International calling cards are a great way of staying in touch whether you are traveling for business or pleasure. Everyone wants to call home when they are away, for students this can be costly and a card makes the process easier and cheaper. Whether you’re staying in a hotel or a hostel, long distance, overseas call rates are extremely high – this is where the prepaid international calling card will come in handy. Most stores who sell calling cards to the public, deal with International calling cards.
You pay a fixed amount of money, based on what you think your call rate and length of call will be. Each call is logged by the phone service who then deduct the appropriate amount from your card. The rates on international calls differ and what you pay is dependent on where and when you want to call and the way you plan your calls. Long-distance calls are charged by the minute as a general rule, and what it costs you will depend largely on the rates that the telephone company has on offer.

There are a number of services you can opt for when it comes to paying for your international long distance calls. There is a variety of international calling card plans and each one may have different services on offer. These might include callback services and dial around. There are also some prepaid phone cards on offer that may charge at a lower rate than other companies generally offer. A lot depends on the type of prepaid international calling card that you choose; with some of the telephone companies will have basic rates. The features on these cards may vary but usually includes the following:

· The connection fees

· Minimum phone call times

· Different rates for the day time/ nighttime

· Different fees for weekend and weekday Times

The benefits of obtaining an international calling card

You might ask just exactly why should you need an international long-distance calling card, and what might suit you? The following information is designed to help you make wise choices so that you get the international calling card that is best suited to your needs. Unfortunately whichever card you choose they each have their own call plans and drawbacks. Some companies will charge you a high connection fee whereas some phone cards have no connection fees but will charge you for using a pay phone or may add extra charges if any call you make is longer than ten minutes. When you are doing your research, trying to find the right calling card for you then you want one that will allow you to talk for as long as you want to without extra phone charges. If you plan on calling someone who is only contactable by cell phone, then you need to find a card that allows you to call mobile phones and which doesn’t make additional charges. Finally, it is a good idea to check that you will be entitled to the minutes that it says you will without incurring any extra charges. You should also check whether the company will apply connection charges for calling other countries.

Prepaid international calling cards will keep you connected

A major disadvantage of the prepaid phone card for international use is the requirement that you dial a 1- 800-number and then have to enter a long pin number. If the rates on the international calling card are decent then you might want to see this as only a minor inconvenience. If you obtain your prepaid calling card on the Internet rather than at a store then you may find that you reduce any inconveniences you may have to deal with. There are additional benefits to getting your card this way because you can recharge the card online or over a phone line whenever you need it. You should be able to do this with most prepaid phone cards providing you use the online service. Your card number is automatically linked to your cell phone so when you can just call stored numbers without having to enter them every time.

How to get a cell phone calling card that will save you time and money on prepaid calling card minutes

Cell phone calling cards offer their users a huge convenience. You are not only free to go wherever you want with your cell phone, but there is no need to worry about an outrageous phone bill at the end of the month. Prepaid phone cards, also referred to as “pay as you go” plans, are ideal for individuals on a strict budget. You can purchase a prepaid cell phone calling card for the value that best fits your needs and your finances.
Prepaid cell phone calling card minutes are also great for teenagers. You can provide them with a calling card each month and once the time has expired, there are no overage charges to worry about. Cell phone calling card providers offer convenient pay as you go services, many offer free mobile phones or special reduced prices on new cell phones. There are also no long-term contracts and few termination fees. People who would enjoy the accessibility of a cell phone for emergencies or to keep in touch with family find the prepaid minutes along with a free mobile phone the perfect choice. Cell phone prepaid calling cards can be easily purchased at a number of common places. Many gas stations, newsstands, and even some grocery stores offer great values on discounted calling card rates.

Cell phone prepaid calling cards which ones better?

Selecting the best calling card provider and cell phone calling card plan to meet your needs can be a difficult decision. There are hundreds of phone card choices. How do you decide which one is right for you? Do you know what you should look for when choosing a phone card provider? Many cell phone prepaid calling cards offer low rates or special calling plans with no monthly fee. Always read the fine print on the card and check for any restrictions that may apply to the calling card. Some calling cards include hidden charges, the most common being that each call is rounded up to the next whole minute. You should also ask about possible connection fees as well as extra charges for long phone calls. You will want to choose a calling card company that offers quality customer service to quickly resolve any problems you may have. Most cell phone calling card providers usually activate the card at the time of purchase and most prepaid calling cards have a short life before they expire. If you will not use your cell phone prepaid calling card very often, you should look for the card with the longest time before expiration.

