Calling from the USA :Cheap phone cards, virtual calling cards

Phone cards still offer a certain amount of convenience and the absolute cheapest rates for many international calls

Calling cards surged in popularity in the past decade as people sought cheap rates and convenience on the move. Now mobile phones and discount long distance carriers are meeting the same needs. But phone cards still have the cheapest rates for many international calls, and they remain convenient for travelers as well.

If you are looking for a phone card, see my recommendations to the right.

Choosing virtual calling cards and phone cards

What is the difference? There really is no difference. Plastic phone cards are not credit cards. You take out the card to read the information printed on it. Usually it's a toll free access number and PIN. Then you can keep the card or throw it away.

That information could be delivered by email, rather than printed on a plastic card and sent in the mail. When you don't get a plastic card, some people call that a "virtual calling card." Calling cards, phone cards and virtual calling cards are all basically the same thing.

Post paid versus pre-paid cards

One key difference to consider is whether to get a post paid or prepaid calling card. I tend to think of "phone cards" as prepaid (plastic, disposable) and "virtual calling cards" as a service that's ongoing (you pay-as-you-go). The words really are interchangable, but for the purpose of organization, let's consider whether to get one of these two options:

A virtual calling card service that you pay-as-you-go
A prepaid phone card that you pay in advance
1. A virtual calling card service that you pay-as-you-go

In this example, you sign up for a virtual calling card using a credit card, receive a toll free access number, and a PIN. You write down (or memorize) the information and start using the service as needed. You call your family in Seattle, and your friend who lives in Tokyo. At the end of the month, the provider bills your credit card for the charges. You start the next month with a clean slate. You can quit anytime without leaving any unused minutes on the "card."

Advantage - You only pay for the calls you make after you make them. You can quit anytime without losing a dime.
Disadvantage - The rates are quite a bit higher than prepaid cards.

2. A pre-paid phone card that you pay in advance

In this example, you sign up for a phone card online using a credit card...and the process is basically the same as what I just described above. But they charge your credit card in advance for a fixed amount, so your card starts out with a certain value. For example, you buy a $20 card. It's good for 1300 minutes within the USA or 650 minutes if you're calling Tokyo. The company sends you a toll free access number and PIN by email and/or by postal mail.

Advantage - The rates are incredibly cheap (about 1.5¢/min within the USA or 3¢/min to Japan) and it actually works. Plus, it's convenient. After you use up your minutes, you can recharge the card just by logging in online or calling a special phone number.
Disadvantage - If you stop calling your family in Seattle and your friend moves back from Tokyo, you may end up with unused minutes (money) stranded on your phone card.

What is the best calling card for me?

That depends on what you need. Do you need convenience or the cheapest rates? Is it worth paying in advance, or should you avoid the risk of leaving unused credit stuck on a phone card? Rather than give you a long list of phone cards, I've just chosen two providers to include on this page. One specializes in virtual calling cards that are pay-as-you-go, and the other sells extremely cheap prepaid phone cards that actually work.

United World Telecom (UWT) - UWT has a virtual phone card service with an 8¢/min rate for calling within the USA. You also get cheap international rates, although the prepaid phone cards are much cheaper. UWT's virtual calling card comes with access numbers in 30 countries, so you can take it with you when you travel around the world. Finally, when you sign up you'll see that UWT provides other optional services at very good rates (toll free numbers, etc.).

Nobelcom - Nobelcom has an entire catalogue of prepaid phone cards with eye opening rates. You can call most countries for 3¢/min or less. You can talk for a long time at such low rates without worrying about the cost. Nobelcom has a very well designed website for choosing the phone card that's best for your needs.

Here's a hint for using Nobelcom. Usually they will show you three or four phone cards. The cheapest one will be on the left, and the most expensive one on the right. The difference is usually billing increments. The one on the left is billed in 60 second increments (the length of a call is rounded up to the nearest full minute). The cards have smaller and smaller increments as you move to the right. So here's the tip. If you plan to have long conversations whenever you use the card, get the cheapest one. If you will make lots of short phone calls, get one of the cards on the right.