International Calling Blog - Phone Cards and Prepaid Calling Products

One all Purpose Phone Card

2012-01-27T04:27:00.000-05:00

If you had to choose only one prepaid calling product for making low cost calls, which would it be? We have reviewed many products over the years and have found one that seems to offer something for everyone. It is LocalPhone, it offers all of the following services in one package.

Phone Card - A caller can use it as a phone card to make cheap international calls from about 50 countries. So a caller can make cheap calls from any kind of phone.
INTERNET Calling - The same product can be used to make PC calls by down loading an app onto a computer. The app can be used to make cheap PC-to-Phone calls to any location over the INTERNET or it can be used to make Free international calls to other INTERNET phone users.
Incoming Number - A customer can rent a local number where friends, family or anyone can dial a local number and connect with them anywhere in the world. The number can be forwarded to a mobile or land-line and a fee would be charged for each call or it can be forwarded to a PC and the calls would be free.
Dial On-Line - Calls can be dialed on-line in order to avoid high outbound fees. An on-line dialer is used to connect two phones anywhere in the world. This can result in significant savings on international calls from some locations.
Global SMS - LocalPhone can be used to send cheap SMS messages to overseas phones. Customers can send messages using different phone numbers and keep an on-line record of all messages.

LocalPhone als has free Apps for iPhones or Androids. Therefore, customers can easily use their low cost service from their SMART phones.

LocalPhone offers a Free 5 minute call in order to try their product before making a purchase. Customers can deposit as little as $1 in order to try the service or if it is only needed for a short time. There is no contract or long term service so LocalPhone can be used as needed. Visit LocalPhone and sign-up before January 31st by using coupon code SMARTGLOBAL100 at check-out and get a 100% bonus on your first deposit (up to $5).

Free Calls to China for Chinese New Year

2012-01-18T10:18:00.001-05:00

Local Phone has announced that they will offer free calls to China in celebration of Chinese New Year. This offer is valid from 1600 hrs GMT January 21st through 1600 hrs GMT on January 25, 2012. Also, new customers can receive and 100% bonus on their first deposit (up to $5) by using coupon code SMARTGLOBAL100 at checkout. Visit Free calls to China for Chinese New Year 21st-25th January for details and to sign-up for this great offer.

Local Phone features super low international calling rates and can be used as a phone card from many countries. It can also be used to send international text messages or for making PC-to-Phone or PC-to-PC calls from any country. This is a great offer for people who want to make Fee Calls to china during this Chinese New Years.

Positivity for Indian Telecoms

2012-01-18T10:08:00.000-05:00

India has been the centre of much controversy in the world oftelecommunications recently due to the ongoing scandal case, however, today somepositive news has been announced. That is the news that a new deal has beenstruck between Bharti Airtel and Mogae Media. This deal is a first in theIndian telecoms industry, and it will be interesting to see the difference itwill make to Bharti Airtel’s operations.

Bharti Airtel has announced that it will outsource all itsadvertising inventory management and mobile-commerce initiatives to MogaeMedia. This will mean that Mogae Media will sell all possible advertising spaceon mobile, DTH and broadband services. Mogae Media is a firm that is being promotedby former Dentsu India Chairman, Sandeep Goyal.

It was reported that Goyal confirmed the deal but would not revealany financial details.

Analysts have suggested that this is the first time a telecomservice provider has collected and outsourced the entire advertising inventoryin the country.

Prashant Singhal, the telecom leader at Ernst & Young, has beencommenting: “No one has done that in India so far.” Mr Singhal went on to addthe following: “The model has high potential since the mobile phone is the onlymedium to reach out to 800-900 million people.”

Furthermore, an analyst has said that Bharti Airtel could nowgenerate around 40-50% of the industry’s revenue based on the pure enormity ofits post-paid customer base. Who knows whether this will lead to Bharti Airtellowering their rates, or whether it could in turn lead to lower rates whenmaking cheap calls to India?

It has also been announced that Bharti Airtel’s deal with Mogae willwork on a revenue-sharing model, whilst a spokesman for the telecommunicationsfirm said that the company would not comment on market speculations and partnerrelationships.

Phone Card Coupons and Promo Codes - Christmas 2011

2011-12-23T20:47:00.000-05:00

The Christmas and New Year holidays are one of the most popular calling periods of the year so many companies are offering promotions to attract new customers. The following are from four popular prepaid service providers who offer a variety of high quality products.

Tel3Advantage

Tel3Advantage has a promotion which lasts until January 2nd where new customers will receive a bonus that is twice the normal. Visit Double the Free Minutes for more details or call 1 800 441 0321 to speak with a representative. Tel3Advantage offers one of the most popular prepaid calling plans in North America. It can be used to make cheap long distance calls (domestic or international) from the USA and Canada.

LocalPhone

LocalPhone offers a unique, multi-functional international calling product. It can be used as a phone card to make cheap calls from around 60 countries and also be used to send cheap text messages and make PC-to-Phone calls from any country. Visit LocalPhone and use coupon code SMARTGLOBAL100 at checkout for a 100% bonus on deposited funds up to $5. They also offer a Free 5 minute trial call for those who wish to test the product before purchase. You can also deposit as little as $1.

Phone Cards

Smart Global Call International Phone Cards are offering 10% off all of the phone cards they sell through January 5, 2012. They offer a wide range of high quality phone cards that can be used to make calls from more than 100 countries. Visit Phone Card Holiday Promo for more information.

RebTel

Rebtel offers a popular product that can be used to make cheap international phone calls from over 60 countries. It can be used from any kind of telephone and it can also be used to make Free Calls to other Rebtel customers. New customers can get Double their first deposit by visiting Rebtel - The New Generation of Calling Cards and using voucher code christmasgift at checkout. This offer is only valid until 6 PM EST on December 26, 2011.

One of these international calling products should be the right one for your use and now is the time to sign-up in order to maximize savings. Happy Holidays....

Tel3Advantage Holiday Promotion

2011-12-18T16:01:00.002-05:00

Tel3Advantage will start their Christmas Holiday Promotion on December 19 and it will end on January 2, 2012. During this "Double the Free Minutes Holiday Signup Promotion" new Tel3Advantage customers who signup will get double the normal signup bonus. A new customer can signup for free by visiting Tel3Advantage and will receive the following bonus depending on the amount money deposited when the account is opened.

Deposit $10 and get a $2 Bonus (Normal Bonus is $2)
Deposit $25 and get a $10 Bonus
Deposit $50 and get a $14 Bonus
Deposit $100 and get a $18 Bonus

New customers will get a bonus plus low Tel3Advantage rates when they make domestic or international long distance calls. Tel3Advantage can be used to make cheap calls from any kind of telephone in the USA or Canada without changing service providers or anything. There are no fees for opening or maintaining an account and there is nothing to purchase. Just open an account, deposit as little as $10 and start making calls. The Tel3Advantage calling plan also includes the following features:

PIN Free Dialing when using registered phones (Register up to 10 phones in one account)
A complete on-line call history in real time
The lowest rates in the industry to most locations
The ability to Direct Dial international numbers from SMART Phones with Tel3Apps
Online account management
The ability to Auto Re-Charge your account
Store & Speed Dial up to 99 numbers
Make all of your International Phone calls from one account. Ideal for budgeting phone expense.
No hidden fees or Taxes. Listed rates reflect all charges.

Visit the banner below for more information or to sign-up.

Why Use an INTERNET Phone?

2011-12-09T05:47:00.001-05:00

INTERNET phone is especially useful for internationaltravelers who travel with a PC. It canbe used to make calls over the PC from any location in the world. All that is needed is a computer with amicrophone and a dialer that is down loaded from a service provider. The rates are very low, especially whencompared to long distance rates from hotels. It is also a much cheaper option than an international mobilephone. For international calls, there issimply no option that is cheaper or more convenient. The following is a summary of some of thereasons:

l It will work from any location in the world andthere are no roaming charges.

l Make calls over any broadband connection. Most first class hotels have these in eachroom.

l Calls between users of this service (Computer toComputer) are often free.

l Most service providers include voice mail andcall forwarding options.

l Some service providers include a Dial on Lineoption.

For more information visit PC Phone .

LocalPhone Student Double Credit Offer

2011-12-01T04:46:00.001-05:00

Ifyou’re a student and a new customer, LocalPhone will give you double credit onyour first deposit up to a maximum of $10. How the student special offer works:

Provide your academic email address (containing .edu or .ac) and get your voucher code.
Sign up for an account and register your phone number.
Make your FREE 5 minute trial call
Enter your unique voucher code at checkout when funds are deposited and get double credit. You can only use this offer on your first order and you can onlty use it once so make it count.

LocalPhone can be used tomake cheap international phone calls from any kind of telephone or from aPC. It can be used with standard phonelines, mobile phones or via the INTERNET like Skype. PC to PC calls are free so it is great to useto call other PC users. It can also beused to send cheap international text messages. Try a free 5 minute call to see how local phone works for you. Visit Students get 100% extra free credit! for more details.

Thanksgiving Phone Card Special Deals

2011-11-23T06:27:00.001-05:00

As we approach the holiday season we are seeing several prepaid calling companies offering special deals for new or existing customers. Some of these are listed below:

Smart Global Call phone cards international is offering 10% off all phone cards through December 5, 2011. Visit Phone Card Special to receive this discount. Smart Global Call features a variety of high quality phone cards that can be used to make cheap international phone cards from more than 60 countries.
Local Phone is offering Free International Calls to the USA for 4 days starting on November 24th. There is no limit to the Free calls you can make either to the USA or within the USA for the four days from November 24 through November 27, 2011.
Rebtel is offering new customers a double bonus on Black Friday. New customers who deposit $10 will get a total credit of $30 if they use coupon code 'tripleup25nov'. This coupon code is only good on Friday November 25, visit Black Friday Madness for more information or to sign-up for this offer.

Make Free International Calls to the USA

2011-11-19T19:49:00.001-05:00

LocalPhone is allowing their customers to make free international calls to the USA during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Customers can talk as long as they want for free from November 24 through 27, 2011. Visit Free calls to US cellphones and landlines for 4 days for more details or to open a new account in order to take advantage of this offer. LocalPhone can be used as an online phone card with local access numbers in 48 countries and it can also be used to make PC-to-Phone calls from any country. They offer a free dialer that can be downloaded in order to make PC-to-Phone calls and customers can also send international text messages with their service. LocalPhone customers can also talk to each other for Free anytime using their PC-to-PC service. Opening an account is free and there is no obligation but you must hurry since this holiday promotion will only last a few days.

Send Cheap International Text Messages - Global SMS

2011-11-19T00:48:00.001-05:00

Now it is possible to send text messages overseas without paying the high rates charged by mobile phone service providers. This is a new service offered by LocalPhone. It is part of a full suite of services offered with their on-line phone card. The Global SMS service can be used from a mobile phone (using the local phone number they provide) or from your computer. In either case, the message appears to come from your mobile phone. It is one of the cheapest ways to send international text messages with rates starting at 2.7 cents per message. Setting up an account is also easy and Free. You can deposit as little as $1 in order to start using the service. LocalPhone is also offering a 20% discount on their service until the end of November (coupon code LPUSNEW) and they also offer a free 5 minute trial of their service. The same account can be used to make cheap international phone calls from nearly any country. Visit the banner below for more details.

How to Make Cheap International Calls from iPhones

2011-11-15T06:24:00.001-05:00

Tel3Advantage offers their customers a Free iPhone App that can be used to make cheap international phone calls over the low cost Tel3Advantage network. The new TEL3Dialer App can be used with any iPhone without changing service providers. There is also an a Tel3 App for Android phones. Now anyone can easily make cheap international calls from their mobile phone.

The TEL3Dialer App is a Free and any Tel3Advantage customer can use the App to make cheap international phone calls. The iPhone app allows a TEL3Advantage user to place an international call directly from their iPhone without dialing an access number, account number or PIN code. In other words, it is an application that works seamlessly to save SMART phone users money on international calls.

Once the application is downloaded on to an iPhone (available in the iPhone app store), a caller does not need to dial an Access Number or PIN code anymore in order to use the low cost Tel3Advantage service, they just dial the destination phone number as normal or choose a contact from their address book, and make a direct dial call. It couldn’t be easier to use.

The following are brief instructions for obtaining the App.

A New Tel3Advantage User

1. Sign up with TEL3Advantage by visiting Tel3Advantage or calling 800 441 0321.
2. Register your iPhone number with TEL3Advantage (add to Instant Access number list)
3. Download the TEL3Dialer from the iPhone APP Store.
4. Start making Cheap International Phone Calls.

Existing Tel3Advantage User

1. Register your iPhone number with TEL3Advantage. Add it to the Instant Access Number list in the users on-line account.
2. Download the TEL3Dialer from the iPhone APP Store.
3. Start making cheap international phone calls without dialing account numbers or PIN codes.

Cheap International Calling from South Korea

2011-11-05T22:46:00.000-04:00

I have been working in South Korea for the past several months so it has given me a chance to investigate methods for making cheap international calls to or from South Korea. We have mostly made calls between South Korea and the USA but we have also made calls to locations like Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia and the UAE. We have found that it is fairly easy to make cheap calls to South Korea but it is not always easy to make cheap calls out.

South Korea has a very modern telecommunication system but rates are fairly high on international calls compared to other countries. Many people use Skype from South Korea to make free calls to friends and family at home but this is not always a convenient option. We an international mobile phone to make calls to the USA but the cost is very high, around $1 to $1.50 per minute. We also found the Korean phone company often blocks or does not allow calls to phone card access numbers so be sure to test these before purchasing phone cards. We also found that calls using traditional phone cards (via access numbers) from South Korea were not that cheap. A typical phone card rate is about $0.10 per minute. This may seem cheap but the rate on international calls from the USA to South Korea using phone cards is typically between 1 and 3 cents per minute. Our family called us from the USA using Tel3Advantage which is one of the best low cost options because it is cheap and the call quality is very good.

One of my friends in the USA called me several times with Vonage because their plan includes free calls to land-lines in South Korea. Vonage seemed to work okay but the sound did typically fade in and out a few times during most calls.

The product I used the most to make cheap calls to the USA and other countries from South Korea was a callback phone card. Calls to the USA were just over 3 cents per minute and the call quality was very good. The card I used had a web interface so you just enter the phone number where you are located (mobile or land-line) and the number you wish to call and, in a few seconds, your phone will ring and you will be connected to the other party. This is a super product that can be used from any country as long as you have an INTERNET connection (in order to send a message) and a phone were you can receive a direct call. Callback is a very good product to use when making calls from countries with high tariffs on outbound international calls since the calls originate in another country so these tariffs are by-passed. I have used these callback cards from several countries and have not had any problems completing calls.

Cheap International Calls with Android App

2011-10-16T01:41:00.003-04:00

Now people can direct dial international calls from their Android phone with the free TEL3Dialer App from Tel3Advantage. The dialer is not only easy to use but the calls are automatically placed over the low cost Tel3Advantage network so users will save a significant amount of money with no loss in call quality or ease of use. If you want to make low cost international calls from an Android phone than you need to learn more about the new Android App from Tel3advantage.

People who use the App do not need to dial any extra numbers when placing international phone calls. All they need to do is dial the number like normal or choose a contact from their address book and the call will be routed over the low cost Tel3Advantage network. There is no need to dial an access number, account number or PIN code. Best of all, the caller will pay low Tel3Advantage rates with no added fees or taxes. Rather than paying $1 or more per minute for an international call made using a mobile service provider, Tel3Advantage customers pay a few cents per minute. Many popular destinations cost less than 5 cents per minute.

In order to use the TEL3Dialer App you first need to open a Tel3Advantage account. Opening a new Tel3Advantage account is both free and easy. All you need to do is make a deposit since Tel3Advantage is a prepaid calling plan but the deposit can be as little as $10. For more information visit international mobile calling or talk directly with a service representative at 800 441 0321.

Phone Card Discount Coupon

2011-10-08T20:18:00.003-04:00

Use the link below to save 10% on your phone card purchase through October 22, 2011.

10% Off All Phone Cards

You can also visit Smart Global Call Phone Cards International and use coupon code #11COLUM at checkout if you prefer. This coupon is good on purchases of $20 or more for any phone card sold on the website. These include high quality phone cards like AT&T, Continental, Bizon, Simply and many more. These cards can be used to make cheap international calls to any location from more than 130 countries. Use the convenient search tool to find the best phone card for your situation. All fees and details for each phone card are clearly summarized on the website. Customers will receive a free on-line account where they can store their phone cards and easily find information on how to use the cards from various locations. Customers can also transfer amounts between phone cards if their calling preferences happen to change. All phone cards are fully guaranteed and refunds will be provided if customers are not fully satisfied.

Phone Cards with Direct Dial Feature

2011-09-05T05:10:00.001-04:00

How would you like to make cheap international calls without dialing an access number or PIN code? Several high quality phone cards now offer a direct dial feature that can be used to place international calls by simply dialing a domestic phone number. With some phone cards, you create a contact list and each of your contacts is assigned a domestic phone number. When you wish to make a call to that person you simply dial their assigned domestic phone number and you are connected. No more dialing access numbers, PIN codes or complex international numbers. The phone cards listed below currently offer this feature.

Phone Cards with Direct Dial Feature

Bizon
Continental
Golden Lotus
Penny Boss
Simply
Solaris

Visit Phone Cards International for more information on these and other innovative phone cards.

Tel3Advantage also offers an innovative direct dial feature for international calling that can be used by Mobile Phone users. They offer customers free Apps that can be used with iPhones, Androids, Blackberrys and over 450 different mobile phones. Tel3Apps are free and allow users to make cheap international calls from their mobile phone without dialing an access number, account number or PIN code. Tel3 calls this Dial Free Calling and it is the current state-of-the-art for international calling from cell phones. Visit International Mobile Calling for more information on Tel3Apps and other innovative products.

Continental Phone Card Promotion

2011-09-03T21:57:00.008-04:00

You can receive a 10% discount on the Continental Phone Card for a limited time. The Continental Card is one of the most versatile phone cards and that is also a favorite with many frequent international callers and travelers. Visit Phone Cards International to learn more about the Continental Phone card and recieve a 10% discount on your purchase.

The Continental Card is not just a typical prepaid phone card, it can be used for a variety of telecommunication services. Some of these are listed below.

Callback Phone Service - this features allows users to make cheap international calls from any country in the world.
PC to Phone Service
Prepaid VoIP Service
Call Me Link - Allows other people call you at no cost to them.

