CallingAdvice - Calling Cards, Cell Phones and help with national and International calling.

How do I transfer my phone number to Skype?

2008-09-04T00:27:10Z

Hey Jonathan!
Is it still true that there is not a way to transfer your phone number to Skype?
So if currently, if you have the Skype account, you can't transfer your current phone number to it?
I'm working on finding a client a better/cheaper internet/phone service, but am not finding what I'm looking for.
Thanks for any help you can offer in this.

Bobbie
YourVirtualPartner.org

]]> Bobbie,

It is true that you can't transfer an existing phone number to Skype (at least not yet).

I wouldn't be surprised to see Skype add it as a service, but that's beside the point at the moment.

So if my phone number is registered with my regular phone company on a regular land line, you're thinking that they sort of have it held captive, right?

And just to be sure I'm understanding this correctly...

Your client is currently paying too much for phone service, and would like to pay less, while keeping their current phone number.

They would also like to be able to answer calls and make calls on their computer from their existing phone number.

Right?

Here's what you could do to fix this little dilemma:

Sign up for a VOIP service like Packet8...
http://www.telebay.com/voipphones/bbphone.htm
(For most purposes, Packet8 is $25/month or less.)

When you sign up for Packet8, request that Packet8 transfer (port) your existing phone number to their service.

Then, sign up for SkypeIn and SkypeOut. There are varying levels of service for this.

(SkypeIn gives you your own phone number (one that rings to your computer). SkypeOut gives you outbound calling from your computer.)

SkypeIn costs about $2.95/month, and SkypeOut costs about $2.95 or so per month as well.

You can get SkypeIn and SkypeOut at:
http://www.MyOwnSkype.com

Then, once the number is ported over (transferred) to Packet8, you can log in to the Packet8 management area, and set the old number to forward to the new SkypeIn phone number.

This effectively lowers your phone service for the year to a cost of under $350, and offers free calling in the U.S. and Canada through either Skype or Packet8, while keeping your old phone number.

And, if you pay for Packet8 and Skype for a year in advance, you can save about $125 combined (Save $100 on Packet8 and about $25 on Skype services).

This makes the total cost cost of the phone service less than $250/year, and lets you keep your old phone number.

Hope this is helpful for you Bobbie.

Please email me again if you have other questions.

Warmest,

Jonathan
www.CallingAdvice.com

LG 600: Double Minutes on the LG 600

2008-08-18T19:50:37Z

Just in time for the back to school rush, TracFone has released a new LG phone that also includes its popular 'Double Minutes for Life' promotion.

The LG 600 has all the standard features (like text messaging, voice mail, 3 way calling, etc.) but also has a VGA camera, Bluetooth capability, 32 pre-loaded ringtones, and even a flashlight. This is TracFone's second Bluetooth-enabled release this summer.

The phone is currently available for $79.99, including Double Minutes for Life (a $49.99 value) FREE.

Double Minutes means that you get one free minute for each minute purchased, for the life of this LG phone.

This package also qualifies for free ground shipping.

Get an LG 600 phone for $79.99 and receive double minutes for life!

]]> Tracfone is the largest prepaid wireless carrier in the country with over 12 million subscribers and in order to get the best bang for your buck - you need to be a smart shopper! This double minutes for life promotion will be great for you, if you plan on keeping your Tracfone.

If you plan to be a short term user, depending on how long you plan to use your phone, this may not be the best deal for you. Remember, the deal for double minutes for life will work only on the phone you get through this offer. (If you change phones, it is likely that the double minutes deal will not be able to move with you to a new Tracfone.)

Still though, this is a smoking deal for the LG 600.

Get an LG 600 phone for $79.99 and receive double minutes for life!

Cheap Ways to Keep in Touch While Traveling

2008-07-24T16:12:45Z

Are you feeling lost with the growing distance that has suddenly cropped up between you and your beloved as he or she is away from you for some professional or other travel purpose?

Well, there is no need to worry.

If you don't already know, advancements in the telecommunications industry have created some amazingly cheap ways for people to keep in touch while traveling, no matter where they are in the world. We talk a lot on CallingAdvice about Skype, but there are lots of people who are still using calling cards, which are still a much cheaper, more innovative, and easier way to keep in touch with those special souls you love, than just picking up the phone from wherever you are and dialing.

