They assign customers a local phone number when they open an account. The user can then dial this local number and is automatically connected with a phone in another country. One potential problem with this option is that it can only be used to call one phone number so it is not very versatile. However, it is simple to use and is ideal for those who just want to call one number in one location without dialing a lot of numbers and codes.

Prepaid Phone Cards – These can be used to make cheap international calls from mobile phones in more than 90 countries. Many high quality international phone cards can be used without dialing an account number or PIN code so they are very easy to use. They also feature ultimate flexibility and very low rates. Callers can choose from a wide variety of phone cards so they can easily find the best one for their specific needs. They are also ideal for travelers or those who only have a short-term need.

Any one of these options can save users 80 or 90% on the cost of making international calls from their mobile phones without sacrificing quality or flexibility.

People new to Phone Cards often find it difficult and confusing to shop for them. Even veteran phone card users often get confused because calling card carriers have been very creative in devising hidden fees and other tricks so they can advertise extremely low per-minute rates and still make a profit. We have tried to list, define and explain the technical terms here so a calling card shopper can at least make an informed purchase and have a basic understanding of the market.

First, we would suggest purchasing calling cards from websites where all of the fees are fully disclosed in an easy to read format and where calling cards are rated by users. These sites do exist because there are still honest calling card vendors, carriers and marketers (web sites like Smart Global Call Phone Cards International display customer ratings for all of the phone cards they sell). The following are some other items to consider when choosing a phone card.

• Check the rate (usually cents/min) to the destination you want to call. Remember that the rates listed or advertised are normally to house phones (land lines). Calls made to cell phones often have higher rates. Also, the advertised rates do not include calling card fees or taxes that can significantly increase the cost of a call.

• Look for added fees, taxes and hidden costs. These should be listed in an easy to read format but can also be buried in the fine print. Remember you will likely pay more than the advertised rate when using a calling card so the trick is to minimize the added fees. Added fees will be called things like connection fee, disconnection fee, taxes, maintenance fee, pay phone fee and long call fee. These fees will vary between calling cards. Some calling cards will have all or most of these added fees and others will not have any of them.

• Calling cards will also have different rounding or billing increments. These are often in 1, 3 or 6 minute increments. The billing increment can have a significant impact on the calling cost depending on how the calling card is used. A calling card with a one minute billing increment will charge a customer 4 minutes for a 3.5 minute call while a calling card with a 3 minute billing increment will charge a customer 6 minutes for the same call. The cost of a call is rounded up to the next billing increment so; in general, a lower billing increment is better.

• Calling card fees are typically minimized if calling cards are purchased in smaller denominations and used for one call or over a short period of time. In general, calling card fees do not start until the calling card is used the first time. Many companies offer calling cards in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and even $100. We recommend trying a small denomination card ($5 to $10) before making a large purchase. Also, it is generally better to buy several small denomination cards than to purchase one with a big denomination.

• Calling card call quality depends on the international carrier used and is not always equal between vendors to a given location. There are many international telecom carriers and call quality will vary between carriers. There are generally three levels of call quality (referred to as Tier 1, 2 and 3) with regard to telecom carriers. Tier 1 carriers offer the best quality but they also charge the highest rates. Therefore, in general, calling cards with the lowest advertised rates also tend to have the lowest call quality because they use lower Tier carriers.

• Check for local access number availability. Many cheap calling cards have low per minute rates but have few local access numbers and charge 1 or 2 cents per minute for using a toll free access number.

• All calling cards carry an FCC imposed fee for using a pay phone. However, the rate will vary between calling cards (it ranges from around $0.49 to $1) so check this rate if you plan to use a pay phone.

• Calling cards typically have an expiration date so be sure and use the card before it expires.

• It is a good idea to purchase calling cards from vendors that have 24/7 customer service. If nothing else you may have a question.

So, how to use this information? There are a few things to consider. First, try to compare calling cards on the same basis. When calling card rates are adjusted for the above mentioned fees, taxes and billing tricks, many calling cards with very cheap advertised rates actually cost as much or more to use than a moderately priced card with higher call quality. Remember, a calling card that cannot be used or has extremely poor quality is worthless to the user. Any money spent on a purchase is lost.

