International Phone Cards
With today's technology, it is not so hard to stay connected any
more. There are a host of hi-tech gadgets that can help you
communicate with your loved ones. There are emails, snail mails
and the good old telephone to help you say what you want to say
across a thousand miles or more.
Though emails are the primary method of communication in this
age of computers, sending an email may not always be convenient
for most people. Though it is cheap, free in fact, you still
need a computer and Internet access to send one. Old-fashioned
writing of letters may not as hard to do but it will take much
more time.
For many, calling their loved one on the phone is the better
option. Not only is it convenient -- as phone lines are
everywhere -- and fast, it is also more personal ,as you will be
able to actualy hear the voice of your loved one.
Phone calls, however, can be very expensive, especially
international calls. What is more, unlike sending an email or a
snailmail, a phone call is timed and the cost will depend upon
the length of the conversation. For some who have not talked for
quite a while, an hour is not enough to tell every story and say
everything that they want to say.
In fact, some people do not even realize the passage of time
while on the phone. They would stay for hours on the phone not
realizing that their telephone bill is already skyrocketing.
Perhaps, one of the hardest things to do when making an
international call is monitoring the amount of talk time.
Realizing this need and discovering the niche market of overseas
workers and foreign students, telephone companies have started
to come up with international phone cards with a pre-loaded
amount of time. International prepaid phone cards are also
especially useful to people who frequently travel to other
countries.
ADVANTAGES
Monitoring of talk time As mentioned before, with
international prepaid phone cards, user can actually monitor the
talk time and control the length of time that they will talk on
the phone. They don't even have to constantly look at a timer,
as phone cards will often signal when time is about to run out.
When this happens, a caller can actually decide whether to say
goodbye or use another phone card.
Cheaper Prepaid international phone cards are also
cheaper than the standard international rates being charged on a
regular telephone bill. This is perhaps because standard
telephone rates contain additional charges such as tax charges,
monthly fee, international surcharges and other fees that make
the phone call very expensive.
If you are gong to compare the prices, you'll realize that you
can save up to 70% with a prepaid phone card. You can even save
more by buying in bulk, which you can also give as gifts.
Fixed rate for all countries Another advantage of many
prepaid international phone cards is that they maintain the same
rate for all countries. Unlike telephone companies that charge
higher rates when you call to some countries, many prepaid
international phone cards afford you the luxury of a fixed rate
across the globe.
Mobility and flexibility You can also use a pre-paid
phone card anywhere. This is especially important for people who
go from one place to another and cannot keep a permanent phone
with them. With a prepaid phone card, you can actually use
someone else's phone when calling and still charge the call to
yourself.
Phone card rates are also way cheaper than what you will shell
out when calling from a hotel room. By keeping a phone card with
you, you don't have to contend with the outrageously high prices
charged by hotels for long distance calls. What is more,
international phone cards are easy to carry around.
You can put them anywhere. This is especially important for
frequent travelers who do not always bring much when going to
another country.
Convenience during emergencies Whether you use one
regularly or not, keep a phone card with you when you travel.
This will be useful in circumstances when you have to use a
phone, but are caught without change or the country's currency.