The Continental Card also has a number of inovative features. These include standard features like Toll Free Access, PIN Free Dialing, On-Line Call History, Speed Dial and Auto-Refill along with some that are not so standard. Like the following:

Direct Dial - A feature that allows you to make international calls without dialing an access number or PIN code.
SMS Refill - A user can add minutes to their card by sending a SMS message.
Prepaid Conference Calls - Set up a conference call in minutes. Either over the phone or on-line.

The Continental Card can be used as a prepaid phone card to make calls using access numbers in over 80 countries. It can also be used to call toll free numbers in the USA from overseas. Most phone cards cannot be used to dial toll free numbers so this alone is a handy feature for USA citizens who are overseas for an extended period of time. Now is a great time to try the Continental Phone card. Visit Phone Cards International for more details or an instant 10% discount on purchase.

Cheap Calls Home during Ramadan

2011-08-15T04:23:00.002-04:00

Tel3Advantage offers an ideal calling plan for those who want to make cheap international calls home during Ramadan. Their Triple Promo Plan provides new customers with a sign-up bonus of up to $25 that can be used to make calls to any location and low rates to all locations for the first 30 days. It is easy to use and can be used from any kind of telephone in the USA or Canada. The following are some sample rates, in US Cents per minute, for calls to land-lines.

Azerbaijan 17 cents/min
Bahrain 3.2
Egypt 9.8
Indonesia 5.6
Iran 9
Iraq 3.4
Jordan 7.5
Lebanon 9.1
Libya 14.3
Nigeria 7.7
Oman 21
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) 3.9
Syria 13.3
UAE 11.4

Sign-up now and maximize savings during the month of Ramadan. For more information or to sign-up, visit Triple Promo or call 1 800 441 0321 and mention the triple promo bonus offer.

Rebtel Coupon Code - Cheap Calls to Pakistan

2011-08-12T20:40:00.003-04:00

RebTel has an ongoing promotion where they will provide new customers with a 50% bonus when they sign-up. The promotion lasts through September 1, 2011 and the new customer must deposit at least $10 to qualify. In order to get the bonus simply enter the voucher code rebtel50% during the sign-up process.

Rebtel also has lowered rates on calls to Pakistan to 3.5 cents per-minute. We checked around and we think Rebtel now offers the cheapest rates on calls to Pakistan. Rebtel is a popular prepaid calling service that can be used to make cheap international calls from more than 50 countries. It can be used from any kind of telephone without entering an account number or PIN code. It is a popular option with international callers who use mobile phones. Click on the banner below to learn more. Sign-up now and get a 50% bonus by entering the voucher code rebtel50%.

International Calling to Mobile Phones with Vonage World

2011-07-27T05:13:00.005-04:00

Vonage advertises free international calling to 60 countries in their TV advertisements for their Vonage World Plan but, in most cases, this does not include calls to mobile phones. Their website indicates that this plan only includes free calls to mobile phones in 10 countries. The plan has an introductory rate of $14.99 (plus tax) for 6 months than goes to $25.99 (plus taxes & fees). The ultimate cost with taxes and fees is around $31 per month. They also have a World Premium Unlimited plan for a mere $54.99 per month (plus taxes & fees). Of course, Vonage users also need a high speed INTERNET connection.

The cost for Vonage is reasonable for those who make frequent calls to locations and phones covered by the Vonage World plan. For example, free calls can be made to land-lines or mobiles in a few popular locations like India and China. For people who make frequent calls to extended families and friends in these locations Vonage could offer a great deal. But it is not such a great deal for people who call infrequently or those who call to locations not covered by the Vonage World Plan. To illustrate this we compared the rate Vonage charges using their Vonage World plan with a prepaid calling plan (Tel3Advantage) on international calls to mobile phones in several popular destinations. We have listed some of these below where Vonage World rates are compared to Tel3Advantage Triple Promo rates on calls to mobile phones in selected destinations. Rates are in US cents per minute.

Destination Vonage Rate/Tel3Advantage Rate (cents/min)

Afghanistan 125/23.9
Belize 29/19.9
Costa Rica 8/2.8
Egypt 15/9.4
France 19/11.5
Ghana 20/18
Iran 36/8.1
Jamaica 22/14.7
Lebanon 20/14.7
Liberia 35/19
Nigeria 28/9.8
Romania 29/8.7
Russia 8/4.2
South Africa 23/11.6
Turkey 19/10.3
UAE 28/19

Vonage may have some advantages on calls to certain locations but, as shown above, it should not be assumed that it offers the best deal to all locations. People who want to save money on international calls should investigate a prepaid plan like Tel3Advantage where calls can be made from any kind of telephone without an INTERNET connection. There are also no monthly fees or hidden charges like monthly fees, taxes or surcharges. Tel3Advantage is very popular with people who make international calls to mobile phones in many countries because of their low rates, high quality connections, ease of use and the ability to make calls from mobile phones or any kind of telephone without making any changes.

How to Call Toll Free Numbers in the USA

2011-07-19T05:08:00.002-04:00

As many people know, it can be difficult or expensive to call toll free numbers in the United States when traveling or living abroad. Many low cost prepaid calling products (phone cards) will not allow calls to toll free numbers so many people use traditional long distance phone service which can be high cost. There is an alternative. The Continental Phone Card does allow people to call toll free phone numbers in the USA. It can be used as a Phone Card to make calls through access numbers in about 60 countries. Alternatively, it has a callback feature that can be used to call USA toll free numbers or make cheap international phone calls to any location from any country in the world. Visit international phone cards for more information or to purchase a continental phone card.

4 Annoying Phone Card Fees

2011-07-19T05:00:00.004-04:00

Most people are aware that some phone cards have great rates on international calls but many make-up for unbelievably low advertised rates by adding on hidden fees and/or taxes. Fee structures vary between phone card providers. Some have low or no added fees while others have especially onerous fees so consumers should be aware that phone cards do not have a standard fee structure. Therefore, when shopping for phone cards it is best if consumers study the fine print before making a purchase. Four common and especially annoying added fees are listed below.

1. Connection Fee – This is a fee that is charged whenever a call is connected. It is essentially an added charge for each call made using the phone card. It does not matter how long the call or whether the number was misdialed or if the person was even at the place called. One popular phone card company advertises rates as low as 1 cent per minute but charges a 49 cent connection fee. A fee like this can substantially increase the rate on short calls and phone cards with connection fees should be avoided.

2. Maintenance Fees – A charge for keeping a balance on a phone card. We have seen maintenance fees that are charged weekly, bi-weekly or monthly but, in any case, it is a fee that is deducted from the phone card balance if it is kept active for a specified period of time. For example, if a phone card has a monthly fee of 99 cents than 99 cents will be deducted from the account at the end of each month. Phone cards with maintenance fees should not be used on a long term basis. The way to avoid a maintenance fee is to not keep the phone card until the end of the maintenance period. Therefore, purchase a small denomination card and use it quickly so a maintenance fee is not charged.

3. Long Call Fee – A fee that is charged for calls that last for a predetermined period of time. For example, a 50 cent fee could be charged on calls that last for more than 10 minutes. Avoid phone cards with Long-Call fees.

4. Service Fee – Some phone card companies charge a service fee on each call. This is sometimes called a communication fee. This is kind of like a sales tax and is charged as a per cent of the cost of the call. For example, a phone card may charge a 25% service fee. In this case a 25 cent service fee will be added to a call that costs $1. A service fee is okay if it is known and considered when the phone card is purchased. For example, if a phone card has a 25% service fee just increase the per-minute rates listed for the card by 25%. If they are still good rates than the card may still be worthy of purchase.

People who want to avoid phone card fees should consider a prepaid calling card (virtual phone card) like Tel3Advantage. Their listed rates include all fees and taxes and their rates are still some of the best on the market. They also include a full array of features, the highest call quality and award winning customer service.

What to do When Skype is Blocked

2011-07-16T01:30:00.002-04:00

Several countries or regions of the world activity block Skype and other INTERNET based phone service like VoIP. They usually do this in order to support their local, monopoly phone company that charges extremely high rates on international calls. Another indirect tax on expats or visitors who want to call home.

Many of these countries are in the Middle East, like Kuwait, Jordan, Oman and the UAE. Some are in Asia, like China or South America like Brazil and Belize. In any case, international travelers or those who plan to stay for an extended period of time in a foreign country should be aware of this practice, do some research and find a suitable solution before traveling. One option is a VPN. A good VPN can by-pass the local block on the INTERNET and allow users to still use Skype. I have done this in Oman so I know it works. Those interested should do a search for VPN providers and intall and test it before traveling. Another option is callback phone service. One we have used from many locations is a web activated callback service offered by NW-IP the service provider who supports the popular Continental Phone Card. The nice thing about a callback service is that it can be used from any kind of phone (that can receive a direct call from overseas) and it can be used from any location in the world. We have used it from many countries because it is handy to make calls to land-lines and cell phones in other countries. There are many people who are not connected to Skype or not at their computers and Skype charges a lot for calls to phones. We have found callback to be useful and well worth the purchase of a phone card before leaving on a trip.

The New Tel3Advantage Savings Plan

2011-07-09T20:48:00.006-04:00

Tel3Advantage recently started a new sign-up option they call the Savings Plan that provides great rates on international calls to countries like India and Pakistan. The rates last for a period of 6 months and are the lowest we could find to these and a few other countries. Tel3Advantage now offers the following three sign-up options for new customers.

Tel3Advantage Flex Plan - This is the original sign-up option where new customers get low Tel3Advantage rates on calls and new customers get a sign-up bonus ranging from $5 to $9.

Tel3 Triple Bonus - The triple bonus option provides customers with lower rates on calls for the first 30 days plus a sign-up bonus ranging from $2 to $10 depending on the initial deposit. This is the best sign-up option for most people.

Tel3Advantage Savings Plan - This new sign-up option provides new customers with super low rates to several locations for the first 6 months. There is no up front sign-up bonus but it could be the best option for people who make frequent calls to certain locations.

Check all three options to determine the best one for your situation. No matter how you sign-up you will get great Tel3Advantage service (rated A+ by BBB) and get all of the same great features. These include an on-line account where you can monitor activity on your account, add phones and speed dial numbers. You also have access to free iPhone and Andoid Apps that you can use with your Smart Phone to make cheap international calls without dialing any extra numbers. These and other inovative features help make Tel3Advantage a leader among companies in the prepaid long distance market.

The Lowest Rates on Calls to India from the USA and Canada

2011-06-23T13:26:00.008-04:00

Tel3Advantage has announced a new savings plan that has the lowest rates available for international calls to India from the USA or Canada. The rate is only 1.6 cents-per-minute for calls to land-lines or cell phones. This rate includes all fees and taxes and there is no cost for maintaining an account with Tel3Advantage. Tel3Advantage can be used to make low cost calls from any kind of telephone without changing companies.

Tel3Advantage is one of the most popular prepaid calling plans in North America. It has been in business for over 15 years and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. They also offer a money back guarantee so people can try their service at no risk. The following are some highlights of the features included with Tel3Advantage.

Pin Free Dialing - No reason to enter an account number or PIN code when making a call.

Direct dial international calls from smart phones with Tel3Apps.

On-line call history in real time. Know the exact charge and details for each call made on your account.

Set up to 99 speed dial numbers. Save time and minimize errors when making international calls.

The same great rates 24/7 with no hidden fees or taxes.

Toll free or local access numbers. Note there is a 1 cent-per-minute charge for using the toll free access number.

Open an account for as little as $10.

The highest call quality.

The lowest rates to India and other international locations. Visit India Savings Plan or call 1 800 441 0321 for more details.

Tel3 Offers Low International Rates to Kenya, Liberia, Ghana and other Locations in Africa

2011-05-23T12:00:00.005-04:00

People who make frequent calls from the USA or Canada to countries in Africa should consider Tel3Advantage. They offer some of the lowest rates on international calls to Africa and also feature plans tailored for Business, Individuals and a specific mobile plan. Tel3Advantage is especially popular with individuals who want to make cheap calls to Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Ethiopia and Nigeria. The following are some sample rates on calls for the USA or Canada;

Burkina Faso 14.7 cents/min
Cameroon 8.8
Dem Rep of Congo 10.8
Cote D'Ivore 16
Ethiopia 15.3
Ghana 4.9
Kenya 2.7
Mali 14.3
Nigeria 5.1
Senegal 23
Tunisia 12.8

Visit cheap international calls to Africa for more information and a complete list of rates.

In addition to low rates on long distance calls, Tel3advantage also offers a full range of features that help make international calling a breeze. Each account holder receives free on-line access to an account summary page where they can make changes to their account and monitor activity in real time. Many customers like the on-line call history feature where they can monitor the cost of each call made from their account. Tel3Advantage rates include all fees and taxes so there are no hidden costs or surprises. Opening an account is free and there are no maintenance charges for keeping an account. Try Tel3Advantage now by visiting Tel3Advantage Promo and receive free minutes and a discount on all calls made for the first 30 days.

International Calling No More a Distant Dream with the Calling Cards

2011-05-23T10:35:00.002-04:00

Making affordable international calls today is no longer a distant dream as telecom companies continue to develop innovative cost saving solutions. Until recently, making international calls was not desirable because of high cost but today, with the advent of technology long distance commutation has become affordable and within the reach of nearly everyone. With International calling cards, VOIP, and other new technologies the cost of making international calls has dropped dramatically over the past decade. VOIP involves making use of the Internet to make calls to other countries. The voice is transferred over the Internet as packets of data and the cost of making calls is insanely cheap. VOIP has indeed made international calling much cheaper but it also has drawbacks. For example, at least one caller must have an INTERNET connection or communication is not possible. Also, VoIP is actively blocked in some countries so it is not available in all locations. However, when VoIP is available it is a viable, low cost option.

The best option for most people for making cheap international calls is to use international phone cards. These are becoming more common as the popularity of mobile phones increase. Calling Cards are a practical choice since they aid in making cheap international mobile calls. They have an advantage over others for they are low priced and can be used from any kind of telephone to call almost anywhere. Since these cost less to the company they are a value for money for the customer. They are so extensively used in some locations that they claim 40% of the telecom market and also cover a major share of convenience store and internet sales. The Internet today has become a medium reaching a wide range of audience hence the telecom companies are also not running behind. Today calling cards are also available online with many companies selling calling cards through web sites. Smartglobalcall.com is one such web portal that offers cheap calling cards.

Calling cards are not only advantageous for the consumer but also for the service provider as well. Since they are easily available online this eliminates the need for a physical card and hence comes handy in the manufacturing cost. There by helping the service provide give more value for your money. Since they are prepaid hence eliminate the need of debt collection. So get a calling card and get close to your dear ones around the world.

Tel3Advantage Mother's Day Promotion - Double the Free Minutes

2011-05-03T18:43:00.005-04:00

Tel3Advantage will start a Mother's Day promotion on May 4th and it will last until May 11, 2011. During this promotion new customers will get double the normal bonus when they sign-up for Tel3Advantage prepaid long distance phone service. This is a super offer for people who want to make cheap international calls to any country from North America. Deposit as little as $10 and start making cheap calls from any kind of phone and get $2 in Free Calls or deposit more and get more free minutes. Up to 22 hours of Free International Calls.

Tel3Advantage has two options for new customers to use when they open an account. These are the following:

1. Get a slightly lower up-front bonus but get 30% lower rates for the first 30 days. This option is called the Triple Promo and is described on the following page Tel3 Triple Promo.

2. Using the second option new customers get more up-front bonus but do not get the 30% discount on rates. This option is summarized on this page Tel3Advantage.

You can also call 800 441 0321 and talk with a Tel3Advantage representative.

Which is the best option? For most people the Triple Bonus is the best option. It is especially good for those who only want to use the service for a short period of time, like Mother's Day.

Tel3Advantage offers one of the most popular prepaid calling plans in North America with over 100,000 active customers. It can be used with any existing service provider to make cheap international calls from any phone. It can be used to make calls from Canada or the USA. Customers get exceptional service and call quality at surprisingly low rates. Tel3Advantage rates include all taxes and fees so there will be no surprises. Mother's Day is a great time to try Tel3Advantage.

Cheap International Calls to Middle East Locations

2011-04-25T14:24:00.003-04:00

The Middle East is a very popular international calling destination for people who live in North America. Immigrants from the Middle East who live in the USA and Canada wish to call home frequently and many North Americans work and live in the Middle East so their friends and family want to keep in touch. International calling rates from traditional long distance service providers (landline or mobile phone service) tend to be high so most international callers are constantly searching for cheaper options.

Many people would like a cheap international calling plan that offers low rates on calls from landlines or cell phones to the Middle East. Tel3Advantage has a very good international calling plan for making calls from mobile phones or landlines to the Middle East and other international locations. Each account can be used to make cheap international calls from up to 10 phones without dialing and account number or PIN code. These phones can be home, business or cell phones so one account can be used to consolidate all international calling expenses into one account. Tel3Advantage also offers the lowest rates to either cell phones or landlines in most locations. The rates really are the lowest if one assumes they offer the highest call quality and their rates include all fees and taxes so there are no hidden charges. Tel3Advantage also offers a signup bonus for new customers in order to encourage people to try their service. Tel3advantage does this because they know that most people who try their service become long term customers (around 70% of new customers continue to use the service for 1 year or more).
The following are some Tel3Advantage sample rates to landlines in the Middle East from phones in North America. These rates include all fees and taxes. Visit cheap calls to the Middle East for more information.

Bahrain 3.2 cents/min
Egypt 9.4
Iran 8.1
Iraq 2.1
Israel 1
Jordan 7.5
Kuwait 5.6
Lebanon 9.1
Morocco 10.5
Oman 21
Palestine 12.4
Qatar 15.8
Saudi Arabia 3.8
Syria 12.1
Turkey 1.8
UAE 11.4
Yemen 12.3

In addition to low rates, new Tel3Advantage customers will receive up to $25 in free calls when they open a new account. It is also free to open an account and there all no fees for maintaining an account.

The Cheapest Rates on Calls to Jamaica

2011-04-16T16:33:00.002-04:00

Tel3Advantage now offers the lowest rates on international calls from the USA or Canada to Jamaica. The Tel3 rate on calls to landlines are only 6.7 cents per minute while the rate on calls to mobile phones in Jamaica are only 14.7 cents. Those who want to make cheap calls to Jamaica should visit the following page in order to get double the free minutes when a new Tel3Advantage account is opened: Jamaican Special. This special offer is valid through April 30, 2011. Tel3Advantage is a popular prepaid long distance plan that can be used to make cheap international calls to any location from North America (USA and Canada). It is popular with frequent international callers since it has the highest call quality and does not have any hidden charges. The rates posted on their website includes all fees and taxes. Tel3Advantage can also be used from any kind of phone without changing anything and is very easy to use. Many mobile SMART phone users prefer Tel3Advantage since it has a free Application (tel3Apps) that can be downloaded and used to make international calls without dialing any extra numbers. There is no need to dial an account number or PIN code when using Tel3Advantage.