Calling cards (in case you've never used one) are a kind of telecommunications credit card. If you've never used one, you should know that they are used by people worldwide to pay for phone calls. However, there are many varieties of calling cards available. Some examples would be prepaid calling cards (for all kinds of calls), country-specific calling cards, bill-me-later calling cards, international calling cards, and so on.

Prepaid calling cards can be for any type of phone call (local, national, international), and they are basically cards where you pay a certain amount and you will get your long distance calls paid for in advance. The main advantage of prepaid calling cards is that they neither have any monthly payments nor any roaming-on-net charges.

Prepaid calling cards generally offer you the lowest calling rates and let you stay connected to your loved ones.

However you must note that calling cards can have a hidden agenda. As we've written before, with calling cards, there are a variety of additional fees associated.

]]> There is usually a connection cost involved every time you make a new call. The charge varies depending on different factors. One factor might be the country that you are making a call to, another factor could be whether or not the person receiving the call is talking on a cell phone. Your decision of choosing a particular calling card should always be based on your calling rate calculations. So, figure out what kinds of calls you are going to be making before buying a calling card. One other significant factor that you must bear in mind is that calling cards almost always have expiration dates. So opt for calling cards where the expiration date will allow you enough time to use your entire purchased amount before the card runs out.

Additional features:
There are some calling cards which provide you with additional features like SMS or Web call back, SMS refill service, prepaid conference calls, permanent PIN, toll-free numbers (for someone to be able to call you, using the value of your calling card), speed dial (you set a certain phone number, and then you just connect to the calling card company and press 2) and so on. However, the benefits of these additional features might vary from person to person, so you need not waste your time unnecessarily if you just need to call up your family members and friends. Make sure to choose the phone card company that you want to use based on their services, and not just on the basis of the marketing pitch they're throwing at you.

Our recommendations:

If you will have access to high speed Internet and you are fairly comfortable using a computer, get Skype, buy SkypeOut credit, and get a SkypeIn phone number. (At present, this whole thing will cost you less than $60/year for basically unlimited calling.) You can save money on this by going to MyOwnSkype.com).

If you don't have access to a computer, or would just like to be able to use the regular phone without having to find an Internet connection, visit SpeedyPin for your phone cards. Aside from some of the best rates, they also have awesome customer service.

Cell Phones: How To Make Cheap International Calling Card Calls from a Cell Phone

2008-07-23T17:51:29Z

These days, a cell phone is considered an indispensable part of a person's life. Today's modern world has made a cellular phone one of the most important modes of communication, and has forced most to accept the importance of a cell phone.

In addition to regular billing from whoever provides your cell service, calling cards can also be used to make calls from a cell phone. There are many different kinds of calling cards, including prepaid calling cards and international calling cards. If you are going to use a calling card on your cell phone, it's really our recommendation to use a low denomination (dollar-wise) calling card. This is because when you're using a calling card on your cell phone (depending on what time of day you call), it's almost like being double-billed, and purchasing a lower dollar amount on the card will make sure you don't talk too long while being "double-billed." These low denomination cards can be used while making a single phone call. There are several phone cards available in the US market that provide you, as the caller, with different rates, depending on what type of phone you are calling from. You should always purchase calling cards based on the type of phone call that you are about to make, because if you use (for example) a card designed to make inexpensive calls from a pay phone, and you use it on a cell phone, your time value of the card can be used up more quickly. Also, if you're using your US-Based Cell Phone, and traveling to, say, Mexico, and then attempting to use a calling card to make a call from your cell phone, it's important for you to know that calls coming from outside the US will almost always have higher rates because of international surcharges.

]]> Because the various cell phone service providers in the US charge a lot for international calls that are directly dialed from cellular phones, the US cellular market is literally flooded with cheap international cell phone cards. (Anyone who's ever been stuck with a large cell phone bill because they made a lot of calls from their cell phone to an international location knows how painful it can be and how much the providers actually can charge on a per minute basis.)

So, if you're looking for a company that offers inexpensive rates on cellular calling cards, we really like Tel3 Advantage. Tel3 sells cheap international calling cards that offer you the ability to speed dial all the numbers that you might want to call. An international call can be done by dialing just a couple of numbers, which is kind of a nifty feature. They also have high quality connections, and Tel3Advantage offers some of the overall lowest rates available.

Another option that helps to make cheap international calls from a cell phone possible is Send Global. Like Tel3Advantage, Send Global is a company that offers prepaid calling plans and a free trial period during which you will be able to make calling card calls from your cell phone at no cost to you. Click here to find out more about Send Global's free trial.