There are a few hybrid phone cards or prepaid long distance carriers like Tel3Advantage. These are popular with frequent international callers since they offer low rates, high call quality and convenience. The Tel3Advantage Flex Plan also comes with all the bells and whistles at no additional cost. The Tel3 plan is also one of the most honest plans we reviewed. They feature a one-minute rounding interval and have no hidden fees or taxes. They also have a wide network of local access numbers in North America. They also have a toll free access number but charge an extra 1-cent per-minute for using toll free access.

Consumers have become wise to many of the hidden fees and tricks discussed above and, as a result, there are several newer calling cards on the market that have high call quality at reasonable rates. They also tend to have minimal added fees so the advertised rate per minute is closer to the actual rate charged when the card is used. Many of these are hybrid calling cards that are really a virtual calling plan with features like PIN-less dialing, online call history, speed dial and a large network of local access numbers. They are also re-chargeable for customer convenience but also because calling card vendors are trying to build brand loyalty. By offering low cost, quality and convenience they hope to retain customers. It seems that some calling card carriers have rightly concluded that it is better to make a little money off a large number of satisfied users over the long haul than to make some quick money ripping off a few customers one time. Alas, the free market even works with respect to calling cards.

Science and technology has helped a lot in improving communication among people. After using old-fashioned telephones for communication, we are now witnessing rapid developments in telecommunication; one example is the arrival of VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol.

Today, with the ready availability of high-speed air transport, members of numerous families are scattered all over the globe. Not long ago, making calls to loved ones abroad was a very expensive affair. Many had to sacrifice communication for fear of spending large sums of money on phone calls. However, now with VoIP, you can talk cost-effectively with your family members wherever they live.

You can get VoIP services free if you are willing to put up with call restrictions and other inconveniences. If you would like a more customized and convenient option, you can register with a VoIP service provider offering low cost call rates. There are there are several websites that offer VoIP phone service, phone cards and other options for making cheap international phone calls. There is a variety of VoIP service providers with offering different packages so there is likely one to fit every need. To become a VoIP subscriber, you need to register online with these websites.

The following website provides information on VoIP phone services and information on other International Calling options:

Smart Global Call - This website provides information on cheap international calling options so it is a good source of information. They cover everything from phone cards to VoIP and PC-to-Phone services involving the internet.

The advantage of using VoIP services for cheap international calls is that it has made it possible to make calls for very minimal rates and even free with some service providers. To make free calls to a person, you should use your computer to call his/her computer. To do this, both you and the person at the other end will need a computer with a broadband Internet connection, a headset, along with an account with a service provider like Skype, MSN, yahoo etc.

Despite the advantages of VoIP, there are also some disadvantages. For example, you will need a high-speed INTERNET connection and the phone will not work if the INTERNET service is down. The international calling rates also vary a lot between countries and between VoIP service providers. Be sure and research plans so you can find the one with the best rates to the countries you call the most. Some VoIP providers also require long-term contracts and other commitments so be aware of these since some have penalties for early cancellations. Despite these small inconveniences, most people can save a lot of money by using VoIP. Especially if they already have a high-speed INTERNET connection.

There are various VoIP plans to choose from. You will have to pay a fixed subscription fee based on the package selected but these are low compared to similar service packages from the traditional phone companies. Each scheme covers a particular number of countries, so you can select the scheme based on the countries you want to call. And there is no chance of exorbitant billing as far as you stick to the countries that you have picked.

Most VoIP service plans include an array of other features at no additional cost. They typically include features like voice mail, call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID etc. With so many consumer friendly features, VoIP is indeed a better option compared to the usual land-line telephones. No wonders more and more people are going for VoIP communication. So, if you are searching for a cheap international calling option, it is as simple as finding a VoIP service provider that suits your requirements and you will never again have to worry about inflated telephone bills.

Most people know how to use a prepaid phone card by now. However, a few people have never used one so this post is for their benefit. Most of the time, prepaid phone cards are used by dialing what is called an access number, a special phone number, which allows a user to access the phone card service providers system. Some service providers have a network of access numbers and others have only one access number, these can be toll free numbers or what are referred to as local access numbers requiring users to pay the call. In any case, prepaid phone cards are used by first accessing the service providers system.