Calling the UK from Canada

2011-03-05T12:02:00.003-05:00

We recently discovered that the UK is one of the most popular international calling destinations from Canada. We have also found that international rates on calls from Canada using traditional calling options are relatively high when compared to the USA. Those people who want to save money on international calls from Canada to the UK and other international destinations should look for a good international prepaid calling plan. These plans can be used from any kind of telephone (cell, home, business, etc.) and offer far better rates than traditional service providers and have similar call quality.

One of the most popular prepaid long distance providers in North America is Tel3Advantage. In the past their service could only be used to make calls from phones in the USA but they recently expanded their service to Canada. Using Tel3Advantage, calls to the UK from Canada cost only 1.4 cents-per-minute. This rate is valid 24/7 and includes all fees and taxes so there are no hidden charges. Tel3 also provides callers with free on-line account access where they can monitor account activity, make changes to their account, add speed dial numbers and do other useful things. Those who want to save money on international calls should visit calling the UK from Canada for more information. New customers will also get up to 1000 free minutes if they open an account during the current promotion.

It is also possible to make cheap calls to the UK from Canada using international phone cards. Rates are as low as 1 cent per minute and they can be used to make calls from any kind of telephone. Many people feel that phone cards offer inferior quality. In some cases this is true but there are premium phone cards that offer call quality that rivals any option for making international calls.

The Lowest Rates to Macedonia

2011-02-25T12:40:00.002-05:00

People who make international calls from the USA or Canada to Macedonia should consider trying Tel3Advantage. Phone cards typically charge 6 or 7 cents per minute for calls to Macedonia while Tel3 only charges 4.4 cents for the first 30 days if a new customer signs up under their Triple Promo special offer. Visit cheap calls to Macedonia for details or call 800 441 0321.

New customers will also get a bonus of up to 1000 free minutes when they open an account with Tel3Advantage. Their rates also include all fees and taxes so there are no hidden charges on calls or no maintenance fees for opening or maintaining an account. Tel3Advantage can be used to make calls with any land-line or mobile phone without changing companies. It is very easy to use and can save mobile phone users up to 95% on international calls.

The Best Rates on International Calls to Africa

2011-02-19T11:30:00.002-05:00

We have found that Tel3Advantage has some of the lowest rates on international calls to Africa from the USA or Canada. We have compared them with other prepaid calling plans with similar call quality and found they they have the best rates to most destinations in Africa. Some phone cards may advertise lower rates but, in most cases, they add additional fees while Tel3Advantage includes all fees and taxes in their rates. Tel3Advantage is also easy to use since it comes with features like PIN free dialing and speed dial. The following are some sample rates:

Calls to Angola 8.4 cents per minute to land-lines/15.3 cents to mobile phones
Benin 8.8 cents to land-lines/13.8 cents to mobiles
Burundi 4.4 cents to land-lines/4.4 cents to mobiles
Cameroon 8.8 cents to land-lines/16.8 cents to mobiles
Gabon 8.4 cents to land-lines/18 cents to mobiles
Calls to Kenya 7 cents to land-lines/9.9 cents to mobiles/2.7 cents to Nairobi
Lesotho 10.8 cents to land-lines/17.9 cents to cell phones
Liberia 13.5 cents to land-lines/19 cents to mobiles
Mozambique 5.6 cents to land-lines/11.3 cents to mobiles
Calling Nigeria 7.7 cents to land-lines/9.8 cents to mobiles/5.1 cents to Lagos
Sudan 9.9 cents to land-lines/11.5 cents to mobiles
Swaziland 3.9 cents to land-lines/16.4 cents to mobiles
Tanzania 8.5 cents to land-lines or cell phones
Tunisia 12.8 cents to land-lines/34 cents to mobiles
Togo 22.1 cents to land-lines/29.9 cents to mobiles
Uganada 7.9 cents to land-lines/9.8 cents to mobiles
Central African Republic 27 cents to land-lines/16.1 cents to mobiles

Tel3Advantage is a popular prepaid calling plan that can be used to make cheap calls to Africa and other destinations from Canada or the USA. It can be used with any kind of telephone without changing companies so it is very convenient for short or long-term use. There is nothing to change and there are no long term contracts, maintenance fees or other obligation. It is very popular with mobile phone users who want to make international calls since it can be used to direct dial international calls from Smart Phones using Tel3Apps. Those interested in more information should visit cheap calls to Africa for rates and a coupon for up to 1000 Free Minutes. You can get the same offer by dialing 800 441 0321 and asking for the Triple Promo special offer.

The Lowest Rates to the Tonga Islands

2011-02-12T12:55:00.004-05:00

Those who make international calls to the Tonga Islands should shop around because rates vary significantly between carriers. We checked the rates on several prepaid plans for calls from North America and found that Tel3Advantage had the cheapest rates on international calls to Tonga. The following is a summary of what we found.

Tel3Advantage 13.6 cents per minute.
Comfi Phone Cards 31.5 cents per minute
Speedy Pin Phone Cards 27.8 cents per minute
Rebtel 44.9 cents per minute

It should be noted that these rates apply on international calls to land-lines in Tonga. The rate on calls to mobile phones in Tonga may be different. Also, Tel3Advantage includes all fees and taxes in their published rates while most prepaid phone cards have hidden fees which make their rates higher than those posted.

People who are interested in calling Tonga from the USA or Canada should visit Tel3Advantage or call 800 441 0321. New customers will get these great rates for the first 30 days and get a bonus of up to 1000 free minutes. An offer that is hard to beat on calls to the Tonga Islands and other international locations.

5 Ways to Save on International Calls

2011-02-06T13:26:00.004-05:00

People who make frequent international phone calls often wonder if they are using the lowest cost product that fits their needs. Many people do not know what is available and often over pay for products that they do not need or fully utilize. We have summarized the following 5 popular ways to save money on international calls for the benefit of these people.

1. VoIP Phone Service

VoIP or broadband phone service providers have calling plans that typically include home phone service and unlimited domestic long distance for a flat monthly fee. Many VoIP Service Providers are starting to include free calls to selected international locations. These can be a good deal for those who make frequent calls to one or more of the international locations included in the call plan. This is typically a good option for someone who already has high speed Internet service, wants home phone service and makes frequent domestic and international long distance calls to the locations covered by the call plan.

Tips: Be sure the countries and type of phone (cell or land line) you call is included in the plan you choose. Calls to cell phones in international locations are often significantly more expensive than calls to landlines and are often not included at no cost with these VoIP call plans. You will need to pay extra for calls to countries or types of phones not covered and we have found that the rates are typically much higher than normal for calls that are not included with the plan. Also, you will need to pay the monthly service fee even if you do not use the service.

2. Phone Cards

Everyone thinks they know about phone cards and some people love them and others think they are a low quality alternative for making long distance calls. In truth, phone cards cover the full spectrum of telecom services and are lower cost and more convenient than any other product for making international calls. You can purchase cheap, low quality phone cards but you can also purchase high quality phone cards that offer a full range of features which make them very easy to use. Visit cheap international calling for more information on phone cards and other prepaid calling products.

Tips: Phone cards usually offer better rates to certain countries and regions of the world so one phone card does not fit all. Therefore, it is better to shop around in order to find the best phone card for your needs. They also tend to have hidden fees or extra charges added to the posted rate on calls so be sure and read the fine print before making a purchase. It is typically better to try a small denomination ($5 to $10 card) before making a large purchase. We think on-line phone cards offer a better deal than those purchased at retail locations. It is easier to compare rates and features on-line when shopping and they can usually be stored safely in an on-line account so there is no fear of loss.

3. PC to Phone Service

PC to phone service like Skype is very popular with students, expats and others who make frequent international calls to other people who also own a computer and have a high speed INTERNET connection. What is commonly called PC to Phone Service can be used to make calls from one PC to another or from a PC to any kind of telephone. Companies like Skype offer free calls from one PC to another but charge a fee on calls made from a PC to a telephone. The rate on PC to Phone calls are typically much higher than those charged using other options so we think this service is great for people who want to make PC to PC calls but there are lower cost options with better quality for people who want to make long distance calls to landlines or cell phones.

Tips: Some countries actively block web based services like PC to Phone or VoIP. In these cases a VPN can be used or another product like callback phone service can be a better option. Also, the call quality using PC to Phone depends on the speed of the INTERNET connection. In some cases call quality can be very high while in other cases it is hard to get a good connection. Use another product if you want to make calls to telephones.

4. Callback Phone Service

In many cases the best international calling product for those living or working overseas is international callback phone service. This service can be used to make cheap international phone calls from any location. There are phone cards that offer a callback feature and there are prepaid callback service providers. The phone cards tend to be better for short term use. In either case, the caller will need to have a telephone available where they can receive a direct incoming call. This can be a land line, mobile phone or even a VoIP phone. To place a call, a caller triggers a callback where a computer calls to the callers pre-set phone number from an international location. When the call is received the caller simply answers the call and dials the phone number they wish to call. In this way the international call is placed from a low cost location like the United States rather than the high cost location where the caller resides.

Tips: A great option for people living or working in a fixed location where international calling is expensive. Calls are made through a low cost third country.

5. International Cell Phone Service

Truly international mobile phones offer convenience and are useful for emergency calling but they do not offer a good deal on international phone calls. What we refer to here are international calling plans for mobile phones. Many people only have mobile phones these days and they soon find it is very expensive to make international calls from mobiles using their local service provider. Phone cards are an option but there are other prepaid calling plans that interface nicely with mobile phones. These still offer great phone card rates on international calls from mobiles but have features that make them much easier to use.

Tips: For international calls from mobile phones in the USA or Canada we tend to prefer the Tel3Advantage prepaid call plan. It has free Apps so it can be used seamlessly with SMART phones allowing international calls can be made directly without dialing any extra numbers.

We hope people can benefit from this information and make wise choices when shopping for international calling products. In any case, shop well and read the fine print before making a purchase. We have heard stories from readers who have been, for example, tied up in long term VoIP contracts and could not get out of them. That is one reason why we tend to prefer prepaid or pay-as-you-go products that have no long term commitment. Simply use them as long as you need than stop when they are no longer needed without any termination fee.

Calling to Israel from the USA and Canada

2011-01-28T15:11:00.004-05:00

Tel3Advantage recently announced a reduction in rates on international calls to Israel from the USA and Canada. The new rates are 1 cent-per-minute on calls to landlines in Israel and 6.3 cents-per-minute on calls to mobile phones. These rates are good for 30 days when a new customer signs up using the their Triple Promo offer. Visit cheap calls to Israel or call 800 441 0321 for more details. People who sign-up through the triple promo offer will get lower rates for the first 30 days and up to $9 in free calls. These are the lowest rates in the industry when compared to other prepaid options with similar call quality.

The normal Tel3Advantage rates to Israel will apply after the first 30 days. These are still very good at 2.1 cents-per-minute for calls to landlines and 7 cents-per-minute on calls to cell phones. Tel3Advantage also offers highly rated customer service and a variety of features including on-line account management, call history, speed dial, toll free access number, local access and PIN free dialing. It is one of our favorite products for making international calls to to Israel and other locations.

5 Reasons Why People Purchase Small Denomination Phone Cards

2011-01-16T20:29:00.004-05:00

Phone cards come in a wide range of denominations. Typical denominations are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Some companies offer phone cards with values under $5 but these are not very common. It is more common to find companies where the minimum deposit is $10 or more. We feel that phone cards with small denominations have a practical place in the market and offer the following 5 reasons for their purchase.

Trying a phone card for the first time - Many people, even active callers, tend to purchase a low value phone card when making an initial purchase. In this way they can reduce the risk of trying a phone card from a new or unfamiliar company. In the worst case, if the card is not what without they wanted and it is difficult to obtain a refund, they are only out a small amount of money.
A Method of Controlling Expenses - Some people purchase low cost phone cards as a way of controlling expenses. If they purchase a $5 phone card than the most they can spend for a given time period is $5. If they talk longer than expected the prepaid card will simply run out of money. The call will end and they will have spent the money they budgeted for that period of time.
Short Term Use - Some people only want to use a phone card to make a few calls over a short period of time so a phone card with a small denomination perfectly fits their needs.
A Method of Avoiding Extra Fees - Some phone cards charge extra fees on cards that are held for a certain period of time. These fees are typically referred to as maintenance fees. One way to eliminate maintenance fees is to use the card quickly so the phone card has no value when the time period triggering a maintenance fee is reached.
Fear of Loss - This is a concern for cards purchased at supermarkets or other retail locations. These cards have a PIN number written on them and cannot be used if this number is lost or stolen. On-line phone cards are a safer alternative because they typically supply users with an on-line account where the details for their phone cards are safely stored.

People purchase phone cards for a variety of reasons but most people want to save money on domestic or international long distance phone calls. This is a good reason and there are high quality phone cards on the market. However, all phone cards do not have the same call quality and it can vary by location with the same phone card. So buyers should take care when shopping for phone cards. Always check the fine print for fees and other restrictions and make a small purchase to try the product before making a large purchase. Be wary of phone cards that only come in high denominations. Also, some companies charge an extra surcharge on small purchases so shop around.

Christmas Phone Card Sale - 10% Discount

2010-12-22T11:58:00.004-05:00

Get a 10% discount on all of our premium phone cards at Smart Global Call through December 27th. Visit Christmas Phone Card Sale to select your favorite phone card. This includes a 10% discount on AT&T phone cards or choose from a wide selection of international phone cards that can be used from over 130 countries. Our most popular cards are continental, luky minutes, solaris and simply. Visit the above link and click on the phone card tab at the top for a complete list.

Continental is one of our favorite cards because it has premium call quality and is very versatile. It can be used as a conventional phone card or as a call back card (web call feature) or even to make conference calls. It also comes with many popular features like speed dial, call history and PIN free dialing. It can be used to make cheap calls from the USA and over 60 other countries. If you plan to travel over the holiday season than we have a phone card for you.

You can also send a phone card as a last minute gift to someone who is far away. We have a convenient gift option where you can send a gift and the recipient can choose the card they want from our wide selection.

Tel3Advantage Holiday Promotion

2010-12-15T10:46:00.003-05:00

Tel3Advantage has started a holiday promotion today and it will last until January 3, 2011. During the holiday promo new customers will get double the normal bonus when they sign-up for Tel3 prepaid long distance. This is a super offer for people who want to make cheap international phone calls during the holidays. Deposit as little as $10 and start making cheap calls from any phone in North America or deposit more and get more free minutes.

Tel3 has two options for new customers to use when they open an account. These are the following:

1. Get a slightly lower up-front bonus but get 30% lower rates for the first 30 days. This option is called the Triple Promo and is described on the following page Tel3 Triple Promo.

2. Using the second option new customers get more up-front bonus but do not get the 30% discount on rates. This option is summarized on this page Tel3Advantage.

You can also call 800 441 0321 and talk with a Tel3Advantage representative.

Which is the best option? For most people the Triple Bonus is the best option. It is especially good for those who only want to use the service over the holidays or for a short period of time.

Tel3Advantage offers one of the most popular prepaid calling plans in North America with over 100,000 active customers. It can be used with any existing service provider to make cheap international calls from any phone. It can be used to make calls from Canada or the USA. Customers get exceptional service and call quality at surprisingly low rates with no taxes or hidden fees. Now is a great time to try Tel3Advantage.

Rebtel Promo Code - Rebtel Voucher is Good through January 2011

2010-12-11T16:19:00.007-05:00

Rebtel is having a nice promotion which lasts through the holiday season. New customers will get $5 in Free Calls if they use the following voucher code when they sign-up. There are three codes, new customers should use the one which corresponds to their currency.

US Dollars REPTEL5 ($5 in Free Calls)
GB Pounds RebtelGB3.5 (3.5 GB Pounds in Free Calls)
Euro RebtelEUR4 (4 Euro in Free Calls)

This promotion lasts until January 31, 2011. To learn more about Rebtel or open an account simply click on the banner at the bottom of this post.

Rebtel is a popular prepaid calling plan that can be used to make cheap international phone calls from any kind of telephone in 51 countries. They boast a customer base of over 3 million. We do not if that is true but we have received good feedback on this product. It is easy to use and many people tell us they have been happy with the quality.

Who Makes Calls to the Maldives?

2010-12-04T09:30:00.004-05:00

If you want to make cheap international phone calls to the Maldives from the USA or Canada than you should consider using Tel3Advantage. They have an amazing rate of only 8.9 cents per minute if you open a new account using their Triple Promotion. Visit cheap calls to Maldives for more information or call 800 441 0321 to speak with a Tel3Advantage representative. If you call, mention the triple promo to get this rate.

This is by far the best rate we have found for similar service. Most high quality phone cards charge between 15 and 20 cents per minute and most are not as convenient to use as Tel3Advantage. The Triple Promo rate is only good for 30 days than increases but people who only want short term service or those who call frequently can save a substantial amount of money.

Tel3Advantage offers one of the most popular prepaid calling plans in North America because they combine high quality service with low rates, convenience and flexibility. Tel3Advantage can be used to make cheap international phone calls to any location in the world from any kind of telephone. It is a very popular international calling plan with cell phone users. Tel3Advantage is a prepaid plan and there is no contract, monthly fees or long term obligation. All a customer needs to do is sign-up, deposit as little as $10 and start making calls.

Tel3Advantage Turkey Day Promotion

2010-11-24T11:11:00.007-05:00

Tel3 Advantage is having a Thanksgiving Day promotion for new customers who sign-up for their prepaid phone service through November 26, 2010. New customers who sign-up during the Tel3 promo will receive double the normal sign-up bonus. The bonus can be used to make long distance phone calls to any location. Those interested can sign-up using the link below or by calling 800 441 0321. New customers will get up to 1800 Free minutes of call time, depending on where they call, if they sign-up during this promotion. Tel3 Advantage Thanksgiving Promotion

Tel3Advantage is one of the most popular prepaid long distance calling plans in North America. It can be used to make cheap calls to any location in the world from any kind of telephone in the USA or Canada. It is especially popular with cell phone users who make frequent international phone calls because it is easy to use and comes with many useful features, like the ability to make international calls from SMART phones without dialing and extra numbers (No access numbers, account numbers or PIN codes). Tel3 also has some of the lowest rates and uses the highest quality connections. Find out why it is not necessary to purchase another phone card by trying Tel3Advantage for as little as $10 during this promotion.