We no longer recommend SendGlobal due to a highly negative experience with their company (which we believe will be your experience as well). We recommend you check out Tel3Advantage instead.

How To Make Money With Calling Card Affiliate Programs

2008-07-22T02:50:09Z

Before actually going into how you can make money with calling card affiliate programs, it would be a good idea, just so everyone's on the same page, to increase your knowledge about what a calling card affiliate program is all about.

Generally speaking, an affiliate program is run by the company selling calling cards (or sometimes a third party). When you become an affiliate, you earn a commission by selling the company's calling cards and/or other products through your web site.

The company gives you a link after you sign up, and you put that link on your web site. When someone clicks the link from your web site, they are sent to the calling card company's web site and are tracked as your referral. When they buy something on the calling card company's web site, you make a commission.

Although this happens to be the basic idea of any affiliate program, there are many modifications seen in several affiliate programs, including programs within the calling card industry, which can make affiliate marketing calling cards and calling products a more lucrative business.

Making money with a calling card affiliate programs is as simple as explained above. But, it can be even simpler. There are few programs, like the Speedypin affiliate program, that offer you a commission every time someone renews their calling card, or gets a new calling card, from this program.

This is known as residual commission.

]]> With Speedypin, calling card affiliates also earn commission on referring new affiliates. This means that anyone who signs up to the affiliate program through you (and subsequently makes sales through their web site(s) will be indirectly increasing your income from the program.

With some calling card affiliate programs, there can be an initial investment to get started. (You see this A LOT in network marketing.) But there are also many calling card companies which have affiliate programs that don't cost anything to join.

Some examples of these would be Commission River (formerly Cognigen), Callingcards.com, and of course, SpeedyPin.

Generally speaking, the commission structure of calling card affiliate programs will only allow you to earn small commissions on individual sales (with recurring residuals on the backend), rather than massive profits upfront. Obviously, this won't make you rich overnight, but if you're willing to put a little time and effort put in, signing up for a calling card affiliate program may could really turn into money making machine for you. The initial set up requires some work, but once you get things going, these affiliate programs will earn you cash for work you did only once (talk about passive income)!

So, if this interests you, your action steps are as follows:

1. Click here to sign up for SpeedyPin's affiliate program.
2. Get to understand the basics of Internet marketing. One great place to do this is by getting the free report on online money making methods at www.ThreeMoneyMethods.com

Calling Card Companies: How to choose the best calling card retailer for you?

2008-07-20T16:22:46Z

----------
CallingAdvice has been at this a LONG time (since 2001). If you have a high-speed Internet connection and a computer you can use anywhere you go, we recommend signing up for Skype.

If you're looking to buy a calling card, a retailer you really should check out is SpeedyPin
----------

A Calling card retailer is just a retail shop that sells calling cards. That can be an online store or an in-person phone card location (or an outlet like Wal-Mart or any other big retailer that carries calling cards). It may or may not be evident to you, but the competition in calling card sales is huge. And so right now, there's this push and lots of companies are competing for the title of the "best calling card retailer".

]]> What does that mean for you, as the end consumer? GREAT DEALS on calling rates! As well as a variety of other increased beneficial offers and packages.

So, the question not only becomes about finding the best calling cards or the best retailer to by them from, the question really becomes about how to choose the best calling card retailer for you. When you're looking at calling cards though, here are a few significant factors you will want to to look out for:

- Look at the rates offered to your calling destination. It is usually given as 'x'$ /min (i.e. a specified amount of minutes per specified amount per dollar). Check whether these rates fluctuate (as some do) and yes, international calls cost a bit extra.
- Also, (phone card companies can be tricky!) make sure the rate remains constant throughout the day, because sometimes it changes based on the hours you're calling.
- Opting for minute billing over the minute rounding schedule is better for a calling card. In a 3 minute rounding schedule, if a call lasts for 4 minutes, your remaining talk time will be debited as if you had talked for 6 minutes. In this same situation, if you were on a minute by minute billing, your remaining talk time would only be debited for 4 minutes.
- The additional taxes and fees are often in the habit of playing "hide 'n' seek" with you. Don't let this happen to you. Before buying a calling card, make sure you have thoroughly investigated what additional fees and taxes the calling card retailer might charge. These additional taxes and charges are often significant in the amount of minutes you actually receive with your calling card.
- If you get locked into a card that just stinks (if you've already purchased one or do in the future), making a long single call is often more economical than many shorter calls.
- Check expiration dates: After the expiration date, your minutes left are, in most cases, literally useless. Will you be able to use up most/all of the time you've pre-purchased?
- Make sure the phone card company you go with has a money-back guarantee which is longer than the expiration date on your minutes, or at least gives you an opportunity to use the card a few times before the refund period runs out. Many phone card companies don't even have a refund policy, but few rare companies do, so that's something you want to check out for any calling card retailer you look at.
- Know in advance if attempting a call that does not connect will cost you a charge.
- Make an assessment of the connection or access rates and the disconnection rates of the calling card offered by your calling card retailer. This varies usually from $0.01 to $1.

