Do you often wonder how the idea of calling cards was even invented? Was there a fabulous story behind the beginnings of these now highly used cards? Most of us don’t stop to think about the beginnings of products that we use on a constant basis. But it is nice to look closer at the evolution of the calling card and understand the roots behind its invention.

It all started in 1975 with a basic idea to offer people a way to pay for calls when they did not have the funds. In 1976 there was a huge coin shortage in Italy that really set off the use of calling cards. The calling card did not official appear in the United States until 1987 when people started using the cards for convenience when they were on public telephones. The World Telecom Group was the business force behind the early calling cards.

The calling card business was growing faster than anyone had ever imagined. People were making huge amounts of money just by investing in companies that provided calling cards to the world. The novel idea of selling a card to pay for your phone calls was finally beginning to pay off. As the 1980s and 1990s came around the calling card business was booming.

World Telecom Group was the dominating player with the phone card introduction to the US public in 1987. In 1990 New York’s Regional Bell Operating Company launched a calling card campaign with the first non magnetic based phone cards used by dialing an access number and a PIN number to terminate calls.

The calling card became a full telecommunication business playing field by 1992 with all major companies releasing their own brand of calling card. The companies continued to market their long distance services as they were more profitable and easier than trying to convince the public to switch to a new, less convenient service; however, sales for the Plastic Wonders grew to about twelve million industry wide with no ceiling potential projected.

The consumers’ view of the calling card was service “To Go” and at a discounted rate offered by the local long distance carriers. Unlike some of the long distant plans by the local carrier that had different rates for different times, a calling card had a consistent flat rate and could be used from any phone to any phone continental US. By buying the pre paid phone cards, one knew exactly their long distant consumption versus the “hold your breath while you opened the bill” of the traditional long distance service. A Phone card as well offered convenience of not intruding on financial long distance budget of others by using their phone to make calls.

In 2001 the industry revolutionized its self again. The first prepaid mobile phone became available. After the minutes were used up, the phone could either be recharged or discarded and a new one purchased. A prepaid cell phone has all the convenience of a phone card, without the hassle of trying to find a phone to use. Prepaid wireless phones work identical to contract phones in terms of service quality and portability. Like the calling card market, analysts are predicting the prepaid mobile phone market to increase exponentially.

The calling card market was quickly becoming a fast past business. More and more businesses were beginning to offer cards and it was easier and easier for people to find a card that offered a low rate. Many people purchased calling cards instead of even bothering to get long distance on their phones at home.

Sales have skyrocketed to the millions since the first release on prepaid phones. Last September, 2005, IDT launched a new brand of prepaid cell phones targeted at the Latino and Hispanic population.

Now you can get calling cards at almost every convenience store and shopping center. You can find great deals and huge discounts. It is also possible to get calling card numbers through the Internet. You don’t get a physical card, but you pay for the number of minutes that you need and get a specialized pin number.

Before purchasing a calling card you should do a little research on the company and make sure they offer a good customer service department and that they do not have any complaints with the local better business bureau. There are tons of fly by night companies that pop up just to sell calling cards then quickly fall out of sight. Save yourself the headache by doing your research up front.

Gregg Hall
http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/how-calling-cards-got-started-in-the-united-states-57248.html

Keep in touch

There’s nothing like a phone call to keep in touch with loved ones. Nowadays there are new ways of communicating without even having to pick up a phone, we can fax or even send off an email. But nothing beats the phone, you get a response to your questions instantly, and it’s a really personal form of communication.

Phone cards are provided by many different companies you prepay for a certain amount of credit and can use it to make phone calls until that credit runs out. There are a lot of reasons for phone cards, you can get cheap long distance calling, or you could give it to your child so they are always able to keep in touch.

There are also phone cards that offer fantastic savings for international calling. I use an international phone card on almost a daily basis to keep in touch with my son who lives in Australia (because he doesn’t seem bothered to phone his dear old mum).

You don’t have to call somewhere as far a field as Australia to justify using a phone card in fact it makes sense to use a phone card with pretty much any long distance call.

There are some companies that provide very unreliable phone cards, it’s important to remember that not all phone cards are equal, try to buy from a reliable and well known company. Some cards are always busy, what’s the point of having money on a card if you can’t use it? Look on the internet review sites to try to find a great card, or go with a company like http://www.shopcallingcard.com that you already know.

You pay your phone bill after you’ve used the service, so it is quite easy to run up a huge bill, especially if you often make long distance calls. A phone card works like a pay-as-you go mobile phone, you can only use the money you have put on your card. This makes it very easy to make sure you don’t spend too much, and you can keep an eye on what you’re spending before you’ve spent it.

There are two disadvantages of using a phone card to make calls. Firstly, you must enter the phone cards phone number before you can enter the number you want to dial. There is of course a solution for this, if you intend to use the phone card from home then you can use phone card auto-dialer which you plug in-between your phone and phone line. Even in some public payphones it’s actually possible to put the card into the phone, which will save you having to dial the number first. Another disadvantage is that many of the phone cards will give the wrong caller ID number to the person you are phoning. This could mean your phone call will be ignored because they do not recognize the number.

There’s really nothing like a phone call, I suggest you look into phone cards today they could well save you a lot of money.

Muthu Velu
http://www.articlesbase.com/cell-phones-articles/keep-in-touch-with-phone-cards-75500.html

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my husband is deployed to Afghanistan, he has a Afghanistan phone, im trying to buy a INTERNATIONAL phone card that calls Afghanistan so that i can call him on HIS cell phone. where can i get a good international card from that calls Afghanistan? Thanks!