Phone.com VoIP Service Wins Award

2010-11-14T15:08:00.004-05:00

Phone.com VoIP phone service has won the New Jersey Technology Council's (NJTC) Communications Company of the Year award for 2010. They will receive the award at a the NJTC annual awards ceremony held on November 17, 2010.

Phone.com is known for providing high quality, low cost home and business VoIP phone service. Their home service plans start at $9.88 per month and includes a full range of features and 250 minutes of long distance service. Monthly plans with unlimited long distance start at $17.88 per month. They are currently offering 15% off their basic plan for 6 months is coupon code 15OFF is used at check-out. Phone.com does not require a contract so there is no risk for trying the service. It is a good option for people who want cheap home phone service with unlimited domestic long distance. There are better options for those who want to make cheap international phone calls. Use the button below to visit there website.

Stay Connected When Traveling With A Calling Card

2010-10-31T11:01:00.000-05:00

If you are planning on traveling overseas in the near future, whether for business or pleasure, you will no doubt want to keep in contact with loved ones or business contacts in other countries. If you are traveling for pleasure then you might want to share all your new experiences with friends and family at home, or just let them know that you are doing ok. International calls are extremely important when it comes to business. You may find yourself traveling to meet new clients and need to touch base with the office but don’t want to pay the extortionate international call rates.

Using your cell phone from another country can get very expensive, very quickly so how do you avoid getting hit by huge bills once you’re back in the country? International calling cards are the answer. You can use your calling card pretty much wherever you are; use it with landline phones, phone booths and even your own mobile phone. Not only are calling cards convenient and easy to use, they are still the cheapest way to make international calls by a long stretch.

Phone cards are easy to pick up with most airports and convenience stores stocking them, so you can pick them up just before you go to jet off. The phone card set up may seem like an old system but it continues to work well so why change it? The phone card works like a credit card and is available in various amounts so you can keep an eye on your spending. You pre-pay for the card and the amount of money you spend correlates with the amount minutes you are given.

When you purchase your phone card you will be given a PIN number which you dial before dialing the phone number of the person you want to call. The card will connect via an access number which is either toll-free or local access. Once you have used up all the minutes on the card you can just dispose of it and buy a new one. Some cards are even refillable and you can top them up over the phone.

Calling cards are great for those traveling abroad. They make it easy to stay in touch with friends and family whilst still moving around. The other option is to apply for a long distance plan or service but this can sometime tie you up to a contract and aren’t as convenient as the simple phone card. You can take the card with you wherever you travel and use it through your cell phone or any landline phone.

When choosing the best calling card for your travel make sure you take into consideration all the various options that are available on the market. Look out for cards with added convenience features and don’t get caught out by any additional carrier fees. Also make sure that customer services will be available for you wherever you are in the world should anything go wrong with your phone card.

For more information on keeping the cost of international calling down whilst traveling, visit the Smart Global Call website.

How To Save Money On Your International Phone Bill

2010-10-31T10:58:00.001-05:00

Many people all over the world are paying far too much for making international calls. A great way of saving money and still keeping touch with loved ones or business associates whilst traveling is to use an international phone card. These phone cards, or calling cards as they are sometimes known, work on a prepaid account basis enabling the user to make calls without worrying about any hidden charges.

Most phone cards work on a prepaid basis nowadays, as this means that you can keep in touch with people all over the world whilst still enjoying very competitive prices. The prepaid card works on the basis that you pay for the full value of long distance rates or for a certain number of minutes, in advance of using the card. The best place to get a good deal on an international calling card is the internet. Here you will find that the rates are at their most competitive due to low overheads and fierce competition between companies offering the same service.

When it comes to cheap international calling with prepaid phone cards then you need look no further than Smart Global Call. They are committed to finding you the cheapest rates on international calls and their site makes it easier for you to compare rates, phone card features and lots more. Smart Global Call is your one-stop shop for phone cards with a wide range of products that can be used in over 130 countries.

Phone cards are a great for those looking to make cheap domestic and international long distance phone calls. They are simple to use and can be used from any kind of telephone to help keep your international phone bill down. Whether you are a student, off on your travels, military personnel or just someone looking to cut down on costs on international phone calls then you need a phone card.

You’re probably not alone if you think of a phone card as something that is quite old fashioned. But if it has been a while since you’ve actually used one you will see that they have improved drastically. Many of the old cards would have cheap rates but the call quality was terrible. Some also had hidden fees that you had to watch out for. Nowadays, you can get some really high quality phone cards that combine top quality connections with competitive tariffs. These are perfect for those who find themselves traveling a lot and simply have to make important international calls but don’t want to be hit with huge fees.

If you don’t like the idea of using a phone card then another option to keep the cost of international calls down is a prepaid long distance calling plan. There are lots of plans out there to choose from but they all work on the same basis of making international calls cheaper. You can make your call from any phone in the USA or Canada without out even needing to change companies. The calls go through a low cost network by dialing a local or toll free access number. With most networks there is no charge to open and maintain an account.

Most prepaid calling plans have extra features to enjoy as well. This will differ between networks of course, but look out for these add-ons as they will more than likely benefit from having them.
For more information on lowering your international phone bill, why not visit the Smart Global Call website and see if you can save yourself some money!

Special Rates on Calls to India for Diwali Holiday

2010-10-27T12:59:00.004-04:00

Rebtel has announced a special promotion on calls to India for the 2010 Diwali Holiday. The rate will be only 1.5 cents per-minute which is one of the best rates around on international calls to India. That is one reason why India is the most popular calling destination for Rebtel and it is one of the most popular prepaid calling products used by people who frequently call India. Rebtel is a nice, high quality product that can be used to make cheap international calls from any kind of telephone from more than 60 countries.

In addition to the low rate to India. People who sign-up for Rebtel before January 31, 2011 and deposit as little as $10 can get $5 in Free Calls by using Promo Code REBTEL5. Those interested in more information on Rebtel should visit Call to India for only 1.5c for more information.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Prepaid Phone Card

2010-10-25T10:46:00.006-04:00

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a Consumer Alert in July, 2010 covering Prepaid Phone Cards. The title of the alert is "When Minutes Matter: Choosing a Pre-paid Phone Card" and it contains some valuable tips for consumers. Some of there are summarized below.

The FTC indicates that "some" calling cards come with hidden fees that will reduce the minutes of talk time purchased. In our opinion, most phone cards come with hidden fees or taxes that will reduce the minutes purchased or increase the advertised rate per-minute to a specific location. Consumers should be aware of this and try to find a phone card with a fee structure that works best for them. A few phone cards have very low fees or, in some cases, no hidden fees but these are relatively rare and usually have higher advertised rates in order to make up for their lack of hidden fees. A couple that come to mind are the AT&T Phone Card and the Tel3Advantage prepaid calling plan. Both of these prepaid products have no hidden fees or taxes but higher advertised rates per-minute. Not all hidden fees are bad, there are other international phone cards with low fees but the fee structure tends to vary between phone cards so consumers should understand how these work so they can find the optimum prepaid phone card for their situation. The FTC advised that consumers should ask the following before making a phone card purchase:

Are fees going to decrease the value of the phone card? Some common fees to look for:

Post-Call, Disconnect or hang-up fees: these are charged each time a user hangs up the phone after using the card.
Maintenance fees: charges deducted from the value of the card shortly after using the card and at regular intervals thereafter.
Pay Phone Surcharges: charges deducted if you use the card at a pay phone.

We would like to add a few common hidden fees that the FTC failed to mention.

Many cards charge a connection fee: This is a charge made each time a call is connected using the card. In our opinion, this is one of the worst hidden charges because the same charge is made for short or long calls and for calls made to a mis-dialed number.
Phone Cards use a rounding interval for billing purposes: This hidden charge is hard for most individuals to understand. Phone cards use a rounding interval for billing purposes. These range from a few seconds to 6 or even 10 minutes. What this means is that the length of the call will be increased to the next rounding interval and the customer will be charged for that many minutes. An example will help explain the process; Assume a person makes a 30 second phone call using 3 phone cards with different rounding intervals. These are cards with 1, 3 and 6 minute rounding intervals for billing purposes. The caller would be billed for a one minute call using the first phone card (rounded to the next 1 minute), a 3 minute call using the second phone card and a 6 minute call using the third card. It is easy to see how this can make a big difference in the cost of a call and is a well disguised hidden fee that even the FTC did not mention.
A long call fee: Some phone cards will charge an extra fee for calls that last over a certain number of minutes.
A user fee: Some cards simply charge a user fee. This is applied like a sales tax that will be charged as a percentage of the charge for the call. These fees typically range between 15 and 30% so they can significantly increase the cost of a call.

We agree with most of the comments made by the FTC in their consumer alert. We especially believe that consumers should look for a phone card merchant that has a toll-free customer service phone number and that consumers should purchase phone cards they are not familiar with in small denominations. We would like to add one more piece of advice. Be especially suspicious of phone cards that advertise extremely low rates relative to the competition. These may offer very poor quality connections or have some well disguised hidden charges, in any case, the old adage even works with phone cards "if it seems too good to be true than it probably is not true".

How to make Cheap International Calls to Asia

2010-10-17T10:18:00.004-04:00

With large Asian immigrant populations and booming economies, the countries in Asia have quickly become one of the most popular calling destinations from North America. The international calling cost to most locations in Asia has come down in recent years and is now very cheap. It is easy to find prepaid calling products with rates that are lower than 2 cents per-minute on international calls from the USA to major countries such as China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea. Several sources list options for making cheap calls to Asia and other locations so it is relatively easy to find low cost prepaid calling products to any location in Asia.

Rates on calls to some countries is Asia are still relatively high. For example, a good rate on an international call from North America to the Philippines is still around 9 cents per-minute and calls to countries like Afghanistan, Myanmar and Nepal can be much higher. We did find a great rate on calls to the Maldives from the USA and Canada. Tel3Advantage offers a rate of only 8.9 cents per minute (plus up to 101 free minutes) through their Triple Promotion for new customer's. This rate includes all fees and taxes and is far better than anything else on the market. It is only good for the first 30 days but it may be all that some people need. Those interested in the Triple Promo rate to the Maldives and any other location should visit Tel3Advantage or call 800 441 0321 for details. They have some of the best rates on international calls to Asia and other locations from the USA and Canada. Tel3Advantage is also very easy to use. It can be used from any phone with any existing phone service (land-line or mobile) and does not require monthly fees or a contract. A customer simply deposits some money and uses the service whenever they like and any unused money will simply stay in the account. High quality service, convenience and flexibility has made Tel3Advantage on of the most popular prepaid calling service providers in North America.

Prepaid Phone Cards for Mobile Phones

2010-10-14T13:48:00.003-04:00

Mobile phone service providers charge extremely high rates for international long distance calls so many mobile phone users rely on prepaid phone cards for saving money on overseas calls. Other mobile phone users save money by using prepaid cell phones where they only pay for the minutes used each month. Some online merchants sell prepaid cell phone recharge cards at a discount so users can save even more money. In either case, prepaid phone cards are becoming more popular with mobile phone users.

Mobile phone service providers typically charge $1 or more per minute for international calls while the same call can be made for a few cents per minute with a prepaid phone card. A very popular prepaid calling plan used by mobile phone users in the USA and Canada is the Tel3Advantage Flex Plan. It can be used to make cheap international calls from any cell phone without changing companies and with no long term contract or other commitment. It is a simple to use prepaid service that can be used on a short or long term basis. Tel3Advantage does not charge any service fees, taxes or other hidden charges so the rate per minute advertised on their website to a destination is the actual rate charged (rounded up to the next minute). They even provide customers with an on-line account where they can view the details for each call made from their account so their billing is completely transparent. Tel3 also offers an application (TEL3Apps) so SMART phone users can make international calls from their phones without calling an access number or dialing any extra numbers. That is one reason why Tel3Advantage is one of the most popular prepaid calling plans for making international calls from mobile phones.

Prepaid phone cards are also a popular means of making international calls from mobile phones. A wide selection of international phone cards can be conveniently purchased on-line and can be used to make low cost international phone calls from almost any location in the world. They offer convenience, flexibility, low cost and a wide range of features. On-line phone cards are also stored in a users account and several premium cards also have features like call history, PIN free dialing and auto-recharge which makes them a convenient alternative for international calling. Rates and hidden fees vary widely between phone cards so care should be taken when shopping for phone cards. In most cases the advertised or listed rates per-minute for calls do not include all fees and taxes so read the fine print before making a purchase. In any case, the rate charged for international calls using prepaid phone cards will be than that charged by a mobile phone service provider.

Global Calling using a Single Phone Card

2010-10-07T11:31:00.003-04:00

Most international phone cards offer competitive rates to a single country or region of the world so international callers need to shop around in order to find a card with good rates to the countries they wish to call. There are only a few prepaid calling products that offer competitive rates to all locations and even these have limitations. We discuss two popular global calling products below.

The first product is Tel3Advantage. It can be used to make cheap long distance calls (domestic or international) from the USA or Canada. This includes Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Tel3Advantage is a popular product with frequent international callers because it offers low rates and superior call quality to almost all locations. Tel3Advantage also offers a nice signup bonus for new customers. Those who are interested should visit the Tel3Advantage Promo post for more details. Tel3Advantage can be used to make calls without dialing a PIN code or account number from multiple registered phone numbers in the same account. It also has an App (TEL3 Apps) which allows SMART phone users to directly dial international calls from their phones without dialing any extra numbers. Tel3Advantage provides customers with an on-line account where they can monitor activity in their account and easily make changes to their preferences. It comes with a complete array of features like speed dial, call history. PIN free dialing, toll free access and a wide network of local access numbers in the USA and Canada. It also does not charge any hidden fees or taxes. For these reasons, Tel3Advantage is one of the most popular international calling products in North America with over 500,000 active customers.

Another product that is similar to Tel3Advantage is the continental phone card. The continental card offers similar rates, quality and features with the added advantage that it can be used to make calls from over 60 countries. It also has other built in products which makes it much more than a standard phone card. For example, it can be used to make conference calls, as a callback phone to make cheap international calls from any country in the world, to set-up a personal toll free number in the USA and for PC-to-Phone service. The continental phone card is one of the most versatile phone cards on the market. It has low fees and also comes with a variety of popular features like speed dial, call history and PIN free calling. For these reasons the continental phone card is one of the most popular on-line phone cards sold in the USA.

Phone Cards with Speed Dial

2010-09-29T11:52:00.004-04:00

People who make frequent international phone calls know how easy it is to make mistakes while dialing a long series of numbers. To make matters worse, many phone cards require users to dial an access number and enter a PIN code or account number before dialing all of the numbers required to make an international phone call. This is not only a hassle but one mistaken number can cause the call to not be completed or a call that is completed to the wrong number. Several phone card companies have come up with ingenious features that can make international calling far more convenient. These include options like PIN free dialing, so callers do not need to enter an account number or PIN code when completing a call, and a less known feature called Speed Dial.

Speed Dial is a favorite with international callers who make frequent phone calls to the same international phone numbers. Using the Speed Dial feature, all a caller needs to do is list the international phone numbers they frequently call in their on-line account and assign it a one or, in some cases, a two digit number. When they want to make a call to one of their assigned numbers they simply dial a one or two digit number and the call is completed. This makes dialing international phone numbers much easier and there is much less possibility of dialing an incorrect phone number.

There are a few premium phone cards on the market that have a Speed Dial feature. Smart Global Call International Phone Cards market 4 phone cards with Speed Dial. These are the Cardinal, Continental, Golden Lotus and Simply phone cards. You can find them on their website at Phone Cards International. These all allow users to input up to 8 phone numbers and assign them numbers from 1 to 9. An international number can than be dialed by inputting a single digit. These are all high quality phone cards with low rates, low fees and other useful features.

Another prepaid calling product that features Speed Dial is the Tel3Advantage flex plan. Their Speed Dial feature allows callers to add up to 99 phone numbers and international phone numbers can be called by dialing 2 digits. Tel3Advantage is a very high quality product that can be used to make cheap international calls from North America. It is one of the most popular international calling plans since it has no hidden fees and a variety of features that make international calling more convenient.

Save Time and Hassles with Direct Dial

2010-09-25T10:19:00.005-04:00

Many callers find making international calls with phone cards a hassle because they need to dial long international phone numbers along with access numbers and PIN codes. Dialing all of these numbers is burdensome and it is easy to make a mistakes while dialing and complete calls to the wrong phone number. Several companies have been working on new features in order to make life easier for frequent international callers and there are a few new ideas available on the market today.

Tel3 has been a great innovator in the prepaid calling market. Their Tel3Advantage product has featured PIN free dialing and speed dial for several years and they recently introduced TEL3Apps for SMART phone users. Using the Tel3Advantage speed dial feature any customer can add up to 100 phone numbers to their on-line account and dial the numbers by pressing only two digits. This feature can be used with any telephone and makes it much easier to accurately dial complex international phone numbers. TEL3Apps is a free application that Tel3Advantage customers can use with a SMART phone. It allows the customer to directly dial international numbers through the low cost Tel3 network from their SMART phone without dialing access numbers or PIN codes. SMART phone users can also dial numbers directly from the address book on their mobile phones. Their mobile phone will automatically route international calls over the low cost Tel3 network for significant savings. Best of all, Tel3 Mobile can be used with any mobile phone service provider without changing anything.

Other prepaid calling products have taken a different approach. For example, the Solaris Phone Card uses a feature they call Direct Dial to reduce the hassle of dialing international phone numbers. Using the Direct Dial feature, each international contact is assigned a unique USA phone number. If a customer wishes to call the contact they simply dial the unique USA phone number and the call is completed without dialing PIN codes, access numbers or complicated international phone numbers. This feature makes it significantly easier to complete international calls to numbers that are frequently called and makes it very easy to add these contacts to the address book on a mobile phone but it does not offer the universal flexibility and ease-of-use featured by Tel3 Mobile.

Rebtel Promotion - Rebtel Voucher Code

2010-09-22T10:49:00.003-04:00

Rebtel is having a promotion for new customers who signup for their service through November 1, 2010. It is actually a very good deal. New customers who signup and deposit as little as $10 will receive a $5 bonus by using voucher code REBTEL5. This is a 50% bonus and is worth about 6 hours of calls to many locations.

Rebtel offers a nice international calling product that can be used to make cheap international calls from over 50 countries. Also, few people realize that they can make free calls between these countries using Rebtel. Visit the following page to learn more about making free international calls with Rebtel.