The best of calling card companies will give you the details of the additional taxes and charges right up front, but again, as already stated, often times, you'll find that the fees are just buried in the fine print.

The best advice we can offer you is to not be hasty when getting a calling card. Have all your questions sorted out with the calling card retailer before making a purchase. The above lists give you a good idea of what to look for from whatever calling card you decide to purchase.

CallingAdvice has been at this a LONG time (since 2001). If you have a high-speed Internet connection and a computer you can use anywhere you go, we recommend signing up for Skype.

If you're looking to buy a calling card, a retailer you really should check out is SpeedyPin

MCI World Traveler Card and Military Morale Calls: Best Calling Cards For Soldier Morale Building Calls

2008-07-19T00:49:51Z

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CallingAdvice Special Link:
Save money on the MCI World Traveler Card here
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Currently, the United States has deployed 145,000+ soldiers in Iraq.

Elsewhere in the world, an additional quarter of a million servicemen and servicewomen are doing what they need to do as part of their jobs.

Whether you are from the United States, or some other country in the world, it is apparent that military morale can often be boosted by having a great phone call with home.

A common saying is that there are only three true professions of pride in the world. One is of a teacher, the other of a doctor and the last one of a soldier.

It is very true indeed that the difficulties a soldier needs to conquer require exceptional bravery. Often, our brave soldiers are away from home serving their country. So, morale calls are provided especially for soldiers to keep in touch with their family and loved ones. Soldiers located on any base of the USA (be it in Iraq or Afghanistan or anywhere in the world) can make morale calls to their loved ones without having to fear expensive long distance costs. These morale calls can be done either on-base or off-base.

]]> Morale calls are usually done through specialized calling cards available to the soldiers. The best calling cards for soldier morale calls are inexpensive for the soldiers living in extreme conditions, who need to keep in touch with their loved ones.

MCI World Traveler happens to be the best in terms of calling cards you would use in order to make soldier morale calls. The fact that MCI World Traveler is already widely used by soldiers is a testimony to it being among the best in terms of calling cards that are available for soldiers to use, at a discounted rate, for making morale calls. AT&T also offers calling cards for soldier morale calls, however, the calling cards offered by MCI World Traveler have no connection fee. One of the nice things about this card as well is that there are different options on the cost of the calling card, depending on what you need. MCI World Traveler enables a soldier to call back to the USA from more than 130 countries. Calls to the US from US military bases worldwide can be done at costs as low as 4.8 to 5.5 cents/minute (and in some cases lower than that. Calls made to and from Hawaii, Alaska, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico are charged the same rates as if a soldier was calling from within the continental U.S.

Some other advantages:
- The billing of these calling cards is done by one minute rounding i.e. minute billing.
- All the network services are provided by the MCI World Traveler network (meaning all of the phone calls are actually carried over lines that are owned by MCI itself.

To obtain an MCI World Traveler calling card is very easy. All it requires is that you have a subscription along with an authentication code (a PIN (personal identification number)),for the calling card to be sent into your inbox (or to your residence through postal mail). Of course, yo could go down to the local Wal-Mart or other superstore and buy a card to physically send to your soldier, but we've talked in other articles on this site why that is pretty expensive to do (the store has to get their cut somehow). The recommendations sway towards purchasing a calling card online, because of the benefits that come attached with it (cheaper rates, possible to send via email, etc.).

So, calling with the MCI World Traveler will provide you (and your soldier) one of the cheapest rates available for these types of calls, and when you're talking with a loved one overseas, you really want the best in quality in terms of the call connection. So, the MCI World Traveler really is a card that we would recommend to you.

Phone Cards: Calling Tips for Calling Card Buyers and Users

2008-03-16T19:37:35Z

Here are two great phone calling card tips that you would do well to pay attention to next time you go to buy a calling card.

