Navigating the Maze for Low Cost
International Calls
I know I'm not alone in feeling as though I'm in the Dark
Ages when it comes to figuring out phone services and various calling plans. I'm
truly not a Luddite, but with the plethora of phones, phone cards, calling
cards, long distance phone service options, and local phone service options
available, how is the average consumer supposed to make an informed decision?
There are times when I find myself longing for the old days, when AT&T was the
only game in town - or the country, for that matter.
I received a call from my phone company about a week ago.
It turns out that my DSL contract is up at the end of the month. To be honest, I
didn't even know I had a contract for DSL. I thought I just signed up for it -
end of story. The sales rep on the phone started asking rapid-fire questions
about my current phone service and rattled off different types of phone service
and rate plans. I was completely paralyzed. First, I didn't understand why, if
she was from the phone company, she didn't already know my calling plan. Second,
I have a deep distrust in this phone company, and simply wanted to keep my
service, and for her to go away. I told her as much, though very politely, of
course. Needless to say, I'm dreading my next phone bill, just in case she
messed with my plan.
In the meantime, I decided to hold my breath and dive into
the world of telephony in an attempt to figure out what options are out there.
What I've discovered is that there are many new technologies and plans available
for virtually every need.
For example, dial around is a great option for people who
want to save money on domestic and international long distance while still using
their own phone (cell, home, or business) and not changing companies. It
combines the convenience of a calling card with many of the features found with
traditional long distance.
VOIP is a great option for people with high speed
Internet. They can have low cost local and long distance phone without
sacrificing quality. They will also get very low international call rates and
many features not found with traditional phone service.
International callback works well for people who live
outside the U.S. and want to make low cost international calls. They can bypass
their existing high cost long distance company and make high quality, low cost
calls throughout the U.S.
Pre-paid phone cards are great for people who are
traveling or who want to make occasional low cost domestic or international
calls. They can be used to make calls from 130 countries and offer convenience
because they can be used from any phone.
Right now, I'm deciding which option to use for low cost
international calls, since my mother-in-law lives in Europe and I live in the
U.S. Although my cell phone service touted low international rates, my last bill
was astronomical. I'll definitely never call her from my cell phone again.
About The Author
Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon
International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet
marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main
business resource web site at:
http://www.majon.com