As you shop for a cell phone prepaid calling card, consider these questions:

· What plans are available?

· Are there global roaming rates?

· What are the service and warranty agreements?

· What are the contract terms and what are the penalties for breaking the contract?

· Will the provider allow you to transfer an existing cell phone number?

· Are there any talk and text packages available?

· Are calls within the network free?

· Do they offer any times when calls are free?

· What kind of coverage is available?

Will a cell phone calling card benefit you?

The most attractive feature of prepaid cell phone cards is the ability to regulate your monthly mobile phone bill. At any given time, you can check your usage and know exactly how many minutes remain on your phone. Cell phone calling cards are becoming more and more popular, especially as card rates continue to decrease, but many cell phone users are still not well informed of the benefits of prepaid calling cards.

Do you find yourself frustrated by long and unproductive conference calls? What reputation do you have for managing conference calls? Establish expectations and a reputation for short and effective conference calls. Get your time back for other activities.

ESTABLISH EXPECTATIONS UP FRONT

If you are the moderator scheduling the conference call, send out a list in advance with pertinent information. This information should contain the Purpose of the call, dial number with PIN code if necessary, the moderator, the start time, the end time, list of participants and specific agenda items. Attached relevant documents to email invitations for the conference call so the participants can prepare in advance. If documents are required from other participants to review on the call, make sure that these are coordinated and completed in advance. The more prepared you are for the call, the productive the time can be and the better able that you will be to stay on schedule.

PURPOSE

List the purpose or topic of the call clearly and succinctly. This should be the goal or objective of the call. Typically a conference call should be limited to one or two specific goals. This enables you to keep the conference call focused and succinct.

In some cases it may be more difficult to keep a conference call focused on a specific topic. For example, when reviewing the schedule for a large project there may be multiple topics that are relevant to time milestones in the project. If this is the case, keep the call focused on specific milestones that are due or relative to the point in the schedule.

Sometimes conference calls are used to gather information from many people in the field. These group calls can be effective if the purpose is for a moderator or manager to disperse information to several people simultaneously. However, if the call is used to gather information from several different individuals as a weekly update to management, is it really an effective use of time for anyone other than the manager? Is it really a good use of time to interrupt the schedules of many people to conduct a social town hall discussion in which each person waits in silent anticipation for peers to give a weekly update? Consider how much more effective it would be to obtain a written weekly report in lieu of a conference call. A written report can be read at convenience, creates a reference document for discussion if necessary, and enables the manager to work with priority or confidential communications in an appropriate manner. If you are already using both weekly reports and conference calls, then it is time to do some soul searching to determine if any of the communication is being treated with value or if it has just become a meaningless routine.

DIAL IN and PIN NUMBER

Always include the conference call Dial In Number and PIN Number on the invitation and any scheduled reminders. Make it easy to find the number. It can be a distraction to have people dial into the conference call late because they could not find the phone number.

MODERATOR

Every conference call should have one identified and assigned moderator. If there is a group of peers, it may be appropriate to rotate the role of moderator from time to time with repeating calls, Typically, the individual creating the invitation is the moderator. The moderator is responsible for making sure that the call starts and stops on time. The moderator is responsible for keeping the call on track and gently guiding individuals back on track in the event that conversation begins to run away on a tangent. The moderator may also be responsible for controlling emotional responses or maintaining a professional level of courteous communications. It may be necessary to encourage some individuals to participate, or discourage some individuals who may have a tendency to filibuster. It is the responsibility of the moderator to keep the call on schedule and focused on the purpose of the call.

It is the role of the moderator to reduce or eliminate distractions or interruptions. It is the role of the participants to remain quiet and respectful unless there is something useful and relevant to add to the conversation. Distractions may sometimes appear as opinions, jokes, anecdotes or personal stories that contribute very little to the progress of the conversation. It is the responsibility of the moderator to control the call and keep it focused.