Tip #1 Retail phone cards vs. virtual calling cards online
I live in Washington where there is a general sales tax of almost 9%. Many people that live on the border of Washington and Oregon know that by doing their shopping in Oregon (a state without a sales tax), they can save almost $9 on a $100 calling card. The point of this story is that you should not only compare the cheapest rates on the card, but also the cheapest place to buy the card. If you want to avoid sales tax. Buy your phone cards online from a virtual calling card provider like Pingo.com that offers great international rates. This will allow you to beat out those retail cards on the sales tax alone, not to mention the lower calling rates you often get from going through an online retailer vs. a "real-world" retailer (who makes a lot of their money in the markups they apply to the per-minute rounding rates on the card).

Tip #2 Walgreens and Wal-Mart International phone cards

]]>
About two years ago my mom purchased a Walgreen's calling card. But it could have been from any monster retail giant. Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, King Soopers, and even Home Depot all now have calling cards that they market. The Walgreens card was branded "International," and was sold at a slight markup from the normal card used for making "long distance" calls within the U.S. Her intention was that I would be able to call her from London, where I was traveling for a job interview. She slipped the card with a note to "call home" into my suitcase on the morning of my flight, so I didn't find it until I arrived at Heathrow. When I finally pulled out the card to try to call her, there was no number to call besides the US 1-800-number.

The Walgreens definition of "international," means that you could call from the US to Canada and Mexico. What's funny (NOT funny ha-ha, but funny what-a-rip-off) is that this is a feature which you can get by buying one of their normal calling cards. My mom had been misled, assuming that "international" meant I could call from anywhere. The tip here is that if you are buying a card at a retail outlet, read the back of your card carefully before purchase, and make sure you understand exactly what you are paying for. Then you won't end up paying extra simply for a logo with some pretty flags on it. Or better yet, stop trying to read all the small print on a Walgreens International phone card, or any other "International" phone card from a retail store.

By using Skype, or by buying a calling card online, (we currently recommend Pingo.com), you can get a clear understanding of what you're paying for and get clean and affordable international rates to most countries in the world.

Side note: At Pingo.com, you can receive $5 in free calls, and get 15% discount. All you have to do is use the Pingo coupon code "s4i"

Issues with Making International Phone Calls Abroad

2008-03-15T04:33:28Z

Here's an email we received from an obviously frustrated individual.

Hey CallingAdvice.com. Maybe you can help me. Making International calls has always been an issue for me. I was born and raised in Europe so I make a lot of international calls back and forth to my family and friends. Over the past few years, making these calls has created a fair amount frustration and anger. While the cost of making these calls has come down, it has become harder and harder to make these calls. There are now so many options when choosing a company for the calls, and more often than not everyone is very competitive.
It has always been hard for me to make these calls. Over the years, here in the U.S. it has become more of a frustrating process for me to make international calls. In order to dial an international number, most companies require you to dial their 800 number first, then you must dial an extension or the number on your calling card (which can sometimes consist of as many as 20 numbers), and then finally you dial the desired number. Once you have done all this, sometimes your call may go through or it may fail. For me, more often than not, the call fails and doesn't work. Not to mention the fact that for me, international calls have become expensive.

Then, when it comes to my home line (you have probably experienced this too), there are many companies that call me on a daily basis, asking me if I am happy with my phone provider and if they can try to beat the price.

When I call the rates are usually between 10-15 Cents per minute. This may seem low to some people however these charges add you quickly and it become expensive before you know it! My monthly bill is usually between $150-$250 (depending on how much I talk) and this bill is just for international calls. In addition, I have a cell phone bill and a home phone bill. I am not rich by any means and I have a lot of trouble affording this type of service.

]]> Calling Advice Recommendation:

Since you didn't tell us what country you are calling, it's hard for us to know what the best advice is that we can offer you.

However, generally speaking: If you have a high speed Internet connection, sign up for Skype. Get a SkypeOut account, buy a headset for your computer, and save yourself a LOT of money. If you do not have a high speed Internet connection, try a different calling card company.

At this time, we are recommending that you try out Pingo.com for calling cards.

Side note: At Pingo.com, you can receive $5 in free calls, and get 15% discount. All you have to do is use the Pingo coupon code "s4i"

Using A Rented Cell Phone In A Foreign Country

2008-03-12T07:31:46Z

The first time that I went to a foreign country, away from my family, was when I was 13. I went on a class trip to Israel, and we needed to share a cell phone between 4 people.

