The rapid development in the international telecommunication market has seen hundreds of international calling cards for cell phones in the marketplace. This growth is partly due to the boom in tablet and smartphone technology alongside applications that come with it. Consequently, prices are reducing with rising functionality, making it worthwhile to consider the best options to make international calls.
Factors To Consider Before Buying International Calling Cards
With hundreds of international calling cards for cell phones in the market, making the right choice can be a daunting task. How do you tell the most suitable calling card for you? Here are the top things to be on the lookout for when selecting cell phones calling cards for international calls:
- Countries: Some cards do not cover all the countries. Make sure you are picking a card where the country you wish to call is not restricted. In addition, compare costs per minute between various brands before coming to your decision.
- Hidden Costs: When you’ve established per-minute costs, the next important thing is checking out additional charges. Beware of per call charges, connection and termination charges, maintenance fees, and refill fees. Hidden charges are often the biggest downside to using calling cards.
- Check the Fine Print: Always check with your operator to see if they allow using calling cards on your tariff. Some of the carriers do not sanction calling cards. It is vital to do your research beforehand to avoid disappointments after investing in a product. Additionally, there are several calling card providers offering unlimited features relating to your phone type, country of origin, type of tariff, as well as preferred destinations.
- Beware of Rounding: Many of the international calling cards use three-minute increments for rounding up. This implies that a one-minute call will be surcharged three minutes! If you decide to go down with a card calling, the rule of thumb is doing prior research.
- Brand : If you are looking for reliability in terms of quality calling, sticking with top brand names is usually the best way to go. Even as the marketplace is crammed with cheap calling cards for international calls, many belong to cut-rate carriers, who will leave you with bad connections, extremely poor sound, and dropped calls. All these quality issues will ruin your precious calling experience. To avoid disappointments, it pays to do your homework before investing in a product.
- Reviews: Whenever you are in doubt, be sure to check reviews of the calling cards from the internet. Simply type the brand name of the card you are considering to see what people are saying about it. If you discover multiple complaints touching on extra hidden costs, dropped calls, or quality, you may want to find another product. Keep in mind there are plenty of options available in the market.
- Avoid Using Contact List to Dial: When using a calling card on a cell phone, you should do it right as follows:
- Enter the code and access number of your card
- Enter the PIN number from the card
- Manually dial the recipient’s number, which includes the international dialing code
It is important to keep in mind that you can’t call by accessing contacts from the cell phone’s address book. Doing this disconnects from the calling card and engages the call in the usual way. This is obviously going to attract huge fees if you attempting an international call.
Reasons You Will Use Calling Cards
- They are less costly in comparison with long-distance only providers
- They are cheaper than local phone companies are
- Less costly compared to operator assisted calls as well as collect calls
- They allow for budgeting of long-distance calling costs
- Avoid monthly bills and detailed statements
Top 6 Best International Calling Cards For Cell Phones
Many of the traditional carriers’ customers enjoy an array of services with the same providers. Even as this “bundling” of services is meant to save you money, the notion can sometimes be misleading. With continued progress, it would be foolhardy to let the best possible service improvements and savings simply go unnoticed.