START TIME and END TIME

Schedule the call to start five minutes past the hour. Most calls are scheduled to start precisely on the hour and the first five minutes of the call are wasted while waiting for some individuals to dial into the call. Sometimes it is difficult to start on the hour because a previous call or meeting may be ending precisely on the hour. Schedule your call to start five minutes past the hour and start precisely at the scheduled time. If you always start at the scheduled time, you will develop a reputation for being precise and the participants will plan accordingly. If you always start late or consistently spend the first five minutes waiting for participants to join the call, then the other participants will become accustomed to this delay. Schedule the call to start five minutes past the hour and start the call on time every time.

Schedule a precise End Time for the call and stick to it. Develop a reputation for ending your calls on time. It will create a sense of urgency and a rhythm for the conference calls as people realize that the purpose of the call must be met in a designated amount of time. It will enable the participants to schedule other activities after the call with confidence. It will keep the call focused. Complete the call with a summary of highlights and action items. If there are follow-up items, or if additional time is required, schedule the next phone call and use the summary highlights and action items as the agenda for the next conference call. Every action item should have name or names of associated owners to complete, or there is no purpose for the list of action items.

ROLL CALL

Conduct a time check near the end of the call and reserve the last few minutes for summary wrap-up and roll call. What, roll call at the end of the call? Yes, do your roll call at the end of the call, not at the beginning. It is inevitable that some individuals may join the call late. Avoid the temptation to wait for participants to join or to introduce distractions and interruptions by late arrivals. Start the call on time and get right to the purpose of the call. Conduct your roll call at the end when everyone has had a chance to join.

YOUR NEXT CALL

Example: Schedule a conference call to start five minutes past the hour and start precisely on time. Schedule the call for 40 minutes, unlike most calls that are scheduled for one hour. The shorter period of time and specific start and stop times will get the attention of the participants. There will be a sense of urgency since the call will not consume an entire hour, regardless of the topic. Do a time check at 30 minutes into the call, reminding participants that the call will have a hard stop at 40 minutes. At 35 minutes begin the wrap-up of the call, restate the highlights or commitments and use this to establish the agenda for the next call. Finish your call with a roll call of attendees and terminate the call at 40 minutes as planned. If you this consistently, the other participants will prepare appropriately in advance of the call for the fast paced rhythm of the call and focus on purpose. Side conversations and distractions will diminish, participants will be timely, and everyone will benefit from better use of time.

INVITATION

The following is an example of a format that can be used for conference call invitations. It is designed to establish the expectations and character of the conference call. Apply structure to your conference calls and earn a reputation for consistent focused punctuality. That is a good reputation to have if you want to have more productive conference calls and more time back to yourself.

Conference Call Purpose: ______________________________

Dial In Number: ____________________ PIN: ____________________

Moderator: ______________________________

Start Time: __(Example: 10:05 AM)__________ End Time: __(Example: 10:45 AM)__________

Participants: ___(Name)___________________________

___(Name)___________________________

___(Name)___________________________

Agenda Topics: ___(First Priority)___________________________

___(Second Priority)_________________________

___(Third Priority)___________________________

* This call will start precisely at the Start Time and end at the designated time. Please be on time. There will be a roll call at the end of the conference call, so it will not be necessary to announce yourself if you dial in late. The last five minutes of the call will be reserved for summary wrap-up and assignment of action items for the next scheduled call if necessary. Please prepare or review any relevant materials prior to the call. In the event that the agenda items are not fully covered in the allotted time for this conference call, another call will be scheduled. Thank you for your cooperation. Let’s get ready for productive and focused communication.

______________________________________________________

Words of Wisdom

“A conference is a gathering of important people who singly can do nothing, but together can decide that nothing can be done.”
- Fred Allen

“The ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence.”
- Robert J. Shiller

“Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you’re going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus.”
- Oprah Winfrey

How to get a cell phone calling card that will save you time and money on prepaid calling card minutes

Cell phone calling cards offer their users a huge convenience. You are not only free to go wherever you want with your cell phone, but there is no need to worry about an outrageous phone bill at the end of the month. Prepaid phone cards, also referred to as “pay as you go” plans, are ideal for individuals on a strict budget. You can purchase a prepaid cell phone calling card for the value that best fits your needs and your finances.
Prepaid cell phone calling card minutes are also great for teenagers. You can provide them with a calling card each month and once the time has expired, there are no overage charges to worry about. Cell phone calling card providers offer convenient pay as you go services, many offer free mobile phones or special reduced prices on new cell phones. There are also no long-term contracts and few termination fees. People who would enjoy the accessibility of a cell phone for emergencies or to keep in touch with family find the prepaid minutes along with a free mobile phone the perfect choice. Cell phone prepaid calling cards can be easily purchased at a number of common places. Many gas stations, newsstands, and even some grocery stores offer great values on discounted calling card rates.