Unfortunately, the window of time that we could communicate with our families was limited because we had activity-filled days, so there was a narrow band of time in which we could communicate home. As a result of the limited time, and because we were so busy, eventually all of us started to contact home less and less. However the cell phone that was rented in Israel (where we were) was a very good idea. It greatly improved my ability to contact my family, and was also significantly cheaper than calling on a pay phone and more accessible.

I would recommend to anyone going to a foreign country that they rent a cell phone if they want to contact anyone back home. Of course, the better option if you have a computer and an Internet connection is to get a service like Skype, and if you don't have a computer and Internet connection, then the best and most flexible option is to just get a virtual calling card from a company like Pingo.com.

At Pingo.com, you can receive $5 in free calls, and get 15% discount. All you have to do is use the Pingo coupon code "s4i"

Advantages of Using VoIP

2008-03-10T17:29:17Z

We use VoIP to make international calls. (VoIP is composed of services like Vonage, Packet8, PCtoPhone, Skype, and others.) Whoever invented VoIp was a genius, and has created a life-saver for anyone traveling abroad. I am not originally from the United States. Even though I live here now, I am Asian, and most of my family and friends are all in the Philippines. I have relatives and friends in other countries too, especially around Europe.

I use my VoIP Phone service to call them. Amongst all the choices for International calling, I would recommend VoIP services because not only is calling through VoIP much less expensive, but the quality is good too! I say this while letting you know that I've used calling card and cell phone services for international calling as well, but I have really never been all that satisfied with the quality. Generally speaking, calling cards are almost always more expensive.

]]> Before I signed up with my current VoIP service, I used this calling card for calling the United States when I was still in the Philippines. It wasn't that expensive, but I would have to dial 4 times to finally connect and talk to someone. Then, they always had this automated message that you would have to listen through, and wait while the whole message played, then follow some instructions, then listen some more, then follow more instructions, and then you would finally be able to connect. It was a hassle!

So what are the downsides to using VoIP? Well, since it is Voice Over Internet Protocol, it doesn't always work perfectly, depending on Internet traffic and what kind of connection I'm getting. However, I don't really worry about it because for the low monthly payment I am paying, I think I am getting the service I am paying for and more, and any other option for International calling has not been good just as frequently as my VoIP service.

I would rather pay cheaply and have problems sometimes than pay a fortune for a mobile phone or other calling card service that sucks! The one caveat to this is that VoIP services don't work well where you can't get an Internet connection. So, if you are going to be traveling to a place where you can't get an Internet connection, I would recommend getting a calling card, and some of the best ones I have found so far are through Pingo.com.

Pingo.com, you can receive $5 in free calls, and get 15% discount. All you have to do is use the Pingo coupon code "s4i"

Tips for Making International Calls While Traveling Abroad

2008-03-09T07:27:02Z

If you are making international calls while traveling abroad, and you are making those calls regularly, then one of the best things you can do is to get a cell phone plan that will let you make international calls from the country where you are traveling to.

The best way to do this is to check with your cell phone provider to find out what it takes to add the country you are traveling to, and add that country in to the calling plan itself. As long as you stay under the minutes limit, this is one of the most cost-efficient ways I have found of making phone calls from another country while traveling.

]]> You can also get a mobile/cell phone that is based on SIM cards, and then swap out your home-country SIM card for one that is based in the country abroad, but we'll talk about SIM cards in a different article.

Other options are to get a VOIP system, which is easier if people in the foreign country are trying to call you. A VOIP system basically allows you to take a little box with you which plugs into a phone, and they are convenient, but depending on the infrastructure of the country you are in, they are not the most reliable, and you have to have a high speed Internet connection where you are staying/living.

Calling cards can be expensive, but they are often they most reliable. You just follow the directions on the card, and you are connected. You have to watch that you stay within the limits on a pre-paid card, or it will disconnect you in the middle of the call (which is oh-so fun if you're calling because of an emergency at home, an emergency where you are currently, or simply because you're feeling homesick). Sometimes, if you make a lot of calls, you can arrange to get a discount on international calling cards if you buy them in bulk. There is also frequently the option of charging the phone call to your credit card, which again can be expensive, but at least you won't have to worry about getting disconnected.