The following are the steps typically required when using a prepaid phone card.

Step 1: Dial a toll free or local access number in order to access the service providers system. Access numbers should be provided when the phone card is purchased.

Step 2: The caller identifies himself or herself to the system. This can be done by entering a special series of numbers provided with the phone card providers system, called a PIN code, or in the case of PIN Free phone cards the system will automatically ID the caller using caller ID technology.

Step 3: The caller dials the number they wish to call. Phone cards from the North America will require the caller to enter the prefix 011 when making overseas phone calls or the prefix 1 when making a domestic long distance phone call.

As indicated above, the mechanics of using a phone card are simple. However, there are a few things to consider when shopping for a phone card. For example, do you really want to enter a complex PIN code each time you place a call. This may not be a nuisance if you only intend to make a couple of calls but if you plan to use the phone card for multiple calls or for an extended period-of-time than a PIN free phone card should be considered. It is interesting to note that phone cards from major telecommunication companies like MCI or AT&T often do not have PIN Free Dialing or other features. These phone cards typically charge high rates and have good call quality but there are phone cards with similar call quality that are more appropriate for long-term use.

Another important consideration when making a phone card purchase is the access number network. Be sure that the phone card being considered has an access number in the country where you plan to use the card. This is often a problem when a phone card is purchased in the USA and used overseas. Most phone cards have a limited range of coverage. They can only be used to place calls from certain countries and, in some cases, they can only be used to make calls to certain locations. Be sure to purchase cards that have the required coverage.

Another important consideration is the location and type of access numbers used by a phone card. Many phone cards charge extra for using toll free access numbers and these extra charges are usually not included in the advertised rates. It is usually cheaper to use a local access number so check to see if one is available in the area where you plan to use a phone card.

Phone cards are relatively simple products to use but even simple products require some thought and investigation before making a purchase. A virtual phone card like Tel3Advantage should be consider when making calls from North America because it offers high call quality and a full range of features including PIN free dialing and an on-line call history. It is a popular product for people who routinely make international phone calls from North America and want to save money and still have quality, convenience and flexibility.

The Utility Consumers’ Action Network (UCAN) reported on Monday, March 9, 2009, that average phone users are spending far more on long distance service than they, or the regulators, realize. This finding was reported in an article posted on the UCAN website entitled Consumers Overspending on Telecom Bills. In the article, the author summarizes the results of a recent survey conducted by UCAN on 700 “relatively savvy consumers” in the San Diego, California area. The following quote from the report summarizes the conclusions.

“According to the survey, long-distance charges have increased on average to 55 cents a minute, and just 8% of land line customers are paying less than 10 cents a minute. The discrepancy between the actual usage charges and what consumers pay is traced to the complex — and often confusing — plans that are used by many consumers.”

The results from this survey suggests that if consumers use prepaid long distance than they could save up to 96.5% on long distance service with no sacrifice to call quality or convenience. This conclusion is based on published rates for the Tel3Advantage prepaid long distance plan. Consumers can use Tel3Advantage without changing their existing phone service provider and it can be used with any kind of telephone. Up to 10 different phones can be included in one account, so, one prepaid plan can be used with an individual’s home, cell and business phones without changing anything. As a result, users could save over 96% on their long distance phone service with no pain. A prepaid calling plan is also a great way to budget and minimize phone expenses since consumers can purchase minutes in small denominations and they can be used over a long period of time. A plan like the flex plan offered by Tel3Advantage has no monthly maintenance fee or other hidden costs so consumers only pay for the minutes they actually use.

The rates charged for calls using the Tel3Advantage flex plan are dirt cheap. Long distance calls to destinations in the USA and Canada cost only 1.9 cents per minute. International rates vary by country but rates to more than 200 countries are less than 10 cents per minute. Compare these rates with those reported in the UCAN study and it is obvious that the average consumer can save a lot of money by changing to prepaid long distance phone service.

In today’s economy many people are trying to control expenditures and one way to do so is to use prepaid services. With prepaid services a consumer can purchase a predetermined amount of a service and the service will automatically stop when the amount purchased is depleted. Therefore, it is very easy to control expenses and impossible to over run a budget.