How to Make Free Calls with Rebtel

Retel is a high quality prepaid calling service that routes calls over the INTERNET. Call quality is very high, their rates are low and they use a one minute billing interval with no hidden fees or taxes. We have heard good things about their service from several callers. Use the banner below to find out more about their service and use the voucher code (above) to get a nice 50% bonus.

How to Make the Cheapest Calls to Asia

2010-09-20T10:56:00.005-04:00

Several of the most popular international calling destinations from the USA are located in Asia. Rates on calls to most countries in Asia are not high when compared to international calls to other locations but, in today's economy, most consumers are trying to save as much money as possible. One way to save substantial money on international calls is to use phone cards or other prepaid calling products. We recently reviewed several options for making cheap international calls to Asia and found that one prepaid phone card stood out from the rest on calls to most countries in Asia from the USA. We found that the Penny Boss Phone Card has the lowest rates to most countries in Asia. It is also very convenient to use from the USA since it has a toll free access number along with a wide network of local access numbers and it offers PIN Free dialing. The PIN Free Dialing feature allows a user to add up to 6 phone numbers to their account and if the phone card is used to place a call from one of these phone numbers there is no need to dial an account number or PIN code. It also has low fees and is highly rated when it comes to call quality. Penny Boss is a versatile phone card with cheap rates on long distance calls to most locations, inlcuding a low 1.3 cent-per-minute rate on long distance calls within the USA.

Tel3Advantage also offers low rates on calls to Asia from the USA. We found that it had the best rates on calls to the Philippines and South Korea. Tel3Advantage also has some other advantages over typical prepaid phone cards. For example, it uses a 1 minute rounding interval and has no added fees or taxes so the listed rates for each destination is the actual amount charged which makes it less expensive on calls to many destinations when all fees and taxes are considered. It is one of the few prepaid calling products with no hidden fees which makes it one of our favorites. Those who are interested should visit the Tel3 Triple Promo website for the best deal on Tel3Advantage.

Tel3Advantage: New Customer Promotions

2010-09-14T13:27:00.004-04:00

Tel3 provides a bonus for new Tel3Advantage customers to encourage people to sign-up and try the service. Most people are not aware that they actually offer two different bonus options for new customers. These are accessed via different links (provided below) and offer slightly different deals. The best option for an individual depends on factors like their calling pattern, what countries they plan to call and how long they plan to use the product. The following is a discussion of the two new customer promotions offered by Tel3Advantage.

For discussion purposes, we will call one option the Standard Bonus and the other option the Triple Bonus. The following is a discussion of each.

1. Tel3Advantage Standard Bonus - A new customer pays standard rates for each call and gets the following bonus depending on how much they initially deposit into the account. Note that the bonus amount can only be used to make calls and is based on the initial deposit. There is no bonus for subsequent deposits.

Deposit $10 and get $0 Bonus.
Deposit $25 and get a $5 Bonus.
Deposit $50 and get a $7 Bonus.
Deposit $100 and get a $9 Bonus.

2. Tel3Advantage Triple Bonus - The so called Triple Bonus is similar to the standard bonus except the customer gets less cash deposited into the account but pays 30% lower rates on all calls for the first 30 days. The following is the bonus schedule.

Deposit $10 and get $0 Bonus.
Deposit $25 and get a $3 Bonus.
Deposit $50 and get a $6 Bonus.
Deposit $100 and get a $9 Bonus.

How does a new customer decide on the best bonus? If they want to deposit $10 or $100 the choice is simple, the Triple Bonus is best because it provides the same cash bonus and 30% lower rates for the first 30 days. For a person who wants to deposit $25 the choice is not as clear. We think the Triple Bonus is the best option for most people but there are exceptions. For example, a caller who plans to make short, infrequent calls to a relatively low cost country will likely do better with the standard bonus. However, this is not a typical calling pattern so we think most people should sign-up using the Triple Promo. Use one of the links above for more information or call 800 441 0321 to talk with a Tel3Advantage customer service agent. Happy Calling....

Avoid Phone Cards with Connection Fees

2010-09-13T07:25:00.004-04:00

Many phone card marketers advertise low rates and make up for them by charging hidden fees. These hidden charges take on many forms. They can be anything from a straight forward tax or service charge on each call or a periodic maintenance fee to a less obvious long call fee or the use of a large rounding interval to calculate the cost for each call. In any case, most phone cards have hidden fees that increase the cost of making calls above the advertised rate.

We feel the most onerous hidden fee is a connection fee. This is a fee that is charged each time a call is connected and it can significantly increase the cost of making calls. Connection fees can be as high as 50 cents or more per call. In many cases these charges are made even if the wrong number is dialed and completed or if the phone is answered and the call is disconnected or the person of of interest is not at home. A connection fee can signficantly increase the cost of making international calls with phone cards. Consider the following example:

Assume a person makes a 20 minute call to Germany from the USA. A typical rate for a premium prepaid phone card rate is 2 or 3 cents per minute. Assume the card offering the 2 cent rate has a 50 cent connection fee while the card with the 3 cent rate has no fee. What is the cost of the same call using each card.

1. The card with no connection fee: 20 minutes x 3 cents/minute = 60 cents

2. The card with a connection fee: 20 min x 2 cents/min + 50 cents = 90 cents

The actual cost using the second card is actually 50% higher even though the advertised rate per minute was 30% lower. 20 minutes is a typical call length. It should be noted that connection fees have more impact on calls with a shorter duration.

This example illustrates the fact that all fees and taxes should be considered when comparing prepaid calling products. Do not assume that the actual rate charged for a call using a phone card will be the listed or advertised rate. This is typically the base rate before adding on hidden fees and taxes. There are only a few prepaid calling products on the market that do not charge hidden fees or taxes. One is the AT&T calling card which is a premium card but has high rates and another is Tel3Advantage. The Tel3Advantage flex plan is a prepaid calling plan that can be used to make cheap international calls from any location in the USA or Canada. It is one of the most popular prepaid calling plans with more than 500,000 active customers.

7 Reasons to Purchase Phone Cards Online

2010-09-12T11:05:00.006-04:00

We often wonder why people purchase phone cards in supermarkets and other retail outlets. There may be valid reasons for these purchases but they may also be due to impulse buying, a false sense of security or simply not knowing about the alternatives. In any case, millions of people still purchase phone cards in retail outlets and are foregoing the many advantages offered by online phone cards. Some of the key advantages of online phone cards are outlined below:

Security - People may feel secure having a plastic card in their hand but it can always be lost or stolen. An online phone card is safely stored in a users online account where it can be accessed via the INTERNET from any location.
Cost - We have not performed a detailed study of cost but many of the rates we see advertised on phone cards in stores seem very high. For example, some phone cards in retail outlets advertise rates on long distance calls in the USA of 5 cents or more per minute. Many premium quality online phone cards offer rates of 2 cents per minute or less for the same calls. This represents a savings of over 50%. We have observed the same for advertised rates on international long distance calls.
Selection - Most retail outlets offer a limited number of phone cards while the INTERNET offers an unlimited selection. The phone card industry is not standardized. Phone cards have different fee structures and most phone cards have other limitations. For example, they may offer very good rates on calls to certain locations or regions of the world while calls to other locations are relatively expensive or they can only be used from specific countries or cities. There are general phone cards (like the AT&T card) that can be used to call to-and-from most countries but these tend to have very high rates. Callers who want to save money on calls and not get ripped-off should compare the terms and conditions offered by various phone cards and this is best done online.
Simplicity - Many online phone card merchants offer a variety of phone cards. Multiple phone cards can be purchased from these merchants and stored in one online account. In many cases, unused funds can be transferred from one phone card to the another in the users account. This is a nice convenience for people who travel or others who want to call to-or-from multiple locations and still want the best rates. An example of a phone card vendor like this is phone cards international.
Features - Online phone cards offer a multitude of features. Some of the more popular features are an online call history (listing the details of each phone call), auto-recharge, PIN free dialing, speed dial, fund transfer between cards, permanent PIN and access to an online user account. Some cards also offer conference calling and other features like international callback.
Convenience - Online phone cards are simply more convenient. A user can check account balances, purchase cards or add funds from any INTERNET connection.
Research - It is much easier to compare phone cards and study things like pricing, usage and terms & conditions online than while standing in a retail outlet. The phone card market can be confusing and, in many cases, a little research before a purchase can save a caller from making a costly mistake.

Those interested in learning more about phone cards or other options for saving money on international phone cards are encouraged to visit a website like the international call guide for calling tips and further information.

How to Make Cheap International Calls from the UAE

2010-09-11T11:35:00.004-04:00

It is relatively easy to find products for making cheap international calls to the UAE but making cheap international calls from the UAE is a problem for most people. Like several other countries, the UAE actively blocks Skype and other VoIP products in order to drive international callers to their high cost domestic phone company. This is like a tax on international isitors and expats working in the UAE. However, on a recent trip to the UAE we experimented with some products and found a couple of international calling options that were both low cost and good quality.

We found that international phone cards were an expensive option for making calls from the UAE and so are international mobile phones. Expect to pay $1 per-minute or more with one of these options. There is a special kind of phone card that works well from the UAE and a cost for calls to the USA is only around 14 US cents per-minute. It is the continental phone card which has a special callback feature called web call. It can be used to make cheap international calls from a standard mobile or landline telephone in any country. All the user needs is an INTERNET connection and a telephone that cen receive a phone call from overseas. To use the service, all the caller does is log into their account on-line and input the phone number they are calling from and the number (in another country) they wish to call. They submit this screen and in a few seconds they will receive a call from a computer located in the USA. When the call is answered they will hear the phone they wish to call begin to ring and the call is completed. This service worked very well from the UAE and the call quality was very good. Those who want more information on this callback service should visit the following page; web call.

We also found a way to use Skype from the UAE. In order to do this we had to first download and subscribe to a service called StrongVPN. This service is used to create a bridge over the INTERNET from where the user's PC is located to another country. In our case the other country was the USA but they have other options. So, in our case, using StrongVPN the IP address of our computer was in the USA and we were able to make calls using Skype as if we were in the USA not the UAE. We were able to make free PC-to-PC calls to other Skype users and we were able to make PC-to-Phone calls at USA rates. This is a super option for expats living in the UAE or for people who travel with a PC and want to make cheap calls from any location. StrongVPN provides them with a secure INTERNET connection from any location and the ability to use Skype and visit other websites that may be blocked by the local country. Visit PC-to-Phone service or use the tab at the bottom of the page for more information on StrongVPN.

Home Business Opportunity in Canada

2010-09-10T00:37:00.005-04:00

Tel3 has recently launched a new program to recruit agents to sell their popular Tel3Advantage prepaid long distance program in Canada. Until recently only USA residents could sell the program so this is a big change and a good opportunity for those seeking a home based buiness in Canada. Tel3Advantage can be used to make cheap domestic and international calls from any phone in the USA or Canada without changing companies or entering into a contract or long term obligation. It is one of the most popular prepaid calling products because it offers high quality, low cost and a variety of attractive features. It is especially popular with people who make alot of international calls because it integrates well with mobile phones or any business or private telephone without changing anything. Therefore, customers have the ability to make cheap international calls from any location or type of telephone with one product.

Tel3 is offering a special promotion for new Canadian agents. They will get double the normal commission rate through the end of 2010 and their customers will also get double the normal sign-up bonus (Free Minutes). It is completely free to sign-up and become an agent. There is nothing to purchase and Tel3 provides agents with a free website and very good marketing support. It does take time and hard work to become a successful agent but it offers an opportunity to work from home and earn an unlimited income. This is one of the best programs of its kind since it is possible to become successful with no previous experience. We are living proof of that. We started as an agent about 5 years ago with no previous telecommunications or INTERNET marketing experience and are now one of the top producing agents in the Tel3Advantage program.

Those Canadians who are interested should visit Tel3Advantage Agent Program for Canada for more details. It is completely free to sign-up and you can start marketing the product through your own website in a matter of minutes.

Back to School Phone Card Special Offer

2010-09-05T21:09:00.003-04:00

Visit the following page Phone Card Special and save 10% on all phone cards until September 16, 2010. Smart Global Call International Phone Cards features a wide selection of phone cards that can be used to make cheap long distance phone calls from almost any location. They are especially good for making cheap international calls. The continental phone card is one of our favorites because it offers high call quality, low cost and a wide range of features. It can also be used in several different ways. Most people use it as a traditional phone card but it can also be used for making low cost conference calls or as a callback phone card. We like the web call feature which allows people to make cheap international calls from any phone in the world where calls can be received. It is very easy to use and it works very well, we have tested it on calls from a variety of locations where it is hard to find products for making cheap international calls. Smart Global Call is a good source of information on international calling products and services. There is a money saving product for almost any circumstance, it just takes a little research to find the best option.

How to Make Cheap International Calls from Oman with Skype

2010-08-27T01:30:00.008-04:00

It is relatively easy to find products that can be used to make cheap calls to Oman from almost any location in the world but making international calls from Oman is another matter. The Omani government has attempted to block most cheap international calling options so people (especially expats) are forced to use the high cost, government controlled monopoly phone company to make international calls. This is especially designed to extract as much money as possible from the relatively large expat community living in Oman.

On a recent visit to Oman I found that their phone service is expensive (even phone cards) and call quality did not seem very high. I used a prepaid cell phone while in the country and the domestic call quality is even poor. The government has blocked Skype and other pc-to-phone and VoIP products for several years so people are required to use their expensive domestic phone service. However, there is a way to use Skype from Oman and I found that Skype call quality was even higher than the Omani land line or mobile phone service.

I used Skype from Oman by first downloading a program called StrongVPN onto my laptop computer. Strong VPN creates a connection through the Internet from a PC to a server located in another country (the USA or Europe). Strong VPN assigns an IP address to the PC from the other country so Skype thinks a call is being made from that country not from Oman. I connected my PC to a server in New York using Strong VPN and made Skype to phone calls to the USA for 2 cents per minute. The system worked great and call quality was super. Strong VPN for use from Oman costs $85 per year but that can be saved many times over by using Skype instead of the domestic phone service for making international calls.

Strong VPN offers other advantages to people who travel with a laptop. One big advantage is a secure connection on any wireless network. It encrypts the signal through the wireless connection so it is much safer to use a laptop on almost any public network. There are also other advantages that are discussed on their website.

Lingo International VoIP Phone

2010-08-14T15:13:00.003-04:00

Lingo VoIP has a new offer which makes it one of the best options for international callers who make frequent calls to certain countries. Callers will get unlimited long distance calling in the USA and to 45 countries with Lingo for the low rate of $21.95 per month. During the current sign-up special, new customers will get one month of Free Service, Free activation, Free shipping and Free equipment. This is a $116 value. Visit VoIP Service Providers for more information on Lingo VoIP and other options for making cheap international phone calls.

An international VoIP call plan is typically a good option for those who make frequent calls and use a lot of minutes each month calling to one or more of the locations included in the plan. It can be the lowest cost option for these people and it also offers high call quality. It does offer some disadvantages versus a prepaid international plan like Tel3Advantage. For example, with a VoIP plan a customer will pay the monthly fee even if they do not make any calls during the month while they will only pay for what they use with a prepaid plan. Therefore, those who consistently make a lot of international calls each month may benefit from a VoIP plan while others may benefit from the flexibility of a prepaid call plan.

Cheap Calls from Countries where Skype and VoIP is Blocked

2010-07-17T15:15:00.007-04:00

Several countries actively block Skype and VoIP service as well as access to various websites. The following is a list of countries where Skype service is blocked. There are likely other countries not listed here so it is something to consider when traveling to international locations.

Belize
Brazil
Caribbean Countries (Jamaica, etc.)
China
Egypt
Jordan
Kuwait
Mexico
Oman
Pakistan
Paraguay
Qatar
UAE

In most cases, these countries block Skype and VoIP phone service in order to force people to use their high cost international phone service. It is possible to get relatively cheap international phone cards that can be used to make calls from Brazil, China and Pakistan so these are good alternatives. However, the other countries leave few options for people who want to make cheap international phone calls.

One exception is international callback. International callback can be used to make cheap international calls from cell phones or any type of phone that can receive international phone calls. International callback can save callers a lot of money because the calls originate in another country and the local, high cost phone service is by-passed. There are different types of callback but one we like is commonly called Web Call. It is simple to use and very hard to block since it is triggered by sending a pre-formatted e-mail message to a computer in another country. Therefore, all that is required to place a call is a phone and any type of Internet connection. The e-mail contains the phone number where to caller is located and the number that the caller wants to call. A computer receives the e-mail, places a call to the caller and, when answered, completes the call by placing a call to the other parties phone number. It is simple, cheap and can be used to make international calls from any country in the world.

Cheap International Calls to South Africa

2010-06-26T14:00:00.003-04:00

South Africa has recently become a very popular international calling destination due to the 2010 World Cup. Many people people at home are trying to find ways to make cheap calls to South Africa so they can keep in touch with family and friends attending the World Cup. Rates vary significantly between international calling products and the country where the call originates but there are some basic rules to follow for those who want significant savings. First, forget traditional land-line or traditional cell phone service providers. International rates through these companies are sky high and they offer nothing other than convenience. Those willing to suffer a little inconvenience can save a lot of money by using one of the following products.

Those calling from North America (Canada or the USA) should use Tel3Advantage. It is a prepaid calling plan (similar to a phone card) that can be used to make cheap long distance phone calls from any kind of telephone. It is has the lowest rates to South Africa from North America and is very convenient to use. It is easy to open an account and there are no fees or hidden charges, simply deposit as little as $10 and start making calls. Rates from North America to land-lines in South Africa are 3.1 cents per minute and those to mobile phones are 11.6 cents per minute. These are very good since they include all taxes and fees.

People who want to make cheap phone calls to South Africa from Canada, the USA or other locations should consider phone cards. These can be used to make calls from any kind of phone in over 130 countries. Typical rates on calls from the USA to South African land-lines using premium quality phone cards start at about 3.4 cents per-minute. Calls to mobile phones in South Africa start at about 8.9 cents per-minute. These are advertised rates, actual rates will be higher due to taxes and fees. Visit Phone Cards International for more information on a variety of international phone cards.

Another popular method of making international calls is a PC-to-Phone service like Skype. This is a popular service because users can make free PC-to-PC calls if both parties use Skype. The free service is limited because both parties need to have PC or WiFi access in order to complete free calls. Rates on PC-to-Phone calls using Skype are typically not as cheap as the rates on calls made using Phone Cards or Tel3Advantage. For example, using Skype pay-as-you-go service, calls from the USA to South African land-lines cost 6.8 cents per-minute and those on calls to mobile phones are 23.3 cents per-minute. These rates are before tax but they are already much higher than the other services mentioned above.

