Expensive international phone calls are really a dogmatic hangover from the past when making international calls across the gateway exchanges of various nations was prohibitive. However, technology has long since removed the need for these calls to cost so much and the advent of International Direct Calling removed the need for it altogether.
A great many companies offering cheap international calls offer the phone card as an option. These can typically be picked up from various shops and outlets and be recharged. However, they require that you always have the card in order to make the call, which can be troublesome particularly if you lose it. The biggest drawback of these cards is the fact that you have to dial in such a long number when making international calls. First you have to dial in the local access number, then dial in the code of the card, then the international number. This can be a staggering sequence of numbers and the likelihood of error increases with every digit, which may force you to start all over again. And, even if you get through, but have dialled the wrong number or you are disconnected you could be subject to connection, maintenance and tax fees.
Convenience was always an issue when trying to save money on international phone calls and since the turn of the millennium, the virtual phone card option has been available through a new generation of international call operators. From a land line, all you have to do is select the country from your chosen international calls operator and they will provide you one unique number which you will then dial.
The process is even more convenient on mobile phones, since all of this information can be relayed to you via text message and the credit can be added multiple times. You could even make this call as part of your inclusive free minutes.