Cell phone prepaid calling cards which ones better?

Selecting the best calling card provider and cell phone calling card plan to meet your needs can be a difficult decision. There are hundreds of phone card choices. How do you decide which one is right for you? Do you know what you should look for when choosing a phone card provider? Many cell phone prepaid calling cards offer low rates or special calling plans with no monthly fee. Always read the fine print on the card and check for any restrictions that may apply to the calling card. Some calling cards include hidden charges, the most common being that each call is rounded up to the next whole minute. You should also ask about possible connection fees as well as extra charges for long phone calls. You will want to choose a calling card company that offers quality customer service to quickly resolve any problems you may have. Most cell phone calling card providers usually activate the card at the time of purchase and most prepaid calling cards have a short life before they expire. If you will not use your cell phone prepaid calling card very often, you should look for the card with the longest time before expiration.

As you shop for a cell phone prepaid calling card, consider these questions:

· What plans are available?

· Are there global roaming rates?

· What are the service and warranty agreements?

· What are the contract terms and what are the penalties for breaking the contract?

· Will the provider allow you to transfer an existing cell phone number?

· Are there any talk and text packages available?

· Are calls within the network free?

· Do they offer any times when calls are free?

· What kind of coverage is available?

Will a cell phone calling card benefit you?

The most attractive feature of prepaid cell phone cards is the ability to regulate your monthly mobile phone bill. At any given time, you can check your usage and know exactly how many minutes remain on your phone. Cell phone calling cards are becoming more and more popular, especially as card rates continue to decrease, but many cell phone users are still not well informed of the benefits of prepaid calling cards.

An estimation of five hundred prepaid calling cards sold yearly for the last ten years, which makes the calling card industry boomed.

Prepaid calling cards can be seen almost everywhere. One can purchase prepaid calling cards in a lot of stores which includes the convenience stores and gas stations. Some can purchase online through the internet. There are heaps of prepaid calling cards and each has different rates and services offered. It is wiser for the customers to understand each of the cards in order to choose the right one with best rates.

If a lot of people think that choosing a prepaid calling card is that too easy, think again. Yes, indeed, the price per minute is typically written on the card and on its advertisement. But the problem in here is that the price per minute of the prepaid calling card doesn’t essentially reflect the best rate. There can be some surcharges that are being charges or added to a call. Usually, if the per minute call is being charge lower then the surcharges are higher. There are also some prepaid calling cards which have huge connection fee that are being charge to every call. The actual per minute cost of a call will be much higher because of this connection fee that is being charge. Using the prepaid calling card in payphone can also give surprisingly high surcharge. The surcharge that will be charge to the calling card is as much as 50 cents for every call you made in a payphone.

There are also many prepaid calling cards which have international call surcharge. This surcharge can be as high as $3 per call you make. Other surcharges that are being charge to your calls include taxes, which can be as high as 25% and also a weekly or monthly maintenance fee. One more is rounding, this is a hidden charge. If the prepaid calling card uses a five minute rounding, a minute call made will still be charge as five minutes call.

Now, before purchasing or choosing a prepaid calling card, one must have the better understanding on how you are going to use the phone, where will the calls be made and when will it be made. It is wiser to have the valuable information that is useful in finding the right prepaid calling card for you. Prepaid calling cards with low per minute rates with high surcharges are typically great for making long calls about 10-15 minutes calls or even longer. But if you are making less than 10 minutes calls, a prepaid calling card that has higher per minute rate with low surcharges will be better.

It is better to have the necessary information before purchasing any prepaid calling card; you have to know how to use the prepaid calling card, the rate per minute, the surcharges, the expiry date of the card and the likes. You have to be equipped with this information, but in case when the prepaid card doesn’t have such information, you have to ask the customer service about the information you needed, but if they still can’t give you the information you needed, it is wiser to look for another prepaid calling card. Besides, there are heaps of prepaid calling cards and all you have to do is search for the right one for you.

