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5 Factors to Consider on Choose the Best Online Phone
Cards For Your International Long Distance Calling Needs!
by: Karo Yegyan
Before starting to learn how to find Best Prepaid Phone Cards for
your Domestic and International Long Distance calling needs, lets
see what factors are important to choose the right Phone Cards.
First of all I want to tell you One Truth: in general there is NO
such a think as “the Best Phone Card”. It all depends on your
specific calling needs, habits and purposes: (To) Where You Call? ,
Who Calls?, Whom You Call?, From Where You Call? and How You Call?.
Most likely not all of these will apply to you (usually one or two
factors apply). By taking a moment on reading and comparing several
cards’ Terms/Conditions and Charging Fees, based on your calling
needs, you will be able to choose the Right Card and use it over and
over and SAVE BIG.
1) (To) Where You Call?-this means what country or what specific
city in that country you wand to call.
Once you go to most of the Online Phone Cards Companies’ Home Pages
(For Ex. http://www.PhoneCardsGallery.com -by the way this is the
website, from where I do almost all my online phone card
purchases.), somewhere you can find “Discount Calling Card Finder”
or similar section. In the “country” box choose your calling country
& submit your search. The site’s searching tool will find all the
cards which provide calling services to your country and will
organize the cards with the highest calling minutes to the lowest
minutes (Top Ranking). Now we know which cards give the best calling
minutes to your country, but very important to consider the cards
“Qualities” also ( in http://www.PhoneCardsGallery.com the Quality
shows by Blue Stars next to the Cards’ names”). Always give
preferences to those cards which have better Qualities. Having Local
Access Numbers (for the State or City that you are located or you
calling from) is also very important. It is recommended to choose a
card that has Local Access numbers. Usually, by using Toll Free
1-800 number, instead of Local Access numbers, additional Per Minute
Charges may apply. Some cards that have Local Access #s, in the
card’s detail page, will provide a link (“Local Numbers”) to the new
page with the list of all available Local Access #. Others the will
provide (by Automated Answering Service) the Local Access # when you
call by using their Toll Free # and choosing “yes” to their
question: “Do you need Local Access # ?” In this case, after you get
Local Access #, you need to hang up and call using given Local #.
2) Who Calls?- this means if you are using regular phone or payphone
to make your calls. If you are using a payphone, in the cards’ terms
check if they charge additional fees for using a payphone, how much
it is and compare with other cards to make your decision.
3) Whom You Call?- this means if you are calling to a regular phone
or to a cell phone. If you are calling to a cell phone, in the Terms
check if they charge different rates for cell phones and make your
decision accordingly.
4) From Where You Call?- this means from which country (USA or
Canada), State or City you are calling from. Some cards you can use
only from certain states or cities and that usually very easy to
notice: either card’s name include that state’s or city’s name (Ex.
Crazy-Crazy Los Angeles) or nest to the card’s name it says the name
of the state or the city for which that card is designed for.
Usually those cards have Local Access #s for that state, county or
city. If you see that the card, beside 800 #, has Local Access #
also, then it means that the card is specialize or designed for that
specific area only. Some cards could work only from specified
location (state) and in the detail page of those cards, on the “Toll
Free” line will say “(Works From X State Only!)”. So, be careful and
do not buy these types of cards if you are not in that state. So,
make your decision accordingly, and choose the cards that specialize
on your state or city. Many cards have No Local Access numbers (they
have only Toll Free #) and you can use them from any states.
5) How You Call? - This means that what are your calling durations
and frequencies: are you going to make a few long calls with your
card or many short calls? If you are planning to make one or two
long phone calls, then the most important factor that you will need
to consider is Calling Rate (or Calling Time). You will need to
choose the cards that give higher calling minutes (same as lower
calling rates). The Connection Fees, Maintenance Fees, Communication
Fees, Minute Rounding Rates, Expiration Date and other similar fees
and factors are not so important and relevant for long calls.
However, those mentioned fees and factors are very important to
consider if you going to make many (frequently) short calls. You may
consider getting cards with comparably lesser calling minutes
(higher rates) but minimum charges for above mentioned fees. In this
case you also will need to prefer cards with longer Expiration Date
and smaller rates for Minute Rounding. Therefore, the card with
higher calling time is not necessary is the best card for you if you
are planning to make short calls. To make frequent short calls, you
will need a card with No Connection Fee, Minimum or No charges for
Maintenance, Communication and also smaller number for Rounding
Minutes. Generally short calls are those which are lasting less than
15 min.
By considering all the above mentioned factors and options, now you
are able to choose the right cards that will SAVE you the most
money. There are numerous prepaid phone cards out there and yes,
there are some major differences between the fees they charge. If
you are serious about getting the most out of your hard earned
dollars, take the time and just one time compare different cards and
choose the best one for your needs. Once you found the best one for
your needs, you can use the same card over and over and SAVE MONEY
and TIME.
Buying phone cards over the internet is safe, very convenient, cheap
(mostly they sale with discounts) and profitable (they provide very
useful tools which help users to compare and find the best cards
(good rates, high qualities & having other important fetchers) for
their different calling needs).
Below are the names of some famous online Phone Cards Companies:
PhoneCardsGallery, PhoneCardSavers, idPhoneCard, MasterBell,
1stPhoneCard, Zaptel, Zscomm, CallingCards, PhoneCardOnSale,
RelianceIndiaCall, Tel3, OneSuite, ldpost, Raza, UnionTeleCard,
PhoneShark, PinCity, PinOnSale, ThaiTel, PhoneCards-Prepaid,
International-Phone-Card-Express, PrepaidTelecomhq, Reliablecom,
Nobelcom, CentCalls, Connectto, TheRichCom, ECallChina…
Below are some Key Words to search for online Phone Cards Companies:
Phone Cards Gallery, Phone Card, Calling Card, Calling Card
International, Prepaid Phone Card, Online Phone Card, International
Phone Card, Calling Card Prepaid, Prepaid Calling Card, Long
Distance Phone Card, Cheap Phone Card, Calling Card Cheap,
International Prepaid Phone Card, Calling Card Online, Calling Card
Phone, Phone Calling Card, Pre Paid Phone Card, Cheapest Phone Card,
Prepaid Cell Phone Card, Cheap International Phone Card, Online
International Phone Card, International Phone Calling Card…
About The Author
Karo Yegyan-Economist, Accountant, Entrepreneur, Business
Researcher, Publisher with interest in fairness for consumer advice.
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