How Do International Calling Cards Work?
How to use an international calling card in three steps: 1. Dial the access number. 2. Enter in your PIN. 3. Dial the international number of the person you want to speak to.
Looking to keep in touch with family and friends abroad without breaking the bank? International calling cards may be the answer. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at how these cards work, their advantages and disadvantages, and where you can purchase them.
How do international calling cards work?
International calling cards are able to offer cheaper rates than the major telcos because they use wholesale carrier lines (carrier lines are what connect your calls) since these lines are a lot more affordable which means calling card companies can offer much lower calling rates.
There are some advantages and disadvantages of course.
Advantages of using an international calling card
Besides the savings costs (sometimes up to 90%) there are other great advantages to using international calling cards.
- Accessibility: while there are free VoIP calling apps available not everyone has access to a reliable internet connection BUT virtually everyone has access to a phone line.
- No setup required: One of the issues of using technology today is that there are always things to be installed and configured. Calling cards require no installs or setups, you just use your phone.
- Easy to purchase: phone cards can be purchased online and ready to go in under 10 minutes.
Disadvantages of using an international calling card
While there are many advantages to using a calling card, there are also some disadvantages.
- Technical issues: like most technology calling cards can run into technical issues like calls dropping, echoing, etc. but as long as you are using a reputable service, these types of issues can be resolved very quickly.
- Fees: Some calling card companies will charge hidden fees (i.e. maintenance fees), so you need to be aware of this. If you’re buying online then read the sales page carefully and look for these fees, if you are buying in-store then read the terms and conditions on the card itself.
Types of calling cards
There are two main types of calling cards, disposable and rechargeable.
Disposable
This is a calling card that is meant to be used for a finite period of time, perhaps someone needs to call their bank in another country.
Calling cards are great for this use case since it’s likely that they will be sitting inside a queue for an extended period.
Rechargeable
Rechargeable calling cards are generally purchased by people who have a longer time horizon of use, this may be a person who has recently migrated from another country and needs to make frequent calls back home.
Who buys prepaid phone cards?
Prepaid phone cards are used by people who make a lot of international calls, or who want to save money on their monthly phone bill. Migrants, students and businesspeople are among the biggest users of prepaid calling cards.
Some people use calling cards for personal calls, while others use them for business purposes.
How do you use international calling cards?
Step 1: Purchase your calling card
The first step is the most important since you will need to purchase the correct calling card for your specific needs.
For example, if you’re making longer calls 40+ minutes, you may want to purchase a calling card with a connection fee but offers lower rates.
If you’re making shorter calls (less than 10 minutes), then you’d want to select a calling card with a lower billing increment and avoid phone cards with a connection fee.
Finally, you want to use a calling card that is the cheapest for your specific country and device, for example, if you’re calling on a mobile phone, then go with the card that offers the best rates on mobiles.
Step 2: Dial the access number
Once you’ve purchased your international calling card, you will be sent a list of access numbers, these are the phone numbers that allow you to access the calling service.
Step 3: Enter your PIN
After dialling the access number, you will be prompted to enter your PIN.
The PIN is a unique code used to activate the card and allows you to make calls.
Dial your destination number
After you have entered your PIN, you will then be able to dial your destination number. Be sure to include any necessary country or area codes when dialling.
How do calling cards work with cell phones?
There are a few different ways that you can use a calling card with your cell phone.
The first way is to use the card as a normal phone card, by dialing the access number and then entering your PIN. This will give you a regular phone line that you can then use to call your destination number.
Another way to program the entire process into your phone, so that when you select the person you want to speak to, your mobile phone will automatically dial the access number, PIN and destination number!
You do this by entering all of those numbers with no spaces separated only by a comma (‘) into your contact phone number:
Access Number,PIN,Destination Number.
Where to buy international calling cards?
Where to buy calling cards? You can purchase international calling cards online from a variety of places but we recommend choosing a company that specializes in selling international calling cards.
The reason for this is that general stores know very little about calling cards and will not be able to offer the best card for your needs.
Our site phonecardchoice.com offers international calling cards that work on both cell phone and landline and can call to 200+ countries so you will definitely find a solution there.
Recap
- Overall, international calling cards are a great way to save on phone calls while traveling or moving abroad.
- Before purchasing an international calling card read the fine print and look out for hidden fees.
- There are many different types of calling cards, so take your time to select the best one for your specific calling needs.
- You can purchase calling cards from supermarkets, newsagents, etc. but I highly recommend buying from a store that only sells phone cards.