Indeed, prepaid calling card is very useful, in order to keep in touch with our loved ones amidst of always traveling or working and studying far from them. It actually made communication easier and faster, but you have to still make the right choice in using a prepaid calling card, choose the card that will suit your needs and your budget.

Conference calls have been an alternative way of gathering people together in a business seminars or meetings. It can save everyone the hassle of traveling from one place to another just to attend a business gathering. Not only that, it can also relatively lower down company expenses because all you really need is a telephone system and you are good to go. Technology has really gone a long way and has helped the business sector in making cost-effective solutions that fits their needs.

You may think that setting up a call conference may be costly. Actually it need not be. There are a number of conference call service providers in the market that are offering affordable call conferencing packages which are available for everyone.

How come some cheap conference call providers can reduce their rates that low?

Firstly, offering cheap rates is their marketing strategy to get more people to commission their service. Second, cheap conference calls are often service providers themselves and have their very own network that they use during conference calls. This way, there are actually no or at least very minimal overhead cost. Without these additional costs, they can easily lower down their rates.

How do cheap conference calls work?

Providers usually would give their costumer a unique toll free number. The participants of the conference call will then dial-in the given number. The host would simply call the toll number and can easily conduct the conference right there and then.

Advantages of cheap conference calls

Reservation-less conferencing

Cheap conference call does not need reservations for a person to join the conference. A client can call a conference anytime he needs one without making prior reservations.

Call management system

Cheap conference calls also provide their own call management system. Just be sure to check with your provider other services and additional features that come with the package you paid for. Call management system would ensure that you have a smooth-flowing conference at all times.

Operator assisted

Cheap conference calls also provide live operators upon request but you would usually be required to pay additional cost for this. Since cheap conference calls are committed to provide the most cost-effective solution possible for their costumers they usually use automated system instead of live operators to cut down the cost of the service you have to pay for.

Easy setup

You might think that you need extra tools to set up conferencing, but this is actually not the case. There are no additional equipments that you need to have to make a conference call. All you need to have is a simple telephone system that you would use during the conference.

Get in touch with hundreds of people

The primary use of a conference call is to get two or more people together. But with a cheap call conference, it gets even better. You can converse and connect to one person or to one hundred people all at the same time.

Who would benefit from cheap call conferences?

Call conferencing is not exclusive for business use. It could also be used for medical consultations and for small organization’s staff meetings.

Start-up companies would greatly benefit from cheap call conferencing. They would give your company the professionalism it needs without you shelling out a big fortune. Cheap call conferencing would perfectly fit your budget.

Small organizations and charity institutions can also use cheap conference calls. This way, they can get in touch with their staff wherever they are in the world. You do not need to pay for high cellphone bills anymore or to travel far just to talk to your staff. Cheap conference makes it easier for you.

Cheap conference calls, are they any good? In conclusion, they are! They offer cost-effective solutions to suits your needs without paying for high fees. They are very economical compared to traveling to different places just to meet with certain people whether it is for your business or for your organization.

Apart from being affordable, cheap conference calls are not short when in comes to technical advantage. They can offer the same service most high-priced providers offer. What you really have to do is to evaluate your provider’s services and ask them about what they can offer you. It would be a good idea to compare providers and choose what you think is best suited for your cause.

Communication is very vital in a thriving company. With cheap conference calls, you can create seamless communication with your people and still save up a little of your budget.

Calling (phone) cards is a telecommunication credit card used by consumers to pay for telephone and cellular services. Calling cards purpose a prepaid credit system through the use of prepaid calling cards. Prepaid phone cards allow you to pay for your long-distance calling in advance.

The cards can be purchased from markets, vending machines or on Internet shops and allow you to make international or domestic calls from practically any telephone. Whereas the calling cards are more comfortable for travelers, some people find prepaid cards a convenient means to handle most or all of their calling needs.