Other options, such as satellite phones, are prohibitively expensive. They really don't offer any advantages over a traditional cell phone or a VOIP system, unless you are in a place where there are no Internet connections, cell phone towers, or telephone landlines.

Of the above options, I would recommend the following, in this order.

If you have a high-speed Internet connection (and a computer) where you're staying/living abroad, sign up for Skype.

If you want to be able to call from your GSM enabled phone, add the country where you are going to your calling plan.

If you want freedom and flexibility to stop wherever you are and make a phone call from whatever phone is available to you at the moment, get a virtual calling card from a company like Pingo.com.

Choices Available to International Callers

2008-03-07T07:25:34Z

There are many choices available to those who want to make international calls. While some of these options cost more than others, these options will all allow you to call friends, family, and business contacts overseas. GSM (or Global System for Mobile Communications) is one method for making calls internationally. Because of the GSM network, many cell phone owners are able to roam globally without switching phones or providers. Sometimes, roaming charges may apply and it is vital to choose a phone with the GSM logo on it showing that it is compatible with the system.

The advent of the internet phone, and many internet based phone services, has enabled people all over the globe to call each other for a low fee. Sometimes, the service is free.

This is especially true in cases

]]> like Skype where the caller and the person called each have the service on their computer, and they are actually able to communicate via voice all over the world. Many of these services claim that you can call any phone in the world, but with Skype, I've yet to find a phone number I can't call.

For not much more money, you can set up a VoIP phone that will enable you to call internationally using a regular handset in your home or business location. (Although there are now phone models which will allow you to use Skype as well for international calling.) Often times, these companies offer packages with minutes to various countries, so it is important to choose the one that will provide service to the countries that you will be calling. Satellite cell phones allow users to either purchase or rent a phone that will function in their destination countries. This is a good choice when you are taking a vacation or when you frequent another country for business and still wish to call home.

Finally, calling cards are pre-paid and allow users to call anywhere in the world by simply connecting them and deducting amounts from the balance of the card equal to how long they talk. When the value of the card is zero, the user will not be able to make any more calls. This is a common choice for businesses and associates that travel often because even though high speed Internet is widely available across the globe now, sometimes it's still just more convenient to have a phone card easily accessible.

Overall, there are numerous options for people wanting to make international calls. Knowing what you want and how often you want to use it will make choosing which method to use much simpler.

If you're ready for a clean quality international plan, without any equipment to purchase, and one that works on your GSM international phones, then try Pingo.com, a virtual calling card service. You can receive $5 in free calls, and get 15% discount. All you have to do is use the Pingo coupon code "s4i". They play no games and offer great customer support abroad.

Pingo Caling Cards and Coupon Code

2008-03-02T21:12:24Z

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5 Annoying Things About The Home Based (VOIP) Business Opportunity a Friend Tried To Have Me Join

2007-05-05T16:12:06Z

Yesterday, I told you that a friend of mine recently emailed me to ask if I would look at a VOIP business opportunity, and that being the open person that I try to be, I went and checked it out for him.

Remember, you, as an end user, download the dialer to your computer, and it lets you make free calls to anyone via VOIP from your computer (to a Land Line or to another computer which has the software on it).

The company (which will remain nameless for purposes of this article), generates their revenue by running ads in their player while you're on your call.

]]> At first, this seemed like a good idea, but let's investigate a little closer.

Some things I always look at when evaluating a company (which comes from the Harvard Business School) are Company, Need in the Marketplace, Product, Compensation, Competition, and Timing.

In this case, the company appears to be a couple of small start-ups that merged and decided they could make some money. This might be good, but the company has no real track record.

As far as the product they offer, and the need in the marketplace for their kind of product/service, the marketplace needs another way to make calls from your computer about like it needs another type of toothbrush (hint: it doesn't).

When it comes to the compensation, how you get paid is extremely vague in the up-front presentation. It could be good, but it's all based on hypotheticals, and doesn't really give you anything concrete.

When it comes to this kind of service, the competition includes Skype, MSN Messenger, Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger, AOL Messenger, Flashtalk, and about 180 other companies which have dialers that offer more service.

And finally, when it comes to the timing of this service, this is really a great idea. Don't you think it's a good idea to be able to make phone calls from your computer? It's why Google, MSN, Skype, and Yahoo, all did it with their versions 5 years ago.

Make sure you evaluate what you're looking at with an open mind, but also, make sure you're asking good questions. This will help you determine if something can help you make money, save money, or just be a waste of money, and (more importantly,) time.