What is a Calling Card?

Hi
Welcome again.


In this article, we take a look at calling cards for making calls from abroad.

A Calling Card allows you to make cheap international calls from abroad. You don’t need any mobile or computer to make calls.  When you buy a calling card, you are provided with a PIN number and a list of access numbers for the country you are visiting to, lets say the US. When you are in the US and want to make a call to India, you will just need to dial a local access number from a payphone or your hotel phone. You will be connected to an IVR wherein you will be asked to enter your PIN number. Once you have successfully entered your PIN, you will be asked to dial the number you want to call to. On dialing the number, your call will be connected.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind while using a calling card. When you make a call using your calling card, you pay for the international call charges as specified by calling card provider plus the call charges to dial the local access number. Hence, while buying, do make your calculations as to how much will you actually end up paying per minute. Also, there might be some connection charges per call which is worth looking into.

Some of the calling cards charge a weekly maintenance fee which is automatically deducted from your balance. Check if there are any such fees. There is almost always a surcharge in many countries if you use a payphone.  Check the surcharges in detail.

Another important feature to check is how exactly you would be billed. Some of the calling card providers bill you in multiples of 3 minutes so even if you called for lets say, 1 minute and 20 seconds, you would actually be billed for full 3 minutes. Better to buy a calling card that bills you in multiple of one minute so that you have better control over your costs.

Check the validity of talk time you are purchasing. How long is it going to be valid? Also, good to know if the calling card can be recharged.

Finally, check if the PIN-less feature is provided. Many calling card providers give you a facility to store your phone number. So, for example, if you are staying in a hotel and you have a phone in your room. You can get the number registered against your calling card. Henceforth, every time you call, the system will automatically identify your number and straight way ask you to dial the number you want to call to instead of asking for PIN. A convenience feature that saves you from remembering and entering the long PIN codes every time you want to call.

While calling cards do provide some great features, the biggest drawback is that you can not receive calls at the moment somebody is trying to reach you. Also, in case you are in an urgent situation, not always will you find a payphone next to you.  It however remains a good option for people who do not want to take their mobile phones or are occasional callers.

If you are taking your mobile phone with you, try using an international sim card which is just like using your mobile phone in day today life. Simply insert the sim card in your phone and you are ready to make and receive calls in your country of travel. Check out some of the great features of our world sim for your travel abroad.

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Happy Blogging

HIREaSIM

Can I use my mobile phone in the USA?

Hi
Welcome again.
Can I use my mobile phone in the USA?
This is exactly the question we have heard from many of us traveling to the USA.
In this article, we try and explain a very simple concept that would help you answer the question.


1. First thing is to find if your mobile phone is an unlocked GSM phone.
If you bought your phone from one of the mobile shops or electronic store without a SIM card in it and then later on bought a SIM card for provider of your choice, your phone is an unlocked GSM phone.
If however, you bought both your SIM card and phone from a provider, most likely your phone is locked for use with any other provider or SIM card. In this case, it is better to directly check with the provider from where you bought your phone.


2. If your phone is an unlocked GSM phone, we move on to find if your phone supports Quad Band.
GSM networks in India work on Dual Band frequency, i.e. 900/1800 MHz. Any GSM phone in India will work on these frequencies. However, GSM networks in the USA work on different sets of frequencies, i.e. 850/1900 MHz. To have your phone working in the USA, your phone must be equipped to handle these additional sets of frequencies in addition to dual band frequencies for working in India. Such a phone which works on all these frequencies, i.e. 850/900/1800/1900 MHz is referred to as a Quad Band phone and will work in the USA as well apart from working in India.


3. Now that we know what a Quad Band phone is, we move on to our last point - how to find these specifications for your phone? If you have the user guide booklet that came with the phone, look under specifications. Another easier way is to visit the website for your mobile phone, search for your mobile phone model and look under specifications tab.


So, in summary, if your phone is an unlocked Quad Band GSM phone, it will work in the USA. All you need to do is buy a GSM SIM Card that provides coverage in the USA, insert it in your mobile and you are ready to go. 
Check out the features of our US SIM Card that provides excellent coverage in the USA, free incoming and call rates at just 9 cents/min to India.


Happy Blogging
HIREaSIM

What is an International SIM Card ?

Hi All


Welcome again


International SIM Cards also referred to as Travel SIM cards or Global SIM Cards are just like any other SIM cards that we all use in our cell phones. Travelers find International SIM Cards very convenient to use as a single SIM card works in most of the countries. International SIM card also offers free incoming facility in many countries and cheap calling rates to make calls to India.
Watch out the video...

Thanks and happy blogging
HIREaSIM

Welcome readers

Hi

Wishing a wonderful new year 2012 and Welcome to this blog.

We are new and we are young. We are fresh and we want to share and learn.

As India grows economically, more and more Indians are traveling abroad and accordingly the need for travel related products is growing. 

We all love to talk, chat and remain connected to our loved ones. Thanks to the mobile revolution, India is now one of the top countries in terms of mobile usage. Calling charges in India are one of the cheapest in the world.

However, when we go abroad, there are a lot of questions that we think about...

Is my mobile phone going to work?, How much will I spend while making calls to India?, Will I receive calls for free? Should I use a calling card, an international sim card or a local sim card? 

Well, our blog will seek to answer, share and learn about these questions...but our success truly depends on your participation. Post your questions and make replies to questions posted by others. Suggest a new product or service that is really unique...feel free.

Happy Blogging and Welcome once again

HIREaSIM