If you are wondering where to buy international cell phones calling cards, here is some information about the best five prepaid international phone cards:
1. $20 Zuzume Prepaid Phone Calling Card
The Zuzume prepaid cell phones calling card offers a simple, affordable, and pinless international calling plan to keep tabs with loved ones. If you are looking for an adventure with enjoyable quiet moments, this is the prepaid calling card for you. Here are the top highlights about Zuzume:
- Recharge instantly
- Reward balance every time you recharge
- Save as much as 90% on international calls
- No charges or expiration period
- Can call from US to any destination in the world
- Get to use speed dials plus more features
- Premium voice quality
- Full money-back guarantee
- Price : Up to $20.00
Dialing Instructions
- For most minutes, dial -1-903-230-0205 or-1-800-404-9310 where a surcharge of 2 cents per minute applies
- Dial your pin as PIN#
- Wait on prompt for:
- Calling Canada and USA : Dial 1 + Area Code + Phone Number
- Calling Internationally : Dial 011+ Country Code + City Code + Phone Number
2. AT&T 1200 Minute Prepaid Phone Card (Calling Card)
This prepaid cell phones card from AT&T has the kind of features and quality you would expect to find in the market. Check out these benefits of the AT&T 1200 Minute Prepaid Phone Card:
- Outstanding connectivity
- No maintenance fees
- No connection charges
- Domestic and international calling (call from 150+ foreign countries)
- Price: $61.95
How to Dial with AT&T 1200 Minute Prepaid Phone Card
From Outside US
- Dial AT&T Access Number for your country and await prompt
- Dial 800-603-7403 or 800-506-9511, wait for prompt
- Enter PIN and wait for prompt
- Dial destination number:
To other countries: 011 + Country Code + Phone Number
To US / Canada: 1 + Area code + Phone Number
Calling From US/Canada
- Dial 1-800-603-7403or 1-800-506-9511, wait for prompt
- Enter PIN and wait for prompt
- Dial destination number:
To other countries: 011+ Country Code + City Code + Phone Number
To US/Canada: 1 + Area Code + City Code + Phone Number
3. Nalotel Prepaid Phone Card $30
Nalotel has prepaid cell phones cards for international and domestic calling. The cards are designed to suit any life changing events. Whether you are an immigrant who needs to keep in touch with family back home or a missionary with plenty of international calls, Nalotel Prepaid Phone Card has got you covered. Here are the top highlights about Nalotel :
- Cheapest prices both for domestic and international calls. Check out low rates at nalotel.com or calling 1888.349.7986
- Pinless Dialing
- Use card from any public payphone
- Crystal clear connection
- Use a toll free number with no extra charges
- Great for personal and business calls
- 100% money back guarantee
- Price: $30
Calling Card Instruction
- Dial the access number and wait to hear your balance
- After balance wait for a prompt to dial destination
- Enter the country code first, then the recipient’s number
4. AT&T Worldwide Prepaid Phone Card ($50)
AT&T prepaid cell phones calling cards make it easy for you to pay for international call services. The $50 AT&T Worldwide Prepaid Phone Card is no different! Be sure to keep in touch with friends and family by leveraging on the features below:
- Can be used from US offshore regions like Alaska and Hawaii
- Use it for international calls when in other countries with AT&T USA Direct Service
- Fast connections
- Premium quality voice
- Price: $50
Dialing Instructions
From other countries to USA
- Dial AT&T direct access number of your non-US country
- Wait for a prompt to enter the recipient’s number and,
- Use the toll-free number on your prepaid phone card without a 1, and
- Wait for prompt to,
- Press 1 for English instructions
- Press 2 for Spanish instructions
- Wait for prompt to enter your PIN
- After the PIN, dial 1 + Area Code + Number to complete call
5. At&t Prepaid Phone Card – 125 Min
By choosing the AT&T prepaid cell phones card – 125 Min, you are purchasing in one of the cheapest means to pay for domestic long-distance phone calls, which is also available on landlines. AT&T 125 Min prepaid phone card has no gimmicks, but great prices for everyday use!
- Great low rates to make domestic U.S calls
- No monthly fees
- No hidden charges
- Card value expires 365 days after activation, last use, or recharge
- Instant recharging
- 100% money back guarantee
- Price: $8.25
Dialing Instructions
- Dial AT&T direct access number of your non-US country
- Wait for a prompt to enter the recipient’s number and,
- Use the toll-free number on your prepaid phone card without a 1, and
- Wait for prompt to,
- Press 1 for English instructions
- Press 2 for Spanish instructions
- Wait for prompt to enter your PIN
- After the PIN, dial 1 + Area Code + Number to complete call
6. AT&T 900 Minute Prepaid Phone Card (Calling Card)
This is a genuine full service AT&T prepaid cell phones card optimized to work all over the world. It is most popular for regular use when traveling abroad or within the USA, since it has access numbers for 200+ countries.