Pre paid calling cards appropriate to all but most useful for travelers: immigrant, commercial traveller, tourists, friends, relatives or loved spending a much time on the phone. Most of pay phones have a very high calling costs and using calling cards give you lowest rates especially for international calls. Now there are hundreds of companies with thousands of affiliates and partner offer phone cards from different service providers and carriers such as ACC, AT&T, CLL, ECC, IDT, IDTE, NTC, NW-IP and etc. We hope our buying guide help you select the right calling cards. Choosing the best phone card for you calling needs is a difficult task. The way what you propose use a card help define character of calling cards will be good for you. We consider main features of calling cards: Fees, Expiration Dates, Calling Rates, Additional Service.

1 Fees

Calling cards may have additional fees – connection fee applies to calling card’s balance every time when the connection is established. The charge varies depending on country a person is calling to. Connection fee reduces the advertised number of minutes on the phone card, maintenance fee – this fee is deducted from phone card balance if there is still enough balance. It is not charged on your credit card. Calling card provider starts charging a maintenance fee within 24 hours after the first phone call is finished, service, Payphone Fee additional charge per call if if call is made using a payphone, normally collected for the owner of the payphone. If you place many short calls will want to look for a card that has no connection fees, while those who make duration calls will want to look for lower rates and possibly take on a connection fee. Also phone card that has a weekly service fee should be evade if you want to keep your card and use it long period of time.

2 Expiration Dates

Calling cards expiration period, which starts after the first phone call was made. Make sure that the expiration date of you telephone cards is enough for you to be able to use your entire funds.

3 Calling Rates

Generally the first thing people see is a calling rates to need destination. This number may greatly change from card to card. Do not make a decision based only on this feature. For example – one calling card offers you 500 minutes, another – 200. The first card expired in a 1 month, the second – 2 month. So, if you talk near 25 minutes per week (or 25 x 4 = 100 minutes per month), which phone card is better for you? The card that provide you “only” 200 minutes. Always compare calling rates offered variety calling cards. You may use calling rates calculator on our site.

4 Additional Service

Some calling cards offer additional features such as Web or SMS callback, Prepaid conference calls, SMS refill service, Toll-free number, Permanent PIN, Speed dial and much more (for example Continental calling card). It’s features expand use a calling cards but consider you need it? Why cost if you just talk with you friends or family members.

If you want to purchase a prepaid phone cards online or over the counter, you will quickly see that there are thousands of cards available. So, how do you choose the right phone card for your individual needs?

Begin by asking yourself the following questions, or go directly to the Basic Usage & Suggestions portion of this page. You may also want to consult the Glossary of Terms.

QUESTIONS TO ASK PRIOR TO PURCHASING A PREPAID PHONE CARD

1) What rate does the card offer to my calling destination (typically shown as ¢/min)?
Confirm rates before you call and remember that some rates may fluctuate. Also, calls made to international cell phones are generally billed at a higher rate.

2) Do the rates vary depending on the hour of the day?

Be sure that the rate you receive remains constant throughout the entire day. Unless otherwise stated, the advertised rate should be constant no matter what time of day.

3) What is the Minute Billing or Minute Rounding schedule for the card?

Rounding (minute billing) refers to the increments in which phone calls are billed. For example, with 3 minute rounding, a 4 minute phone call would be billed as a 6 minute phone call. With 1 minute rounding, the same 4 minute call would be billed as a 4 minute call.

4) Will I be charged for calls that do not connect?

Know in advance if you will be charged for attempting a call that does not connect. Please confirm this with the carrier by contacting their customer service department.

5) Are there any additional fees or taxes?

Some phone cards include additional fees and/or taxes. Adding these fees allows carriers and retailers to to keep their advertised rates extra low. You can avoid many types of additional fees and taxes by using all of your minutes in one call. Remember… fees and taxes effectively reduce the number of minutes you’ll receive.

Further, not all phone card retailers are created equal. Many will not disclose all fees and taxes, so be sure to ask before you buy. A retailer using best business practices will reveal all known taxes and fees to you up front.

7) Can I reach a customer service operator 24 hours a day?

Being able to get a hold of your phone card’s customer service department is important because they will be able to help you with any unforeseen issues that may arise at any time during the day.

Does the phone card have an expiration date?

If yes, any remaining minutes on the card past this date will be lost.

9) Does the merchant/retailer offer any form of guarantee?

Most prepaid phone card companies do not offer any guarantee on their products. There are , however, a handful of companies that do. A guarantee will further ensure that you get the minutes you pay for.