Prepaid long distance phone service in the form of prepaid phone cards has been popular with students, expatriates and travelers for a number of years. This is an especially popular option with those who want to make frequent and cheap international calls. However, now there appears to be more interest from mainstream users since prepaid long distance is a great way to budget phone expenses. There is a wide variety of options which range from very cheap, plastic phone cards purchased at local convenience stores to relatively high quality virtual calling plans sold on the INTERNET. The market currently offers an option to fit any budget and fill any need. For example, Tel3Advantage has been offering low cost prepaid long distance phone service to consumers since 1994 but they have recently started offering Tel3 for Business and Tel3 Mobile. These products contain special features that fill a need in these niche markets while providing them with low cost prepaid phone service. Tel3 services are especially attractive to people or businesses that want to budget long distance expenses while reducing costs and not sacrificing quality or service. Tel3Advantage customers can budget long distance expenses in two ways. First, they can prepay for a fixed amount of long distance service. Second, they can monitor their usage through a call history which is included in their on-line account. Tel3Advantage prepaid long distance has made it easy for people to budget and control long distance phone expenses.

There are also a wide variety of international phone cards which come in all shapes and sizes. These are very useful for budgeting expenses because they also come in a wide variety of denominations. It is very easy to find a denomination to fit any budgeting need. For example, if you want to spend a maximum of $10 per week on long distance calls simply purchase a phone card with a $10 face value each week. Phone cards are typically sold in $3, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations so there is one for every budget. They can also be conveniently purchased and safely held in an on-line account these days so phone cards offer convenience, flexibility, low cost and the ability to budget expenses.

How much are you paying for home phone service each month? Is it more than $25, $50 or even $100 per month? In any case it is likely more than $10 per month. Some VoIP service providers are currently offering prepaid VoIP phone service with around 40 features and unlimited long distance calling in the USA and Canada for less than $10 per month. That is right, less than $10 per month. Hard to believe but true and, in most cases, equipment is provided free of charge. Most of these plans include the usual features which number around 40 and include things like caller ID, voicemail, call waiting, e911 support and caller return. Customers will need high speed INTERNET in order to use these VoIP phone services but a lot of people already have DSL or broadband connections. If so, there are some great deals out there on VoIP service. We mention a couple of them below. There are other VoIP service providers so shop around before making a purchase. This is especially true if you plan to make international calls since rates on overseas calls vary significantly between VoIP providers.

The following two VoIP Phone Service options are about the best we have found.

The first is from Via Talk. They are offering one of the best deals in the market today. For a prepayment of $199, you will get two VoIP lines (phones) for one year. They are currently offering one year Free for new customers so you will get two VoIP phones for 2 years for $199. Each VoIP phone features unlimited calling in the USA and Canada for a mere $4.14 per month (each). This is simply the best deal in the market today.

Another company offering prepaid VoIP is Joi Phone. These are especially good for people who want to make international phone calls. They offer several low cost international packages that feature unlimited calling to various countries. There basic plan costs only $8.95 per month (when prepaid for one year) and it features unlimited calling to 9 countries.

Prepaid VoIP service is an attractive option for some people but it does carry risks. A case in point was the sudden bankruptcy of SunRocket VoIP in July, 2007. They offered cheap prepaid VoIP service and left many of their customers holding the bag or, in this case, the phone….

More and more online merchants are offering international phone cards with PIN free access. These cards can be used to make calls without dialing an account number or PIN code. In order to use the PIN free dialing feature a user needs to register the phone numbers they plan to make calls from. Then a user simply dials an access number from one of their registered phones and places a call without dialing a PIN code. Making international calls is much easier because the numbers a user must enter is minimized. Making calls is much easier, faster and the chance of entering incorrect numbers is reduced.

Phone cards with PIN free access are becoming more common because they are much easier to use and many consumers will no longer purchase or even consider phone cards which require the entry of PIN codes. Phone card marketers have taken notice and are offering more cards with the PIN Free Access features. This use to be a feature only offered by premium prepaid long distance plans like Tel3Advantage but it is now offered by many low cost competitors.

