Using calling cards is wise when doing business because it keeps you connected, no matter where you are. Rather than give employees company cell phones and reimburse them later, telephone calling cards are a cheap and easy way to handle communication. They shorten the miles between you and loved ones while you're away on business, too.

Many business calling cards bill your company monthly for any calls made during that period of time. This cuts down on a number of issues, such as running out of minutes or getting billed for unused time. Some calling card services even offer special features such as call conferencing, speed dial, voicemail and language choices. When using calling cards:

1. Take into account that many calling card services have hidden costs and fees.

2. Look on the back of calling cards for simple instructions on how to use them.

3. Use online ratefinders to pick business calling cards that will benefit your company.

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Research local and international rates from calling card services

You can buy a calling card at most news stands and stores. But they are not all created equal. To get the most out of your company's dollar, check rates for the countries you'll be calling from or to most frequently.

I recommend: AccuLinQ Travel Cards offers long distance calling cards with low international rates. Check the phone number you're calling online to get an exact rate. Banana Call compares rates so you can buy the best calling card for your business. Select the country you're calling from and to.

Read the back of the calling card for simple step-by-step instructions

When using phone calling cards, have your PIN ready. Some cards require you to scratch the back with a coin to reveal the PIN. Others email the PIN directly to you. Call the toll-free number on the back of the card, then enter your card number and PIN. Listen for a recorded voice to tell you to dial the phone number, including area code. The voice will also tell you how many minutes you have remaining on the card. International phone cards operate in much the same manner.

I recommend: IsCard is one of a handful of calling card providers that focus solely on international calls. They service more than 50 countries. Fill out an online application and once approved, your PIN will be emailed to you. SpeedyPin.com also emails you the PIN number, which you can give out to all employees who will be using the calling card.

Be on the lookout for telephone calling card companies that charge extra fees

Some domestic and international phone cards include connection and maintenance fees, along with usage, taxes and surcharges. They are seemingly small fees, but add up to be quite a bit. Check the terms and conditions online.

I recommend: Buy a pre-paid and post-paid business calling card from Affinity Telecom if travelling internationally. There are no sign-up or monthly fees and no minimum usage. There is a surcharge for calls in the USA but not when calling outside the USA. LD Post has a OfficeAnywhere program that forwards your customers' calls to you, no matter where you are in the world. But it's important to note that there is a monthly fee and a set-up fee.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check the expiration date of your company's prepaid calling card. They usually expire between three months and a year from the time they're activated.

Calling cards have long been the best way to avoid excessive hotel phone charges while traveling. Prepaid calling cards can also help keep expenses down while on the home turf, and many businesses are using them to reduce the often high monthly charges enforced by local phone companies and long distance providers.

To make the most out of calling cards:

1. Determine what types of calls you will be making most with your calling card.

2. Spend time searching for the best rates.

3. Always keep your card and its corresponding PIN number in a safe place.

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Get the most out of calling cards

Determine what your exact calling needs are and how your business can benefit from using calling cards.

I recommend: Learn how to buy, use and recharge calling cards with the Flash tutorial at CallingCards.com, which also offers a range of calling solutions for small and mid-sized businesses, including bulk purchasing and promotional printing.

Shop for promotions

Be on the lookout for cheap calling cards for both corporate and individual use.

I recommend: At Nobel.com, if you refer friends, you can receive free calling cards. CallingCards.com offers 10 free global minutes if you take the time to fill out an online form. If you plan on providing corporate clients with calling cards, CorporatePhoneCards.com can customize the card for you to help increase brand recognition.

Research rates for international & long distance calls

If you only plan on making infrequent calls outside the United States, it’s often cheaper to purchase international and long distance calling cards than to add those services to your monthly landline bill.

I recommend: For the best values on international calling cards, seek guidance from companies like SpeedyPin, Webstel and NobelCom, which all offer location- to-location rate calculators on their sites. IDT also provides a chart listing its competitive international rates and access numbers for calls made to anywhere in the world.

Treat your calling cards like they are money

Because calling cards are issued on a pre-paid basis, treat them as you would money or a bank card in an effort to keep them safe.