10) Does the company I am researching appear to be trustworthy?

Look for signs of generating trust: Visible phone numbers, privacy policy, BBB membership, secure transactions, warranties and guarantees.

11) How will I receive my prepaid phone card after purchase?

Typically, if purchasing over the Internet, phone cards will be presented to via email or right on screen pending a successful transaction and acceptance by your bank. Some companies may send you a physical card, but in most cases the delivery occurs by email or right on your screen.

BASIC USAGE & SUGGESTIONS

1) Before traveling, confirm that your pin is valid. To do this, dial the US access number and enter your pin–make sure not to make any connections so that you will not reduce the balance. Confirm with the retailer and/or carrier that service is available and that the access number is correct.

2) You may be able to get extra minutes if you utilize a local access number (not available on all calling cards or in all regions). If available, the number may be provided when you dial the toll free access number included with your pin and/or online–if the pin was purchased on a website. You may also be able to confirm this information with the carrier of your calling card.

3)Be sure the site you are ordering from is secure. Look for an image or message indicating this, such as SSL, Secure Transactions, Thawte Certified, etc.

4) When choosing a card that does carry additional fees and/or taxes to get the lowest rate possible, consider purchasing smaller denominations so that you can use all of the minutes in one phone call. This will allow you to get MAXIMUM minutes as you avoid scheduled fees and/or taxes. Fees and taxes will not begin until your “first use” of the card.

5) If making long calls, be sure that your card does not have a long call fee associated with it. Some cards will tax you if you make calls that last longer than a predetermined amount of time. Some carriers add in this fee to keep people from using a card in one call. NOTE: This type of fee is not as prevalent as it once was.

6) All cards carry an FCC imposed payphone fee–this fee averages anywhere from 49¢ to $1.00 every time you use a when calling from a payphone. This fee also applies when making calls from other countries if using a calling card sold by a U.S. company.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Connection Fee (also known as Access fee) – This is the most common fee and one that most customers probably know about already. This fee is charged every time you place a call, and it usually varies from 5¢ to $1. The worst thing that can happen with this connection fee is, when the card buyer makes the call and either the answering machine gives a reply or the call is routed to a voice mailbox, the connection fee is charged even though the customer has not really uttered even a single word. Of course the best option to avoid this charge is simply to choose a that has no connection fee!

Disconnection Fee – This fee is identical as the connection fee, except that it is charged at the termination of the each call instead of the beginning of each call.

Taxes – This fee is charged on a per usage basis with reference to the call charges, and it is typically 5-15%.

Minute Rounding (also known as Billing increment) – If a has one minute rounding, a call of 50 seconds will be charged the same as one minute and 3 1/2 minutes will be charged the same as four minutes. Many consumers only choose a card with one minute (or less) rounding in order to avoid losing some of their call time.

Maintenance Fee – This is a very notorious fee (which many retailers keep hidden) that is charged against the . These deductions typically occur in ether daily, weekly, bi-monthly, or on a monthly basis.

Payphones Fee – There are surcharges on s for all calls made from payphones imposed by the FCC. You will pay this fee regardless of whether the call goes through or not.

Access Number – The billing also depends on whether one calls a local access number or a toll-free number. In many cases, using a local area access number will reduce your per minute rate.

Long Call Surcharge – Some carriers charge an extended talking fee if a call goes beyond a specified duration (usually around 20 minutes).

Expiration Date – Most prepaid s have an expiration date, of which there are two types: the date from which you actually begin using the card and a general expiration date. After the expiration date you will no longer be able to use the card even if you have unused minutes remaining.

PIN – This is the Personal Identification Number each has. This code will inform the carrier which card is being used.

A conference call involves the communication between a calling party and more than one listener. There are numerous conference call services available, making it difficult to make a quick decision. The service that you choose will ultimately depend on the expectations and uses you wish get out of your conference calls. For some, only a few details matter, such as price, while others are in need of advanced services like on-the-spot technical support. Below are a few factors to consider when choosing the conference call service that is most compatible with your needs.