Those who don't normally make many international calls and only want a product to make a few calls during the World Cup should consider using phone cards. Premium phone cards offer quality, low cost, convenience and many can be purchased denominations of $5 or less. These are ideal for the occasional international caller.

Are Prepaid Phone Cards the Answer?

2010-06-22T10:39:00.002-04:00

If you are planning to travel to Europe or other international destinations this summer than prepaid phone cards may be the answer to your communication needs. Many people plan to use an international cell phone to keep in touch but those who check the rates offered by their carrier find the cost is far too high. Why pay dollars per-minute for calls when high quality international phone cards offer rates of just a few cents per-minute? International cell phones are fine for emergency but the rates charged for international calls are simply to high for every day use. People who want to save money should purchase prepaid phone cards that will work from the countries they plan to visit. These can be conveniently purchased and recharged through an on-line account from any location where the INTERNET is available. Phone cards are low cost and convenient to use since they can be used from almost any telephone. There may be some restrictions or extra charges in some countries so read the fine print before making a purchase. The answer is that travelers who make frequent international calls with phone cards will save a lot compared to those who make the same calls with international cell phones.

Father's Day Phone Card Sale - 15% Discount

2010-06-18T14:59:00.002-04:00

Smart Global Call International Phone Cards has a 15% discount on all phone cards in celebration of Father's Day, June 20th. The sale lasts through Monday, June 21st. Use the link below to get the 15% discount. They offer a wide selection of phone cards that can be used to make cheap calls from over 130 countries. The selection includes the popular continental phone card and even premium phone cards like Bison and AT&T. Visit Phone Card Sale for more information.

Tel3Advantage World Cup Sweepstakes - Win Free International Calling

2010-06-11T16:23:00.004-04:00

Tel3Advantage started their World Cup Sweepstakes today. It is Free to enter and First Prize Winners (9 people) will be able to make free international phone calls to the country of their choice through the end of the year using Tel3Advantage. It is easy to enter and there is no obligation, just visit Tel3Advantage World Cup Sweepstakes and choose your favorite country. The sweepstakes runs from June 11th through July 11, 2010.

There will be nine first place winners and each will be able to make Free International calls to the country they choose through the end of 2010. Also, the cost of all calls to the country with the most votes will be reduced by 10% during the month of August. You do not need a Tel3Advantage account to enter so the contest is open to everyone.

The Tel3Advantage Flex plan is one of the most popular prepaid calling plans in North America. It can be used to make cheap domestic and international long distance calls using any phone in the USA and Canada. It is free to open and maintain an account and there is no contract or obligation. Just prepaid an amount ranging from $10 to $100 and start making calls. Tel3Advantage features excellent customer service and call quality. It is the only company in the industry with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Phone Cards with Call History

2010-06-05T14:25:00.005-04:00

A few premium on-line phone cards offer a call history feature. With call history, callers can view charges, duration and destinations for all calls made on their phone card. This is a nice feature to say the least, especially for those phone card users who have wondered where all of those minutes went. Not all phone cards come with a call history feature. Those that have call history provide users with an on-line account where they can log-in and view the details of each call made on their account in real time. We know that the following international phone cards come with the call history feature. These cards are marketed by Phone Cards International and the details for each card can be viewed on their website.

Hello from UK - A phone card with great rates for those who call to and from the UK. It features toll free access in the UK, USA and Canada. It also has local access numbers in 14 UK cities.
Continental Phone Card - A great all around international phone card that can be used from over 60 countries.
Golden Lotus - An international phone card with great rates to India and other countries in Asia. It can be used from 25 countries.
Marachi - A super phone card for those who want to make calls to or from Mexico and other countries in Latin America.
Simply - An international phone card with great rates to most destinations from the USA and Canada.

Another premium on-line prepaid calling product that includes call history is the Tel3Advantage Flex Plan. It is a super on-line calling card that can be used to make cheap international calls from the USA and Canada. It can be used to make calls from any phone. It is also very easy to use and has no hidden fees and comes complete with a full range of features. Visit cheap international calling for more information on Tel3Advantage and other products that can be used to make cheap international phone calls.

5 Common Phone Card Rip-Offs

2010-05-18T11:00:00.003-04:00

Many phone cards impose hidden fees that cause minutes to disappear so, in many cases, users will get less minutes than they expect when the card is used. In most cases these fees are disclosed in the fine print but many consumers do not pay attention to the fine print when making a purchase. We have listed five common hidden fees below.

1. Connection fees – These are imposed each time a call is connected whether the call is long or short and even if the caller dials the wrong number. Many phone cards do not charge a connection fee so we think consumers should avoid phone cards that charge these fees because they can represent a significant added cost.

2. Maintenance Fees – These fees are imposed at certain time intervals after the first use of the phone card. The time interval varies but it is usually weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. The best way to avoid this fee is to purchase a small denomination phone card and use it quickly.

3. Rounding Interval – This is a tricky hidden fee that most consumers do not recognize. The rounding interval is used to measure the length of the call for billing purposes. These range from less than 1 minute to 6 or more minutes. In general, a card with a higher rounding interval has more hidden cost. This can best be seen by the following simple example.

Assume a person makes a 6.5 minute international call from the USA to Germany. The following would be the charge depending on the rounding interval. In each case the length of the call is rounded to the next interval.

A phone card with a 1-minute rounding interval would charge 7 minutes.
A phone card with a 3-minute rounding interval would charge 9 minutes.
A phone card with a 6-minute rounding interval would charge 12 minutes.

4. Toll Free Access Fee – This is a fee charged by phone cards for using a toll free access number rather than a local access number when placing a call. In some cases there is no added fee or it is an insignificant amount but it other cases it can significantly increase the cost of a call. It is a per-minute charge that can range from 0 to 3 or more cents per-minute. Callers should be aware that there may be an added cost before they blindly use a toll free access number.

5. Long Call fee – Some phone cards add a charge for calls that last over a certain length of time. The time varies but it is commonly 20 or 30 minutes.

Consumers should realize that hidden fees imposed by phone cards are not reflected in the advertised rates so it is best to estimate the added cost when comparing different phone cards. However, most of these fees can be avoided or minimized if a consumer shops around and reads the fine print before making a purchase. There are some companies, like Tel3Advantage, that offer online prepaid calling products with no added fees. Therefore, products like these tend to be popular with prepaid who make frequent international calls. Those interested in further information should visit Smart Global Call for more tips and information on prepaid calling products.

Tel3Advantage has the Lowest International Rates to Many Popular Destinations

2010-05-14T09:17:00.005-04:00

Tel3Advantage offers one of the most popular preapid calling plans in North America and, as shown below, has the lowest rates to many popular destinations. The rates are even lower for the first 30 days if people sign-up using the Triple Promotion. Visit Tel3 Triple Promo for details. The following are rates per minute on international calls from Canada and the USA.

China 1.3 cents
Madrid Spain 1.4 cents
Bangkok Thailand 1.5 cents
Geneva Switzerland 1.8 cents
South Korea 1.9 cents
Tokyo Japan 2.1 cents
Porto Alegra Brazil 2.6 cents
Bulgaria 3 cents
Philippines 10.5 cents
Kenya Mobile Phone 10.9 cents
Kuwait Mobile Phone 10 cents
Iran Mobile Phone 11.5 cents
Iraq Mobile Phone 11.7 cents
UAE 15.1 cents
Armenia Mobile Phone 15.8 cents
Syria Mobile 17.4 cents
Ethiopia 21.9 cents

It is easy to make cheap international phone calls with Tel3Advantage from the USA and Canada. There are no contract requirements and it is not necessary to change companies in order to use the service. Opening an account is free and there are no maintenance fees or hidden charges. Simply pay for the calls you make and use the service as little or as much as you like. That is why Tel3Advantage prepaid long distance phone service is so popular.

Phone Card Features: Speed Dial

2010-05-11T11:40:00.004-04:00

A little known phone card feature that is popular with many international callers is speed dial. Using the speed dial feature a caller can pre-program phone numbers and dial them by pressing two keys. This is a very nice time saving feature for people who make frequent international calls to friends, family or business associates overseas. It is also a great way to minimize dialing errors and placing calls to the wrong phone number. Rather than dialing a sequence of 8 or 10 numbers to place an international call, the same call can be completed by pushing only two numbers.

Speed dial is not a very common phone card feature. We only know of three prepaid calling products that feature speed dial. One is Tel3Advantage, which is a popular prepaid long distance product that can be used to make calls from North America. The others are two premium phone cards, Cardinal and Continental, offered by phone cards international. These phone cards can be used to make cheap calls from over 60 countries. Speed dial is one of those features that most people do not even know about but once they use it going back to dialing numbers is almost impossible.

Mother's Day Phone Card Deal

2010-05-05T13:00:00.003-04:00

Smart Global Call Phone Cards International started their annual Mother's Day special offer today. These are international phone cards that can be used to make cheap calls from more than 130 countries. The sale features a 10% discount on all prepaid phone cards. It lasts through May 12th. Customers need to use the following link in order to get this special offer, Mother's Day Phone Card Discount.

Tel3Advantage is also having a promotion which lasts through May 10th. Their offer can be found by using the following link, Tel3Advantage Mother's Day Promo. International callers should check out both offers to see which one is the best deal for thier situation. With Tel3Advantage, callers can make cheap international phone calls from the USA or Canada. Using prepaid phone cards a caller can make cheap international calls from more than 130 countries. Tel3Advantage has better rates to certain locations but, in many cases, Tel3Advantage rates are similar to those charged by high quality phone cards.

Tel3Advantage Mother's Day Promotion

2010-05-03T08:39:00.004-04:00

Tel3Advantage started their Mother's Day promotion today and it lasts through May 10, 2010. During the promotion new customers will get double the normal sign-up bonus so it is a great time to give Tel3Advantage a try. Those who want to sign-up or are interested in further details should visit Tel3Advantage or call 800 441 0321.

During the Mother's Day promotion, new customers will receive double the normal sign-up bonus. The amount depends on how much money they deposit when they open their account. The bonus amounts are summarized below.

Deposit $10 and get a $2 bonus.
Deposit $25 and get a $10 bonus.
Deposit $50 and get a $14 bonus.
Deposit $100 and get a $19 bonus.

The bonus is added to the amount deposited and can be used to make phone calls to any location.

Tel3Advantage has an on-going promotion that can be accessed through the following special link Tel3Advantage Triple Promo. The triple promo includes a lower up-front bonus but it provides new customers with discounted rates for the first 30 days. For those who plan to make frequent calls to high cost locations the triple promo may be a better deal. However, for most people the Mother's Day promo is the best option since the bonus is paid up-front and it will stay in the account until it is used so there is no time limit.

Tel3Advantage is a popular prepaid calling plan that can be used to make cheap domestic and international long distance phone calls from any location in North America, including Canada, the USA and Puerto Rico. It can be used to make cheap calls to any location in the world. Tel3Advantage does not require a contract and does not charge any fees for opening or maintaining an account. It works something like a virtual phone card but has high call quality and no hidden fees. Tel3Advantage also provides customers with free on-line access to their account where they can view all charges and make changes to their account settings. Tel3Advantage is a popular product for making cheap international phone calls since it has high quality, maintains a large network of access numbers, has a wide range of features and can be used to make phone calls without dialing PIN codes or account numbers. We have used it for 5 years and still love the product.

International Cell Phones are a Convenient but Costly Option

2010-05-02T16:40:00.003-04:00

International mobile phones have become very popular with international travelers especially business travelers who can now take their office with them wherever they travel. However, it is a very costly way to make international phone calls while on a trip. International cell phone carriers typical charge for incoming as well as outgoing calls and rates can be anywhere from $1 to several US dollars per minute. Therefore, international cell phones are a convenient option for making international calls but it is not an affordable option for most travelers.

With summer travel season near many people are planning trips. Some are planning international trips and are likely thinking about how they might stay in touch while on vacation. International cell phones are a very good option for emergency use while on an overseas trip. Friends, family and business associates can easily make contact in the event of an emergency at home and it is very convenient means of keeping in touch. There are companies that offer international cell phone rentals and it is possible to rent mobile phones at many international destinations. Most rental companies charge a nominal daily fee for renting a phone even if no calls are made. However, they charge a pretty hefty rate for incoming as well as outgoing calls. Most people do not want to spend several hundred dollars on communication services while on vacation so, for these people, an international cell phone is great for emergency use but their cheaper options for making calls home to chat.

The cheapest option for making international calls while traveling are international phone cards. These offer convenience and low cost. Prepaid phone cards can be purchased before leaving home and they can be used to budget communication expenses while on a trip. They can typically be used from almost any telephone and rates on calls are only a few cents per minute versus up to a few dollars per minute for international cell phones. Phone cards are not as convenient as an international cell phone but who wants to waste time talking on the phone while on vacation.

How to Make Cheap Calls from Russia

2010-04-25T09:56:00.003-04:00

If you are planning a trip to Russia or live in Russia and want to make cheap international calls from Russia than we have the ideal phone card. It is call the Arbat phone card and can be purchased from the website phone cards international. It has some of the lowest rates on international calls from Russia and has local access numbers in Moscow, St Petersburg and several other Russian cities. You can even use it to make long distance calls inside Russia. It is actually a Russian phone card with prompt languages in both English or Russian.

The Arbat phone card can only be used in Russia, to make cheap domestic or international long distance calls. It has no hidden fees like taxes, service fees, maintenance fees or connection fees. But it does charge extra for using toll free access numbers or for making calls from some cities in Russia. It has a network of local access numbers in major Russian cities and these should be used to avoid added fees. The call quality is very good and we found the card worked well with no problems connecting with the access numbers or placing calls. It also uses a 30 second rounding interval which is better than most phone cards. The Arbat card is a permanent PIN phone card that can be refilled and reused. It is relatively easy to find products for making cheap calls to Russia but now there is an easy to use product for making cheap calls from Russia.

Cheap International Calls from South Korea

2010-04-17T09:35:00.003-04:00

On a recent trip to South Korea we used the Solaris phone card to make calls to the USA. The Solaris card is a premium quality international phone card that can be used to make cheap international calls from more than 100 countries. The rate to the USA from South Korea using the Solaris card is about 10.5 US cents per minute which is relatively cheap compared to other phone cards and the call quality was very good. We only used the card from Seoul but the toll free access number for Korea worked fine. We never found that it was busy or out-of-order. The Solaris card uses a 1 minute rounding interval and has no fees other than a 17% tax (surcharge) for each call. The Solaris card also is highly rated by users with an overall 4.5 star rating out a possible 5 stars.

It is relatively easy to find products for making cheap calls to South Korea from the USA but there are not a lot of products for making cheap international calls from Korea. We researched this before our trip to Korea and found that the cost for making calls from Korea varied widely between phone cards. Some cards, like the AT&T phone card, were relatively expensive at 50 US cents per minute but likely had high quality. The Solaris card was cheap in comparison at 10.5 US cents per-minute with similar call quality. We found some local phone cards in Korea with advertised rates of around 10.5 US cents per-minute so the Solaris card has competitive rates with the competition. It can also be purchased on-line and used from over 100 countries so it is a better option for international travelers than a local phone card that can only be used from Korea.

How to Make Free International Phone Calls

2010-04-06T09:56:00.003-04:00

Several companies advertise free international calling to specific countries and offer free trial calls but these are mostly advertising gimmicks that are short term trials or require the caller to make monthly payments in order to continue using the service. Only a few companies actually offer the ability to make free international calls over a long period of time but even these companies have special requirements.

For example, Skype is well known for offering free international PC-to-PC phone calls but both the caller and receiver will need a PC or at least access to a WiFi INTERNET connection in order to make free calls. Skype, of course, hopes that callers will use the service to also make PC-to-Phone calls, which are not free, so they can make some money.

Rebtel Try Rebtel Now! offers a prepaid calling plan that can be used to make cheap international calls from regular phones. They also offer a little known feature where customers can make free calls to people in the roughly 50 countries where they have access numbers. The service has a twist but it is relatively easy to use. The following is a summary of the instructions posted on their website.

Fill out an on-line form which tells them what phone you plan to use to make the call so they can recognize you as a customer.
Tell them who you plan to call and enter their international phone number. Rebtel will give you a unique phone number for each person you plan to call.
Call your friend on the local number provided by Rebtel. When your friend picks up the phone, ask them to hang-up and call you back on the local phone number displayed on their phone. Wait on the line and when your friend calls you back you will be connected. The international portion of the call will be free but you will need to pay for the local call.

This may be a good option for cell phone users who call to and from certain countries. It is a bit of a hassle but it is an option where international callers can make free calls.

How to Make Cheap International Calls to India

2010-03-27T14:00:00.004-04:00

Rates on international calls to India have dropped dramatically over the past few years due to increased competition and a reduction in regulations. It is now possible to call India from the USA for just over 1 cent per minute with a phone card and some international VoIP plans even allow unlimited international calling to India from North America. There is so much competition in this market that it is tough to keep up with all of the new products. Those interested in a variety of options should visit cheap calls to India for ideas and more information.

There are so many new products that there is likely one that best fits every situation. Those who want to make frequent calls to India and use a lot of minutes each month should likely use an unlimited international VoIP call plan. These are especially good for those who already have high speed INTERNET and would like to replace or supplement their home phone service. Look for a low cost plan from a VoIP service provider provides all of the necessary equipment for free and does not require a long term contract. Many also provide a trial period and incentives for first time customers.

Those who only make occasional calls to India or who are located outside of North America may want to use prepaid phone cards. Some of these can offer high quality service at very low rates and they are convenient to use. Especially for those who are traveling or are located in one location for a short period of time.

Another option, especially for those who want to make cheap international calls from a mobile phone, is a prepaid calling plan. Many of these allow users to register several phones so they all can be used to make low cost international calls from the same account.

Rates on calls to India seem to be about as cheap as they can get but, who knows, with the intense competition in the telecom industry they may just get cheaper.

How to Make Cheap International Calls from Canada

2010-03-20T09:30:00.003-04:00

There are a variety of products for making cheap international calls from Canada. These vary from those that can be used from any phone, like phone cards, to those that require an INTERNET connection like PC-to-Phone or VOIP. Although, in many case, INTERNET based products offer good value, they also require the user to have access to the INTERNET. In many cases they also require the user to pay a monthly fee for services even if no international calls are made. That is why many international callers are still using high quality phone cards and other prepaid calling products that can be used from standard or mobile phones to make international calls from Canada. Many of these products offer high quality, low cost and ultimate flexibility.