Thousands of people still purchase plastic, printed phone cards at supermarkets and convenience stores even though the cards do not contain any information or data except a PIN code. All of the account information is stored on a computer so why do these people not purchase a phone card via computer and save time, money and natural resources? Many people likely want to purchase a phone card with cash since they do not have a credit card or Pay Pal account while others do not trust on-line purchases. There may be rational reasons for not purchasing phone cards on-line but there are more compelling reasons for making on-line purchase. Some of these are listed below:

• Lower Rates – We checked Sam’s Club and found that they sell AT&T phone cards with 1000 minutes (USA state-to-state) for $34.70. This works out to about 3.5 cents per-minute. This rate includes toll free access and all fees and taxes but this rate is still relatively high. It is fairly easy to find a high quality virtual phone card with a USA state-to-state rate of 1 to 2 cents per minute. The rate on international calls varies significantly between countries but, for example, the cost to call most European countries from the USA is around 2 to 3 cents-per-minute these days.
• State Sales Tax - Purchase a phone card on-line and save state sales tax in most states. This will typically result in a 7 or 8% savings and there is no cost for shipping.
• PIN Free Dialing – Most high quality on-line phone cards come with added features like PIN Free Dialing at no additional charge. Some virtual calling cards like Tel3Advantage come loaded with added features.
• Balance Transfer – Some phone card marketers offer a balance transfer option where the remaining balance left on one phone card can be transferred to another phone card. In this way the caller can always use the optimum phone card for making calls to their desired location.
• Call History – Many high quality on-line phone cards provide users with a complete call history for their phone card. The user can review the call history and understand all of the charges for each call. Try to figure this out with a typical store bought phone card.
• Auto Recharge – Many virtual phone cards come with an Auto Recharge option. This is a handy feature that will automatically recharge the card when the balance falls to a predetermined level. This feature assures the user that a call will not be disconnected due to lack of funds in the account.

On-line phone card service providers continue to add more features to entice buyers. Anyone who purchases a printed phone card these days is likely paying more than necessary to make calls and also losing out on features.

How many times have you purchased a phone card with great rates to one location but you used it to call another location and found it to be outrageously expensive? This is a common problem with many international phone cards. They tend to be regional or country specific. Either, they can only be used to call to or from certain countries or locations or they tend to their rates are country or region specific. To get around these limitations, many international callers use a high quality prepaid calling plan like Tel3Advantage which has good rates to most international locations but there is another way.

Some phone card marketers like Smart Global Call International Phone Cards provide their customer a free balance transfer feature. Using this option a customer can transfer an unused balance from one phone card to another. This handy feature has several possible uses. Some of these are listed below:

• A traveler purchases a phone card to call the USA from Italy but moves to Moscow, Russia and finds that the card does not work. Using the balance transfer feature the remaining balance can simply be transferred to another card that can be used to make calls from Moscow.
• A caller purchases a phone card to call a friend in Brazil. The caller than wants to call another friend in Japan but finds that the card can not be used to call Japan or has lousy rates. No problem, using balance transfer the remaining calling card balance can be transferred to another card with good rates on calls to Japan.
• Another use is to save money by taking advantage of special deals. Smart Global Call usually offers one or two of their phone cards at a 10% discount. A shopper can purchase one of these phone cards and than transfer the balance to another phone card, saving 10% on any phone card.

This is a handy feature that covers a wide range of possibilities since Smart Global Call markets more than 30 different phone cards that can be used to make calls to or from more than 230 countries. Saving money on international calls has never been easier.

If you plan to make international calls from North America this Valentine’s Day than you should take advantage of this special offer from Tel3Advantage. They started their Valentine’s Day Triple savings offer on February 10, 2008. This special offer will last through February 20, 2008. During this special Triple Savings offer period, people who sign-up for the Tel3Advantage Flex Plan will save 30% on their calls for the first 30 days and get a sign-up bonus of up to $9. In order to qualify for this special bonus offer, new customers need to sign-up on this page Tel3Advantage or call 800 441 0321 and mention the word “triple”.

The Tel3Advantage Flex Plan is one of the most popular prepaid calling plans in North America with over 100,000 customers. Tel3 is based in Miami, Florida and they have been in the prepaid long distance business for over 14 years (since 1994). Visit Smart Global Call for more information on Tel3 or other options for making low cost international calls.