- Make international long-distance calls
- No expiration
- Reward balance for each recharge
- Premium quality voice
- Pinless dialing
- No hidden charges
- Use speed dial plus more features
- 3-cents per minute for toll-free access
- Full money-back guarantee
- Price: $48.95
Dialing Instructions
From Outside US
- Dial AT&T Access Number for your country and await prompt
- Dial 800-603-7403 or 800-506-9511, wait for prompt
- Enter PIN and wait for prompt
- Dial destination number:
To other countries: 011 + Country Code + Phone Number
To US / Canada: 1 + Area code + Phone Number
Calling From US/Canada
- Dial 1-800-603-7403or 1-800-506-9511, wait for prompt
- Enter PIN and wait for prompt
- Dial destination number:
To other countries: 011+ Country Code + City Code + Phone Number
To US/Canada: 1 + Area Code + City Code + Phone Number
Cell Phones Calling Card Dialing Instructions In-Detail
Here are essential steps for using prepaid international cell phones calling cards. While the actual steps for individuals may vary if they have advanced features like speed dialing or PIN-less dialing activated. You can always check with your card vendor for specifics.
1. Before you start dialing
Have the following details at hand before you begin dialing:
- Local access or toll-free number
- Account details of the calling card
- Destination phone number
- Call termination code for those who wish to make compounded calls using the same connection
2. Dial the card’s access number
The first step is to dial the local access number or toll-free access number. Doing this allows you to connect to the communications network of your calling card. These numbers are often available on the prepaid international cell phones calling cards. However, the numbers are also posted on your vendor’s website and in the confirmation email you received.
Depending on the vendor you choose and the type of card, a toll-free surcharge may or may not apply when using a toll-free access number. Local access numbers are often free calls.
3. Dialing the calling card PIN
Save for those who have active PIN-less dialing, you will get a prompt to input the card’s unique PIN. If you have the PIN-less dialing feature activated, the call-in number will be recognized and you only get a prompt to continue dialing.
The PIN is essential for the vendor to identify you and the specific card for purposes of call tracking and verifying your minutes. The PIN is usually on the calling card itself or can be sent to you via email.
Activating the card online is a great way to get the best value for your money as you can use it for a while. In addition, if it comes with PIN-less dialing, the move will save you re-dialing your PIN.
4. Dialing the destination phone number
You now need to dial your destination telephone number. If the number is activated on speed dial, simply key in the applicable 1- or 2- digit code. If not, you will have to enter the full destination phone number.
Essentially, your destination number can be in the form of domestic long distance number using your country’s standard format – or an international telephone number. See the examples below:
Domestic Long Distance Number
| xxx | xxx | xxxx xxxx |
| national access code | area code | local number |
International Phone Number Format
| xxx | xxx | xxx | xxxx xxxx |
| international access code | country code | area code | local number |
Due to wide variations in phone number formats, it is best to track down the right number. Unless your vendor specifies otherwise, keep in mind that you will incur charges for answering machine pickups, wrong numbers that get answered, and others. Therefore, ensuring you are dialing the right destination number will prevent unnecessary charges.
5. If you wish to make another call
Please note that some of the best international calling cards for cell phones provide for multiple calls in one connection. This goes a long way to save you money because most cards charge for every connection.
When making another call, therefore, don’t hand up. Instead, end the current call via the right code often designated by your vendor. Immediately start your next call using your destination phone number as seen in step #4.
Remember to check with your provider for the code they use to terminate calls. Some of the most common codes are pressing and holding the pound key (#) for two seconds or pressing the asterisk key (**) two times. Always use the precise sequence for your calling card provider.
Note: These are only general instructions and are not standard for all situations. Checking with specific card providers might give additional instructions.
Conclusion
Using cell phones calling cards and prepaid calling cards for long distance and international calls is a smart move. Some of the cards listed can save you up to 90% on international calls and ensure that you stay connected with family and friends. Besides what we have reviewed, with proper research, you can get better offers that are suitable for your needs.