| In the past, if you wanted to call India or another | | | | traditional rates. |
| country from your mobile phone you could | | | | Phone cards give you a local access number and |
| expect to pay high international calling rates. Even | | | | a personal identification number (PIN). After you |
| present day phone rates can cost more than a | | | | dial the access number you input your pin and |
| dollar a minute from some mobile phone | | | | your card is automatically deducted for the |
| providers. Many consumers were stuck choosing | | | | amount of time you talk. Your cell phone provider |
| between high phone rates or paying an extra | | | | charges your standard rate rather than a long |
| monthly amount to qualify for a reduced rate. | | | | distance rate. |
| Now consumers have more choices to lower their | | | | Many of the prepaid phone card services allow |
| phone bills and still be able to talk to friends and | | | | you to refill minutes on the card using a website. |
| family in other countries. | | | | You can also use a credit or debit card to refill |
| While paying an extra monthly amount to your | | | | minutes by calling the customer service number |
| phone provider may not seem like a big deal, if | | | | on the card. Every card is different, so it's |
| you don't call internationally very often you are | | | | important to find out the additional charges utilized |
| throwing the money away each month you don't | | | | by certain cards. |
| make an international call. Consumers are realising | | | | Reduced Rate Phone Services |
| that it's more cost efficient to invest in prepaid | | | | Online phone services are another option for |
| phone cards or utilise a discounted phone rates | | | | making reduced rate international calls. After |
| service. | | | | signing up for an account, you choose the type of |
| Prepaid Phone Cards | | | | rate reduction you'd like by picking a specific calling |
| Phone cards are a popular item for people who | | | | service. Many of these services offer downloads |
| need to make frequent international calls from | | | | directly to your mobile phone that allow you to |
| their cell phones. These cards help you avoid | | | | access a program that gives you reduced phone |
| having to make calls from expensive hotel lines or | | | | rates. Once you download and access the |
| payphones. They also help reduce the rate you | | | | program on your phone, you dial the number and |
| pay per minute through your mobile provider by | | | | are billed a reduced rate. By exploring your mobile |
| offering a reduced charge. You can call India, | | | | phone options, you can call India or any other |
| Pakistan, or Australia for much less than the | | | | country for much less money. |