I recommend: Sites like GCI and Consolidated Communications offer tips on how to protect your cards and what to do should your calling cards become lost or stolen or you suspect telephony fraud. The Office of Information Technology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst also offers a list of rules to follow to minimize risk.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Using calling cards can reduce the amount of money spent on international or long distance calls, and many good promotions are being offered on a regular basis, so just keep looking.
• •  If possible, ask people who live in the geographic areas you intend to call what types of calling cards they find to be the most economical.
• •  Calling cards are subject to the same fraud and theft dangers as credit cards, so it’s important to always keep identification numbers in a safe place.

Making the most of calling cards includes being able to make calls cheaply and easily when you and your employees are traveling. Calling card providers should cut through the red tape and provide you with solutions that enhance your business instead of putting a crimp in it.

Phone calling cards sound simple enough. You enter the number on the back of the card, punch in the calling card number and your PIN, then dial the ten digit phone number you're trying to reach. That's true--they are simple. When they get complicated is when you run out of minutes in the middle of an important business trip or get socked with huge bills. To make the most out of phone cards:

1. Find calling cards that offer your business a little something extra.

2. Travel with a business calling card to always be connected to the home office.

3. Forgo a traditional prepaid calling card in favor of one that bills you monthly.

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Choose calling card services that offer business clients a personal touch

Many calling card companies have personalized services. For example, some companies include long distance calling cards as a no-cost addition to your business telephone service.

I recommend: Easton Telecom Services offers personalized calling card services and allows you to login online to view your eBill. Easton gives long distance customers free calling cards, including international phone cards, to make your business run smoothly when you're on the road. Banana Call customizes plans that fit your company the best. Search for phone card rates before buying.

Get the best business calling cards for the country you call the most

International phone cards vary as much as the company that sells them. There are no two alike, so it pays off to do your research. Most calling card providers have searchable databases that allow you to find the current per minute rate to a number of countries, so you can make an informed decision before buying.

I recommend: Select a country from the list at callingcards.com. The rates will pop up for two categories--calling to and calling from the country. Sort the table by minutes, price, connection fees or card names. Comfi.com connects you to cards that offer the cheapest rates for the most popular calling card destinations.

Register for calling card services billed directly to your company credit card

Business calling cards don't have to operate like any other calling card you buy at the local convenience store. As a smart business owner, you shouldn't pay for unused minutes. Instead, go with a plan that bills you monthly so you never run out of minutes.

I recommend: GlobalPhone Corporation offers GlobalPostpaid, a discounted calling card that only charges you for the minutes you use. You don't have to recharge the calling card or add more minutes when you run out. The company charges your credit card every month for minutes used. Sign up for a new account online. AccuLinQ Travel Cards offers local and long distance calling at cheap rates, billed to your credit card every month.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Distribute long distance calling cards to all your employees who travel. It's a much better and cheaper option than allowing them to bill the company later.

A calling card, also called a telephone card or just simply phone card, is a card used to pay for telephone services. The way in which the card works for payment and the way in which the card is used to make a telephone call depend on the telecommunication system used for the card. Most cards are sold by telecommunications companies and can also be purchased from department and convenience stores. Learn the following calling card key terms that will likely be encountered when shopping around for cards for your business.

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Prepaid calling card

A prepaid calling card allows a person to pay for local or long distance phone calls in advance by purchasing a preloaded phone card with a limited amount of minutes to be used on calls.

I recommend: Visit CallingcardsNetwork.com to learn more about how prepaid calling cards work.

International calling card

An international or global calling card allows calls to be made between multiple countries. These cards may be a general global card with no limits on countries that can be called or specific for one country, such as a United States to Mexico card.

I recommend: See some examples of low rates to specific countries through companies like Clon Communications.

Access number

An access number is a 10 or 11 digit number dialed to use prepaid calling cards, and is usually a toll free number beginning with 800, 866, 877 or 888 or a local number. After dialing the access number, callers then type in the number they are trying to reach.

I recommend: Read about using a local access number from Phonecarddepot.com.

PIN

A PIN, short for personal identification number and also called authorization number, is the unique security code that a caller uses to access the account from which a call is made. PINs are used to show if a call is charged to a particular card.

I recommend: Find instructions on how to make a calling card call using your pin at Way Telecom Corporation.

Connection fee

A connection fee is charged to a calling card and subtracted from the balance every time a connection is made. Connection fees reduces the advertised number of minutes on the phone card.

I recommend: Read more about cards with a connection fee at CallingCardPlus.

Country code

A country code is a two or three digit code, unique to each country, that is dialed when making international or global calls outside of the United States.

I recommend: Find a great tool for using country codes to make international calls at CountryCallingCodes.com.