One product that is gaining popularity for making international calls from Canada is Tel3Advantage. It was introduced in Canada a couple of years ago and has steadily gained popularity among those people who make frequent international calls. Tel3 offers the highest call quality and some of the lowest rates. It is also one product that can be used from multiple phones (home, business or mobiles) and it is very convenient to use. They provide callers with an on-line account where they can track usage and make changes to their accounts. They also provide 24/7 customer service. It is also one of the only companies in the industry that has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Tel3Advantage offers some of the lowest rates and they do not charge a monthly fee for maintaining an account. They also do not charge hidden fees to make up for low rates which is common practice in the phone card industry. Tel3 offers some of the lowest rates in the industry on international calls. For example, internationals call from Canada to the Australia are only 1.4 cents per minute while calls to the USA are only 0.9 cents per minute with Tel3. These rates are good for the first 30 days if a new customer opens an account using the Tel3Advantage Triple Bonus offer. Tel3 makes these offers to entice people to try their service because they know that most customers will continue to use the service beyond the bonus period. Tel3Advantage is one of the most popular prepaid calling plans in North America because they offer high quality, low rates and some of the best customer service in the industry.

The Cheapest Rates on International Calls to Kenya

2010-02-24T10:28:00.000-05:00

Tel3Advantage now offers the lowest rates on international calls to Kenya from Canada and the USA. The tel3Advantage flex plan can be used to make cheap international calls from any kind of telephone without changing companies. There is also no fee for opening and maintaining an account and no long term obligation. There are also no hidden fees, taxes or other charges. Tel3advantage customers can now make international calls to Kenya land-lines in Nairobi for 2.7 cents per-minute or calls to mobile phones nation-wide for 9.9 cents per-minute. Tel3Advantage also provides a new customer sign-up bonus that can be used to make up to 333 minutes of free calls to Kenya.

Phone Card Connection Fees

2010-02-23T11:54:00.005-05:00

Connection fees can be one of the more onerous and tricky hidden fees charged by phone card service providers. Some phone card suppliers advertise enticingly low rates for making calls but charge a connection fee which is a hidden charge that is not included in the advertised rate. This fee is charged whenever a call is connected so it is a charge for each call that is made and is not based on the duration of the call.

Consumer Tip: Read the fine print when purchasing a phone card so that you fully understand the fee structure before making a purchase.

A connection fee can significantly increase the cost of a call. This is especially true for short duration calls made to low cost locations. The following example highlights the impact of this cost. The information used in this example is based on actual information obtained from the website of a major virtual phone card provider.

Example: Connection Fee Impact on the Cost of a Call

Assume an international call is made from the USA to Germany. The advertised rate is 2 cents per minute and the connection fee is 49 cents. The call duration is 10 minutes.

The total cost of the call at the advertised rate would be 20 cents (10 x 2) while the actual cost of the 10 minute call including the connection fee would be 69 cents (10 x 2 + 49). Therefore, the effective per-minute rate is actually 6.9 cents rather than the advertised rate of 2 cents per-minute. This is a whopping 245% increase in cost.

There are many phone cards that do not charge connection fees. Most charge a surcharge, tax or a maintenance fee but these, in most cases, will be lower than a connection fee. Tel3Advantage is a virtual phone card that can be used to make long distance calls (international or domestic) from Canada or the USA and it does not charge any hidden fees. Therefore, Tel3Advantage offers the lowest actual rates on calls to many destination because their advertised rate is the actual rate charged for each call. They offer one of the few prepaid calling products that does not charge any hidden fees.

Calling the USA from Military Bases Overseas

2010-02-12T10:41:00.005-05:00

US military personnel can use Tel3Advantage to make cheap international calls back to the USA from military bases overseas. Even if those locations are in Iraq or Afghanistan. Calls can be made over the DSN (defense system network) at the incredibly low rate of 1.9 cents per-minte. This is the same low rate that Tel3Advantage charges for domestic long distance calls within the USA. This rate includes all fees and taxes so it is much lower than the 5 cents per-minute rate charged by AT&T or MCI. All that is need is a Tel3Advantage prepaid long distance account. It is free to open an account and the minimum deposit in order to start making phone calls is only $10. Visit the Tel3Advantage website for details or call 800 441 0321.

Tel3Advantage is also a super option for calling overseas to any location from the USA or Canada. It offers very low rates and can be used to make cheap overseas calls from any kind of telephone, including business phones and cell phones. It offers high quality connections, low cost with no hidden fees or taxes and a full range of features.

Valentine's Day Phone Card Sale - 10% Discount

2010-02-10T13:01:00.002-05:00

Purchase an international phone card by Februaury 15, 2010 and get a 10% discount. Use the following link to get an automatic discount on your purchase.

10% Savings on all Phone Cards

Smart Global Call features a full range of premium phone cards that can be used to make calls to any location from more than 130 countries. These include popular phone cards like Continental, Golden Lotus, Simply and Penny Boss. Smart Global Call provides 24/7 service and support and a free on-line account where customers can manage all of their calling cards. Most of their on-line phone cards also come with state-of-the-art features like PIN free dialing, call history and speed dial. They also provide customers with the ability to transfer balances between phone cards so the optium calling card can be used for each call.

Call all of your loved ones this Valentine's Day and save money by purchasing your phone card by February 15th.

Rates on International Calls to Mobile Phones

2010-01-24T12:06:00.003-05:00

In many cases, the rates charged on international calls to mobile phones are substantially higher than the rate charged for the same call to a land-line. Therefore, when making international calls, callers should take care and read the fine print so they fully understand the rate charged for making a call to the type of phone they plan to call or they may receive an unpleasant surprise. In most cases, rates on international calls to mobile phones are higher than they are for calls to landlines but this is not always the case. The rate difference varies between countries and service providers so it is best to shop around in order to find the lowest cost product for making calls to the country and type of phone you wish to call.

We did some research on this topic by comparing the rates charged by Tel3Advantage, a popular prepaid calling plan, on international calls to mobile phones and landlines in various countries. We found there were some regional patterns to the data but no consistent rules. The following is a summary of our key observations.

The rate charged on calls to mobile phones is substantially higher than they would be for the same call to a land-line. This seemed to be a typical pattern. Especially for international calls made to countries located in Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East. However, there were exceptions so callers should check the countries they wish to call before making any conclusions. Some popular locations where the rates charged on international calls to mobile phones are significantly higher than they are to landlines: Brazil, France, Italy, Mexico and the UK. For example, a call to a mobile phone in Italy from the USA costs 14.7 cents per-minute while a call to a land-line costs 1.8 cents per-minute.

In some cases, the rate charged on calls to mobile phones were the same as those charged to landlines. Many of these locations were in Asia but there were many exceptions. We discovered the following popular destinations: Bermuda, China, India and Thailand.

We also found cases where international calls to mobile phones where cheaper than calls to landlines. This is true on calls to the following popular destinations: Cuba, Egypt, Hong Kong, Singapore, Syria and Uzbekistan. In most cases, the difference in cost is small. For example, the rate charged for an international call to a mobile phone in Egypt is 9.4 cents per-minute while the charge for the same call to a land-line is 9.8 cents.

International callers should shop around for the best deal when deciding on a product to use for making cheap international calls. They should recognize that rates can vary significantly between countries and the type of phone they wish to call. It may be prudent to use one product for making calls to cell phones and another product to make calls to landlines. There are a wide selection of phone cards and other prepaid calling products to choose from so most callers can find substantial savings by shopping for the product that best fits their needs.

Stay Connected with PC-to-Phone Service

2010-01-23T13:17:00.010-05:00

If you make international business trips and carry a laptop computer than PC-to-Phone service is a great way to stay connected while on the road. As long as you have an INTERNET connection, you can make cheap international calls from any location to other computers or to any phone in the world. Calls to other computers using the same PC-to-Phone software are often Free while there is a charge for placing calls to phones (landlines or cell phones). The rates vary depending on the country and the type of phone called but rates are much lower than those charged by international hotels or long distance carriers. PC-to-Phone service is also popular with students, expats and people who operate small businesses with an international focus.

PC-to-Phone service providers continue to add new features that make their product more flexible and convenient to use. For example, Skype, one of the most popular PC-to-Phone service providers, offers free calls to other Skype users and the following added features.

Low rates on calls to landlines and cell phones.
An online phone number so people can reach you on Skype from any phone.
The ability to send text messages from Skype.
A built in Voice Mail feature so calls are never missed.
Call forwarding that forwards incoming calls to a regular phone when the user is off-line.
Mobile applications so Skype can be used from Mobile Phones.

Skype has continued to innovate and add features in order to broaden the appeal of their service.

We think Skype is a great option for people who want to make free calls to other Skype users. However, Skype’s international rates on calls to landlines and cell phones are not as low as other cheap international calling options. In addition to a per-minute charge for each call, Skype also charges a connection fee for each call made to a land-line or cell phone. In order to evaluate the relative cost of making international calls to landlines or cell phones with Skype, we compared the international rates charged by Skype to those charged by Tel3Advantage for the same call from the USA. Tel3Advantage was selected for this comparison since it is a high quality prepaid calling plan that can be used to make low cost domestic or international long distance calls from any phone without changing companies and it is very popular with those who make frequent international calls from the USA or Canada.

We compared Skype published rates (excluding their connection fee) to those charged by Tel3Advantage to the following popular destinations.

A Comparison of International Rates* (US cents per-minute)

Destinations	Skype	Tel3Advantage

Afghanistan	40.8	22
Brazil	6.4	3.6
Mexico	11.4	6
Morocco	29.6	17.5
Nigeria	18.5	13.5
Philippines	22.8	10.5
Saudi Arabia	28.2	10.5
Thailand	13	1.5

*For calls originating in the USA – Rates posted on the respective company websites on January 23, 2010.

In general, it seems that rates charged by Skype on calls to landlines and cell phones are higher than those charged by prepaid long distance providers. This makes sense since they do not make money of the free Skype-to-Skype calls they provide or the free software people can download from their website. They do provide a high quality niche service that is ideal for a segment of the market but it is not the best option for everyone.

Prepaid Phone Cards offer Value, Convenience and Useful Features

2010-01-22T14:47:00.002-05:00

Most people know that prepaid phone cards are used to make cheap international calls but many do not know that many on-line (virtual) phone cards also offer a full range of features. These features make them more convenient to use than those bought in convenience stores and super markets.

The following are some common features found with high quality virtual phone cards:

PIN Free dialing is a convenient and common feature found with many virtual phone cards. It allows a caller to register phone numbers so they do not need to enter a special code when making calls from one of their registered phones. The registered phone numbers can be conveniently edited in the customer’s on-line account.

Many virtual phone cards have a permanent PIN code so it does not change each time the phone card is re-charged or purchased. These permanent PIN phone cards are typically stored in an on-line account that can be accessed by a user from any INTERNET connection.

Most permanent PIN phone cards also include an optional automatic recharge option. Many users find this to be an attractive feature since it assures that they will not run out of funds during a call and the card is always available for use.

Many virtual phone cards come with an on-line call history that tracks and stores the details of each call (including location, length of call and cost). The call history can be accessed through the customer’s on-line account. This is a very handy feature that is typically included with high quality virtual phone cards.

Many on-line phone cards have a Speed Dial feature that allows the user to add phone numbers to their personal account so they can call these numbers by pressing 2 or 3 numbers on their phone. This is a convenient feature for those who plan to make international calls to the same phone numbers.

Some on-line merchants allow customers to transfer funds between phone cards. This is a money saving feature since it allows the transfer of funds to the phone card offering the best rates.

Most on-line merchants have a handy search tool built into their website that allows shoppers to search for the best phone card for their needs. These search tools will list phone cards with the lowest rates for making calls to and from specific locations. In many cases they also provide phone card quality ratings and a summary of features, taxes and fees.

Some on-line phone cards, like the continental card, can also be used to make conference calls or international callback calls from virtually any location in the world. They can also be used for a variety of other purposes like setting-up a personal toll free number in the USA.

There are other prepaid calling plans, like Tel3Advantage, that offer many of the features listed above as well as some other not so common features. For example, Tel3 offers a mobile plan where users can make direct-dial international phone calls from their Mobile SMART Phones. With Tel3 Mobile, users do not need to dial an access number or PIN code when placing an international call. They simply dial the international code and their call is automatically routed over the low cost Tel3 network. Tel3 also offers a business calling plan with many on-line tools and features that are ideal for small to medium size business users. Tel3Advantage can be used to make cheap domestic and international long distance phone calls from Canada and the USA. Tel3Advantage has no monthly fees or connection charges and does not require a contract. Therefore, it is an ideal product for people who only make periodic international calls or those who want a short term option.

Phone cards have come a long way since their introduction in the 1970’s but companies like Tel3 and others continue to introduce new features and services

The Cheapest Rates on Calls to Costa Rica

2010-01-15T09:01:00.001-05:00

Tel3Advantage offers some of the cheapest rates on international calls to Costa Rica. The rate is only 2.8 cents per-minute for the first 30 days if a new customer signs up under the Tel3Advantage Triple Promo. This rate includes all fees and taxes. The same low rate applies to calls to cell phones or land-lines and there are no restrictions. In addition, new customers get up to 321 Free Minutes as a bonus when they open a new account.

Tel3Advantage prepaid long distance is also a safe option since it offers one of the most popular international calling plans in North America. They have been in business for over 15 years and have more than 100,000 active customers. The also have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. It can be used to make cheap long distance (domestic or international) from any phone in Canada or the USA without changing phone companies. It is simple to use since there is no need to dial account numbers or PIN codes when making a call. There are no long term contracts or maintenance fees. Simply use the service as much or as little as you like and only pay for the minutes used. Tel3Advatage also provides customers with a free on-line account where they can make changes to their account and monitor account activity. Up to 10 phones can be linked to one account so the same account can be used with your home, cell or business phones.

Tel3Advantage offers the lowest rates to Costa Rica and other popular destinations.

Phone Card Discount - Save 10% Instantly

2010-01-10T10:05:00.007-05:00

The Continental Phone Card, one of the most versatile phone cards, is currently being featured at a 10% discount by Smart Global Call Phone Cards International. The Continental Card can be purchased in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 or $100. The 10% phone card discount applies to denominations of $20 or high and is automatically applied to your purchase during this offer. Visit phone cards international for more information on this offer or to make a purchase.

The Continental Card is one of the top selling online phone cards for several reasons. Some of these are outlined below.

It features high quality connections at reasonable rates. The rates are not the lowest to all locations but, overall, they are not any higher than other prepaid phone cards with similar quality and features.
It can be used to make cheap international phone calls from over 60 countries. It has a wide network of global local access numbers. It also offers toll free access from Canada, Guam, Puerto-Rico, Saipan, USA and the US Virgin Islands.
It is one of the most versatile prepaid telecom products. It can be used as a phone card or for prepaid conference calling, prepaid VoIP, prepaid PC-to-Phone, international callback or to set up a personal toll free number in the USA.
It has low fees and no hidden costs. There are no maintenance or connection fees. It does charge a flat 15% tax/service charge for each call.
It has a full range of features including PIN Free Dialing, Speed Dial, Online Call History, Permanent PIN (refillable), toll free access and local access. The speed dial allows users to make calls by pressing one button.
It can also be used to call USA toll free numbers from overseas.

The Continental Phone Card is one of the most popular online phone cards on the market and it is currently being offered at a 10% discount. Visit one of the handy links above in order to take advantage of this offer.

Tel3Advantage Now Offers the Lowest Rates on Calls to China

2009-12-30T10:11:00.007-05:00

If you make international calls to China from the USA or Canada than this may be of interest to you. Tel3Advantage announced recently that they have lowered their rates for international calls to China from North America from 1.7 to 1.32 cents-per-minute. This rate includes all fees and taxes if the caller uses a local access number when placing the call. A 1 cent-per-minute surcharge is added if the caller uses the Tel3Advantage toll free access number to make the call. It is not hard to avoid the surcharge since Tel3 has a wide network of local access numbers. Calls can be made from any kind of telephone, including mobile phones and hotel or business phones. Tel3Advantage now has the lowest rates on international calls to China from North America.

It is possible to get a lower rate on international calls for the first 30 days if a new customer opens an account using the Tel3Advantage Triple Promo offer. The rate on calls to China for the first 30 days using this offer is only 1 cent-per-minute and the new customer can also get up to 900 free minutes as a sign-up bonus. Visit Tel3Advantage Triple Promo for details or call 800 441 0321.

Information and Facts about Prepaid Phone Cards

2009-12-25T13:49:00.004-05:00

A phone card purchase represents prepaid long distance phone time. It is paid in advance and can be used over a period of time. It can be used to make one phone call or it can be used to make multiple calls to more than one destination. Each phone card has a unique number or PIN code so a computer can track the usage and deduct the charge for each call from the starting value or "face value" of the phone card. Some phone cards expire if not used by a certain period of time while other phone cards have no expiration date.

A Phone Card is used by dialing a special phone number which is referred to as an access number. Some phone cards have one access number and others have multiple numbers. Access numbers can be local or they can be toll free. In any case, a phone card is used by dialing an access number and following the prompts in order to place a call. In some cases, one of the prompts will request the user to enter a PIN code to identify the phone card being used. Some phone cards do not require the user to enter a PIN code. These PIN-Free phone cards require the user to register the phone number or numbers where they plan to make calls from and the computer can track their usage with caller ID technology. PIN-Free phone cards a much easier to use since the caller does not need to enter a special code whenever they want to place a call. PIN-Free dialing is a common feature found with high quality virtual phone cards that are purchased from on-line merchants.

Phone cards are purchased in denominations that range from $2 to $100 or more. It is usually best to purchase the smallest denomination first and try using the card before making a large purchase. Prepaid phone cards can be purchased from newsstands, convenience stores, retail stores and from INTERNET merchants. Since prepaid phone cards can have a variety of added costs and hidden fees it is best to study the details and fine print of a phone card before making a purchase. Some phone cards also have limited usage. For example, they can only be used to make domestic long distance calls or to make international long distance calls to specific countries. Be sure to understand the limits of a phone card before making a purchase.

On-line phone cards can typically be purchased using a major credit card or Pay Pal account. Many on-line phone card merchants provide buyers with a user account where the details of the users phone cards are stored. This can be a handy feature for people who make frequent calls and want to track usage. Virtual phone cards like Tel3Advantage come with a variety of features including on-line account management, PIN Free Dialing, call history and speed dial which makes the product very convenient to use.

Many people find prepaid phone cards to be a convenient, money saving product. Prepaid phone cards are convenient since they can be used to make calls from any kind of telephone. They can also save consumers money since the rates are typically cheaper than those offered by phone companies and, since payment is made in advance, they can be used to budget and control phone expense. Phone cards are typically used by people who regularly call overseas, travelers, students and those who do not have regular long-distance phone service.