Business Conference Calls

When it comes time to report quarterly stats, many companies turn to conference calls. This allows them to communicate the ups and downs of their business to interested parties. A higher-level company executive, such as the CEO, often reads the company reports. Once the results are revealed, the call is then accessible for others to join in, namely stock analysts, who come with a slew of questions. Businesses may also use conference calls to promote their products or services. Seminar leaders may open a conference call to the public to share their marketing techniques or business strategies for free or a small price.

Entertainment-Based Conference Calls

Today, people are looking for more and more ways to make new friends or find the companion of their dreams. When bars and clubs get to be too much, the allure of chatting on a “party line” becomes increasingly appealing. Entertainment-based conference calls are used to provide a break from boredom, as well as a way to socialize with others. Participants call a phone number set aside for this purpose and are plugged into a whole new world of mingling and flirting.

Audio vs. Visual

Audio conference calls are less expensive and require less equipment than visual conferencing. Web conference calls also open up a host of potential problems, such as malfunctioning chat, instant message, and web cam services. Streaming video may also pose concerns. Although the capabilities of visual conference calls are vast and have a better way of getting the point across, depending on your intended audience, the concept might be too advanced.

To use visual conferencing as a business tool, you will also have to familiarize yourself with an assortment of software selections and other online options. Learning visual conferencing techniques is a process. For example, include too many large files and you may end up with a communication problem.

Conference Call Limitations

What kind of conference call do you want? Some services allow the called party to speak during a call, while other selections only allow called parties to listen to what is being said.

Conference Call Set-Up

Do you want to control how conference calls are received and made? Calling parties can place calls to desired participants or entrance to a call is gained by calling a special phone number.

Reservation vs Non-Reservation

When you choose a service offering reservation-less conference calls, you will enjoy more freedom. Calls can be placed at any time without speaking to an operator or setting up an appointment. Reservation services require you to schedule your call ahead of time.

Conference Call Commands

What sort of capabilities do calling parties have when choosing a service? Things to consider include the ability to get operator assistance, mute and unmute participants, alter ringing tones and record conversations.

Call Planning is Essential

Knowing how long your conference call will be allows you to shuffle along participants to meet time expectations. As a rule of thumb, a conference call centers on an hour or more. Larger groups demand longer time frames, but without the use of video, it is difficult to keep the interest of all participants.

Usually, about 1-3 minutes are given to each participant to voice his or her opinions. Often, an hour-long conversation handles about 1-2 topics. Another important factor pertaining to conference calls is to prepare for last-minute technical issues. Be aware of applicable time zones and schedule a conference call that will accommodate all of your desired participants. When choosing a service, make sure all customer and technical support will be handled in a timely manner.

Billing Plans

Accepting a variety of credit cards, some services offer per minute pricing plans. Once the conference call is completed, a call summary is emailed to you with all of the details. Applicable charges are then placed on your credit card. Additional plans include flat rate unlimited and monthly plans. Some companies offer a flat monthly rate of $60 for a maximum of five people that allows unlimited usage for the month.

Special Services

Will the conference call service you choose provide you with extra services? Depending on your needs, you may desire to have a taped recording of your conference call. Some services offer this luxury for a flat fee (around $25). Some charge an hourly rate if you wish to have a transcript of your call. Rebroadcasts are also offered through some services for a fee. For an extra charge, operator assistance might be available, which helps with the moderation of conference calls.

Several Conference Call Service Companies Reviewed

Accu Conference: This on-demand, fully automated toll-free service offers reservation-less service, free call recordings and live in-call web control for 9.9 cents per line. Operator service costs 13.9 cents. Unlimited use, flat-rate conferencing is offered, starting at $99 per month.

No Cost Conference : Offers free, reservation-less conference call capabilities, available 24 hours a day. You will receive a pin and dial-in phone number once a quick registration is completed. Free and cheap conference call services are good for short notice calls and limited budgets. With this option, reliability of service does become a concern.

WebEx: Offers conference call services, as well as helpful products, such as Meeting Center, Training Center, Support Center and Sales Center. They offer different solutions to better serve small, medium and large companies. They also offer decent live technical support and pay-per-use services.

OnConference: This service offers no set-up fee and has a listed price of 19 cents per minute per person with or without toll-free access.

Contact Call: Highly recommended for their operator-assisted services.

When you conduct careful comparisons and research on the many conference call services, you will be able to take advantage of a wealth of savings that regular phone services cannot provide.