Calling Cards

Calling cards offer cheap alternatives to traditional telecommunications
By Stephanie Fagnani, Freelance Writer/Editor 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.

Get the most out of calling cards

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

• 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.