Phone Cards And Virtual Calling Cards: Is There A Difference?
What is the difference between actual plastic phone calling cards and virtual phone calling cards? Well, there is really no difference. Plastic phone cards are cards that come with a telephone number on the back. Plastic phone cards usually also have a toll free and a PIN number on the card. These numbers enable you the user, to use the card and charge the amount of the phone call to the card. Phone cards are handy, because you don’t have to worry about paying for a phone call when you are away from home. The plastic card is prepaid, and the amount of the charge for the phone call is automatically deducted from the amount on the phone card. If the card has a rechargeable option, you can keep it and add money to the card’s account. Another option for using plastic phone cards is if you don’t need the card anymore, you can throw it away. If, on the other hand, you have plenty of cards to carry around and keep track of, you might not want another one to use for phone calls. In this case, the information on the back of the card could be delivered to you by email. In this way, you would basically have the availability of a phone cards without actually carrying a card with you.
Why use a prepaid calling card or virtual phone card at all? Why not just use your cell phone’s long distance or use the long distance available on our regular phones at home? There are several times when a calling card can come in handy. Travellers find using a prepaid calling card a convenient way to communicate with the folks back home without running up a huge phone bill. A person with a prepaid phone card can call from a friend’s home phone and not run up any charges. Prepaid phone cards are also handy to use if you are staying in a hotel or motel. Many hotels or motels charge extra when long distance phone calls are made from a motel room. Using a prepaid phone card can help you avoid these charges. Phone cards come in handy if your children are travelling. If your children have a phone card, they can check in with you and let you know what they are doing. Phone cards are excellent gifts, as well. Perhaps if you give a family member a prepaid phone card they will call you more often.
One thing to consider when selecting phone cards is whether to get a post paid or prepaid phone card. People tend to think of "phone cards" as prepaid (plastic, disposable) and "virtual calling cards" as a service that's ongoing (pay-as-you-go). Phone cards and virtual calling cards are basically the same thing. However, the virtual calling card doesn’t actually have a piece of plastic for you to carry. Also, plastic calling cards are prepaid, so the calls are being paid for as they are made. Virtual phone calling cards are more like phone calling charge cards. So basically you end up with two options: Prepaid phone cards that you pay in advance and virtual calling card service that you pay-as-you-go.
Prepaid phone cards are phone cards in which you pay in advance for a fixed amount. Your card starts out with a certain value. For example, you buy a $30 card. This card is good for 1,500 minutes within the USA or 850 minutes if you're calling Thailand. The company sends you a toll free access number and PIN by email or by postal mail. The advantage of this type of phone cards is that you can get incredibly cheap rates. Plus, it can be really convenient. After you use up your minutes, you can recharge the card just by calling a special phone number or buying more, if they have that option, over the company’s website. On the downside you, for example, may have bought the phone card for travel. Once you are home, you may end up with unused minutes stuck on your phone card. On the other hand, you can continue to use those unused minutes with their cheap rates to call friends and relatives. Also, some people use prepaid phone cards for long distance calls made from home. Prepaid phone cards used at home can help people budget their money wisely. When the card is used up, you are done making long distance calls for that month. When the next pay check comes in, you can add more minutes to your long distance prepaid calling card and make more calls.
The second alternative is the virtual calling card services. When you use these pay-as-you-go cards, you are given a toll free number and a PIN that you write down or memorize. You use these numbers to access your account from any phone. Then you start making your long-distance calls. At the end of the month, the provider bills your credit card for the charges. You can cancel your account anytime without leaving any unused minutes on the account.
As you can see, there are many options out there for you to choose. Which one is right for you? That depends on your calling needs. Decide whether you want to use a prepaid phone card or a pay-as-you-go card, then call those people you really need or want to talk to. You will love the low price and convenience of either card, and they will make your life easier.