Tel3Advantage Christmas Phone Card Promotion

2009-12-22T21:14:00.003-05:00

The 2009 Tel3Advantage Christmas phone card promotion is in progress. During this promotion new customers who sign-up for the Tel3Advantage Flex Plan will get twice the normal sign-up bonus. It is free to open an account and all a new customer needs to do to qualify for the bonus is make an initial deposit. The amount of the bonus depends on the amount deposited but it ranges from $2 to $18. The bonus can be used to make free domestic and international calls to any location in the world. If you plan to make any international calls from North America this holiday season than you should sign-up for Tel3, get their holiday bonus and try one of the best quality prepaid long distance services in North America. Find out why Tel3 has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and more than 100,000 satisfied customers. Visit Tel3Advantage for details or call 800 441 0321 and ask for the Christmas promo.

Business Broadband Guide

2009-12-20T11:34:00.004-05:00

Global market is the focus of today’s business. Every business needs client interaction every moment. The development of information technology have given enough space to dwell our business from every desktop. File sharing, data management, trainings, reports, monitoring, reviews, conferencing, comparison, advertisements, marketing, feedbacks, survey, every business necessity can be satisfied online. Broadband service has made communication faster and more reliable.

Business broadband differs entirely from a home or personal broadband in terms of usage. Transfer of data should be more reliable, secure and faster as well. There are few business which rely completely on the Internet, which might incur a huge loss if the service fails. Apart from the computers and notebooks there are few other devices that use the Internet as a gateway for communication like the Internet telephony. A better network setup and awareness of usage among the employees can shoot up the profit margin.

Internet providers in UK like BT, Orange, BE, Eclipse, Plusnet, O2, Tiscali, Zan etc., offer a number of broadband deals business customers. Its important that small business customers have to make a better plan of the usage, the devices to be connected in the network, web space or web hosting facilities required, no of email addresses and email client to be used. This might help in choosing some of the bundle package which again boosts up the economical factor. Its always good that companies chose unlimited download plans with an average or faster speed. More than the speed and download limit customers have to look for reliable and better service in terms of emergency from the Internet service provider which can save them during down times.

Small business can also try using a satellite type of connection as a stand by which can help them being online throughout the year. Also these services provided by companies likes avanti communications does not require much service. More over small business customers who does not rely on online usage 100% can create a wireless zone or a hot spot instead of a cable broadband in their companies. This allows access only to specific computers on demand which can reduce the installation expense as well as high Internet usage.

Before subscribing for any packages customers can try out free broadband packages which are offered seasonally and check the level of service. Because cancelling a contract in a business broadband is either not possible or cost you more.

Broadband Internet service will also allow users the option of using PC-to-Phone or VoIP phone service for making cheap international calls. There are special business call plans which integrate VoIP phone service and PBX service into one low cost, neat package.

How to Make Cheap Calls to UK Cell Phones

2009-12-17T11:32:00.007-05:00

The UK is one of the most popular calling destinations from the USA and Canada. It is also one of the lowest cost destinataions. It is relatively easy to find an international prepaid calling plan or high quality phone card with rates of 1 or 2 cents per-minute on calls from North America to UK land-lines but cell phones are another mater. Typical rates on calls to UK cell phones range from 10 cents per-minute to 25 cents per-minute or more. Even Vonage World, which boasts free calls to the UK, lists a 28 cent per-minute rate on calls to UK cell phones. Not exactly free, especially when one adds in taxes and other fees.

We have done some research and found that there are some options for making cheap calls to UK cell phones. It appears that the best options involve the use of prepaid phone cards or other prepaid calling products. One option is Tel3Advantage which charges only 10.5 cents per-minute (triple promo rate) on calls from the USA or Canada to cell phones in the UK. Tel3advantage does not charge added fees or taxes so this is an all inclusive rate if a local access number is used to place the call. Another good option is the Simply international phone card. It lists a rate of 11.4 cents per-minute but it does charge service and maintenance fees so all costs should be taken into account when making a decision.

These are both good options for making cheap calls to UK cell phones which could save callers a significant amount of money over the holiday season.

International Phone Card Sale - Save 10% on all Calling Cards

2009-12-15T11:13:00.003-05:00

Save 10% on all International Phone Cards through December 27, 2009. Visit Phone Card Sale and select from a wide range of international phone cards. This offer includes gift cards that can be safely sent to friends or loved ones world wide. These international phone cards can be used to keep in touch from more than 230 countries.

Common Prepaid Phone Card Complaints

2009-12-13T13:27:00.006-05:00

A recent US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report (visit Facts about Prepaid Phone Cards for details) includes a list of common pre-paid phone card complaints. A summary of these complaints are listed below.

Phone Cards that do not deliver the advertised number of calling minutes.
Phone Cards that debit minutes or units even when a call is not completed.
Phone Cards with excessive hidden charges like connection fees, taxes and surcharges that increase the rate-per-minute.
Phone Cards with bad connections.
Calling Cards with access numbers or PINs that do not work.
Cards with Customer Service numbers that are constantly busy or simply do not work.
Toll free access numbers that do not work or are constantly busy so the phone card cannot be used.
Issuers who go out-of-business and leave the phone card holders with useless cards.

These concerns can be avoided if consumers understand the product they are purchasing and purchase prepaid phone cards from reputable merchants. The FTC cautions that"although many people buy prepaid phone cards on-the-spot, you can avoid disappointment by doing some advance work." We think the best way to avoid problems is to purchase phone cards from reputable on-line merchants. These merchants should have a good reputation and fully disclose all fees and details for their phone cards in an easy to understand format on their website. We know the following merchants will stand behind their products and have stellar reputations when it comes to quality and service.

For people who want to make prepaid long distance calls (domestic or international) from the USA or Canada we recommend using Tel3Advantage. They offer a high quality product with no hidden fees or taxes. They also have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

People who want to buy cheap prepaid phone cards for use from any location in the world should visit Smart Global Call International Phone Cards at smartglobalcall.net. They feature premium quality phone cards and all of the fees, taxes, access numbers and details for each of the phone cards are prominently displayed on their website. They also have 24 hour customer service and stand behind the products they sell.

Save yourself a hassle by purchasing phone cards from reputable dealers. Also, we recommend shopping for phone cards on-line since it is a lot easier to study the details of each product before making a purchase.

The Perfect Gift - A Gift Card Phone Card

2009-12-05T14:07:00.004-05:00

With the Holiday Season fast approaching, a perfect gift for a friend or loved one who is far away may be the gift of a phone card. A phone card gift card can be delivered to any location in the world instantly via e-mail and there is no tax, duty or delivery fee. A phone card gift card is very easy to purchase and is a useful gift, even for the person who has everything.

A gift card can be purchased in any amount (from $5 to $100) and the recipient can trade it in for any phone card they want. So they can choose the best phone card for their needs from a vast range of phone cards including those with a global reach and a full range of special features.

Purchasing a gift card is easy. Once you complete a gift card purchase you will receive an email containing a PIN number and a link – all that is needed for a phone card to be selected and activated. Just send this information to your friend or loved one and they can choose the phone card they want. It is that easy.

Visit Phone Cards International to review a full range of international phone cards and choose the gift card option if you would like to send a special gift to a friend or loved one this holiday season.

Affiliate Programs Offer a Ready Made INTERNET Business Opportunity

2009-11-29T11:55:00.004-05:00

Those who want to cash in on the INTERNET business boom should consider an online Affiliate Program. Affiliate opportunities are an attractive option since they are often offered by established businesses with proven products and marketing strategies and affiliates can get started with little or no capital. Many companies offer affiliates free websites and promotional materials along with tips and information on how to get started and how to promote products online. Affiliate programs are typically free to join but, like everything else, it takes hard work and a long term prospective to make money online. Those who make the commitment can make a significant income.

The first thing a prospective affiliate needs is a good, proven program with a quality product that sells at a fair or reasonable price. A key to success is to find a quality product that people purchase over and over again. Items like vitamins and supplements, tea, beauty products and phone cards are all good candidates. It is also nice to find a product and program that pays affiliates for re-occurring sales. It is best to stay away from affiliate programs that only pay for the first sale or only pays on sales through affiliate links. These programs make money and build the customer base for the company but do little for the affiliate. A successful affiliate program is one where the affiliate and the company are true partners. Where affiliates can build a customer base for both themselves and the company and both can prosper. We have been affiliates with several companies in the prepaid calling (Telecom) business for the last 5 years and have found the following companies to be the best. They are the best because they treat affiliates as true partners and offer high quality products that are fairly priced so customers tend to use them over-and-over again.

The first is the Tel3Advantage prepaid long distance affiliate (agent) program. Tel3 has been in the prepaid calling business for over 15 years and has one of the best agent programs in the business. Affiliates earn an upfront bonus for each new customer (ranging from $5 to $25) and from 10 - 16% on reoccurring sales. They also offer bonuses and special promotions for agents so affiliates have the opportunity to earn significantly more money. We have been involved with several Telecom affiliate programs and this has been the best one for us.

The second one is the phone card partner program. This program offers affiliates the opportunity to build there own, free, customizable website that is filled with a variety of phone cards that can be purchased from over 100 countries. This is a true global business opportunity where it is common to get a significant number of repeat customers. This has been a good business for us because the phone cards are high quality and they are fairly priced so people use them over and over again. Comfi also helps the affiliates with promotion because they consider then to be true partners. This is a very import factor for success.

These are both good programs for people who are serious about making money online.

How to Call the USA from France

2009-11-22T13:03:00.006-05:00

Making international phone calls from France or other European countries to the USA has never been easier or cheaper. As consumer prices continue to climb the cost of making international phone calls continue to drop. This is the result of increased competition and advances in technology. It is now possible to make free international calls using PC-to-Phone service or other INTERNET based technologies like VoIP phone service from nearly any location in the world.

The advent of the INTERNET has no doubt had an impact on international calling rates but, even without competition from the INTERNET, the cost of making international phone calls has been dropping. This has been partially due to improvements in technology but a major factor has been industry deregulation which has dramatically increased competition by allowing new companies to enter the market. There is now a wide variety of international phone cards that can be used to make cheap calls from home, business or cell phones in more than 230 countries. The quality and convenience of these prepaid products have continued to improve as the cost continues to decline.

Another interesting product that can be used to make cheap international calls from nearly any location in the world is international callback. By using international callback phone service, cheap international calls can be made from any country by routing the phone call through a low cost third country. This can save international callers in some countries a lot of money. Especially those countries that keep artificially high international rates by not allowing competition. There are still many countries that route international calls through local, monopoly phone companies and international rates from these countries can be extremely high. International callback is a great way to save money when making calls from these countries.

Making cheap calls from France and the rest of Europe is easy because the market is mostly deregulated and there are many products to choose from. We especially like prepaid phone cards because they offer good value and ultimate convenience. They can be used while traveling to make calls from land-lines or cell phones and can be used to make cheap calls from hotels. Another option is PC-to-Phone service if a high speed INTERNET connection is available. There are many options for making cheap international calls these days, the best and cheapest option typically depends on the technology available to the user and the location where the caller expects to use the products.

Tel3Advantage Thanksgiving Promotion - Double the Normal Free Minutes

2009-11-16T21:11:00.006-05:00

Tel3 announced a special Thanksgiving new customer promotion today that will last through November 30, 2009. During this promo new customers who sign-up for the Tel3Advantage Flex Plan will get double the normal sign-up bonus. So people who sign-up and deposit as little as $10 will have from $2 to $18 added to their accounts. They can use this money to make free calls to any location in the world. Those who are interested in this promotion need to visit the following sign-up page, Tel3Advantage Promo, or call 800 441 0321 and provide the customer service rep with the event code "DOUBLE4YOU".

Tel3Advantage has another on-going promotion that is referred to as the Triple Bonus. new customers who sign-up under the triple bonus get a lower cash bonus but they save 30% or more on all of their calls for the first 30 days. Visit Tel3 Triple Bonus for more information or call 800 441 0321 and ask for the Triple Bonus.

Which Tel3Advantage bonus is best for you?? The best option depends on where you plan to call and how much you plan to talk during the first 30 days. For most people the Double Bonus is the best option because they get up to $18 added to their account that can be used to make calls at any time in the future. However, the Tel3 Advantage Triple Bonus is a better option for some people. These people will get a smaller bonus (up to $9) but they save 30% or more on calls for the first 30 days. This is the best option for people who want to make long duration calls to a relatively expensive location. Study both options and choose the one that works best for you.

How to Make an International Call – Dialing Codes

2009-11-15T10:30:00.002-05:00

A caller must use the proper international phone codes in order to place an international call. In general, the sequence of numbers used to make international calls follow a similar pattern but the exit code can vary depending on the country where the call originates. The following is an example of the dialing codes used to place an international call from the USA, Canada or other North America Dialing Plan (NANP) country.

(011) + (country code) + (city code) + (phone number)

The first number in the sequence (in this case 011) is commonly referred to as an exit code or international access code. It can also be called an International Direct Dialing (IDD) code. This code can vary between countries but it is necessary because it identifies the call as international.

The following is an example of dialing an international call to Amman, Jordan from the USA.

011 962 6 + (local phone number)

In the above example the 011 is the IDD code. This code identifies the call as an international phone call. The proper IDD code to use depends on the country where the call originates. Visit dialing codes international for further information.

The second three-digit number (962) in the above example is the country code for Jordan. The country code will vary depending on the country called; visit Country and City Dialing Codes for a complete list of country codes.

The third number (6) is the city code for Amman, Jordan. The international city code is also a specific number. In the USA, this is commonly called an area code. AT&T provides one of the most comprehensive lists of city codes available. Visit Country and City Codes for more details.

These dialing codes are followed by the local phone number.

A similar sequence of numbers is used when a call is placed to a mobile phone located in another country. However, it should be noted that the cost for calling a mobile phone is typically much higher than making an international call to a house phone or any land line phone. Visit cheap international calling for information on saving money on international phone calls made from any location in the world.

Cheap International Calls to Cell Phones

2009-11-08T15:59:00.012-05:00

Many people want to make cheap international calls to cell phones and there are several options available today. The best or cheapest option depends on several factors so one option is not the best for every caller. Things like the location of the caller, the destination called and the type of phone the caller intends to use (land line, INTERNET or cell phone) are all important factors to consider when shopping for the international service. Most people are looking for an option that is high quality, cheap and convenient to use so we reviewed the pros and cons of a few popular options. These included two International VoIP calling plans, a PC-to-Phone service, a popular prepaid long distance phone service and a high quality phone card. The results of our review are presented below.

Several VoIP service providers now advertise that they include free international calls to several countries with their phone service. Vonage and Lingo offer two of the most popular VoIP services. In most cases, the free calls included with these plans are to landlines not cell phones, as shown later; in most cases, international calls to cell phones are not cheap with these plans. Vonage indicates that they include free calls to 60 countries with their new Vonage World plan and Lingo advertises that free calls to 75 countries are included with their Lingo World Max service. Vonage charges around $32.60 per month (including taxes and fees) for their service and Lingo charges about $31 per month (including fees and taxes). In addition to the monthly service fees, users also need to pay for a high-speed INTERNET connection so neither service is actually free. Both calling plans also require a service contract (Lingo requires 2 years and Vonage requires 1 year) and charge an early termination fee if a customer chooses to stop using the service, so they are not a convenient option for short-term users. However, both phone services are good quality and one of them may be a good deal for those who want low cost home phone service and the ability to make frequent international calls to one or more of the countries covered by their plans.

Skype offers a very popular personal computer based phone service. It can be used to make free PC-to-PC calls worldwide so it is very popular with students, international business travelers and expats living around the world. Skype can also be used as a PC-to-Phone service where users can make calls to landlines or cell phones from their PC but there is a fee for this service. As shown later, Skype PC-to-Phone rates are not that cheap and Skype is not a very convenient option since calls are made from a PC so we believe there are better and cheaper options for making international calls to cell phones.

Prepaid long distance is another option so we examined the Tel3Advantage Flex Plan, which is one of the most popular prepaid plans in North America. It can be used to make cheap long distance calls from any phone (cell, home, business or pay phone) in Canada and the USA. It is a popular service for making cheap international calls because it is convenient to use, offers some of the lowest rates and does not require a monthly fee or contract.

We wanted to compare the above options with the rates offered by a high quality phone card so we chose the Continental Phone Card. It can be used to make cheap calls from over 60 countries and is one of the most versatile phone cards on the market. It has low fees relative to other phone cards but it does charge a 15% tax (surcharge) on calls so we include this in the per-minute rates listed in the Table below. The continental card is a virtual phone card that can be used from any kind of phone. Customers get a free on-line account where they can monitor activity and make changes to their account so it is a viable long or short-term option.

We have summarized the rates charged each minute for calls originating from the USA using the options listed above in the following table. We randomly selected a variety of popular destinations in order to compare rates to different regions of the world. Note that Tel3Advantage offers rates that are similar to phone cards on calls to cell phones in most locations while both VoIP service providers and Skype charge significantly higher rates.

Sample Rates on Calls from the USA to Mobile Phones (US $ per Minute)

Country	Vonage¹	Lingo²	Skype³	Tel3⁴	Phone Card⁵

Afghanistan	$1.25	$0.72	$0.355	$0.262	$0.243
Australia	0.22	0.33	0.20	0.089	0.117
Brazil	0.17	0.30	0.213	0.19	0.205
China	Free	Free	0.021	0.018	0.025
Egypt	0.15	0.159	0.15	0.17	0.167
France	0.19	0.22	0.203	0.164	0.150
Germany	0.25	0.30	0.246	0.17	0.143
Ghana	0.20	0.24	0.166	0.185	0.171
Iran	0.36	0.139	0.158	0.115	0.164
Israel	0.17	0.089	0.136	0.089	0.093
Italy	0.25	0.37	0.308	0.21	0.193
Mexico	0.23	0.34	0.336	0.20	0.160
Nigeria	0.28	0.30	0.254	0.199	0.135
Russia	0.08	0.109	0.071	0.06	0.064
South Africa	0.23	0.27	0.233	0.165	0.148
Trinidad	0.23	0.16	0.341	0.155	0.258
Ukraine	0.16	0.21	0.186	0.138	0.125

¹	Vonage World , posted rates on 11/8/09
²	Lingo World Max, rates on 11/8/09
³	Skype Pay As You Go, posted rates on 11/8/09
⁴	Tel3Advantage Flex Plan, posted rates on 11/9/09
⁵	Continental Phone Card, including 15% tax.