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What are the Telephone Cards?29.10.2008 The telephone cards are also called as the phone card or calling card which seems like a credit card and is usually used for paying for the services used by telephones. There are two types of calling cards; which is of credit card mode of system or through prepaid credit plan. In this system, with subject to the entire telecommunication method, the payment is made for making a telephone call. In the present day, the standard types of phone cards used are through the prepaid credit system where the calling card is obtained with a certain amount. These calling cards are discardable and when the amount is depleted, a new card could be purchased with balance. There is another calling card that has a PIN number engraved on it and is permitted to charge for making a call to landline telephones. In any calling card or phone card, there are two types of technologies applied such as the remote memory and the stored value. Stored-Value Calling Cards: In this type of calling cards, the balance or the amount is already stored in the card. When the card is tipped into the card reader machine, the amount is automatically interpreted by the public payphone which is quite equivalent to the ATM at banks. There are numerous methods to encrypt the value on the phone card. During the earlier stage of the systems, there was a magnetic strip used just as in the key cards or ATM machine technologies. It was first created by the SIDA in Italy in the year 1976. The second technology put into practice was the optical storage where visual marks would be on the calling cards like lines or holes to enable to the card reader to survey for the marks and to identify the amount left on the phone card. In several countries, such optical phone cards were quite popular which was discovered by Anritsu and Landis+Gyr. Such technique was undoubtedly hackable and also very simple, thus the optical cards were easily spread out around the world. Such cards are still available in Japan and in few other countries. Chip Cards are the third type of storage-value cards which was first set up by Deutsche Bundespost in Germany in the year 1986. It was launched only after 3 years after the testing process made by the Telecom of France. In 1990, these types of cards were launched in Ireland and also in 1994-1995, the United Kingdom circa launched more calling cards like this type. The original microchips launched were quite easy to destroy and was easy to make the phone not to deplete the calling card’s value after making a call. By mid 1990s, a highly guaranteed technology was introduced which expanded around the world. Two calls need to be made by the user if they are using the prepaid calling card. No matter whatever the card type is, the user should call the phone card platform of the calling card company. There are numerous ways through which a user can call the calling card platform such as toll free number, a local number or even an international toll free number. The adjustment here is this toll free technique outlays more tariffs to the company and it also bears the charges of the very first call but in case of using a local number, the user bears the charges. Since there are lower charges in the method of local calling, it has become quite popular among the users. So the company need not compensate for all of your calls. The local number method is cheaper to the user when compared with the toll free method because it is quite expensive. The prevalent method of using a microchip which is already imprinted on the calling card allows to get verified by the PIN information once your call is connected. Before the amount is taken off your card, your information is cross-checked and offers you to continue with the call. So when you are ready for the next call, the balance of amount left on the phone card gets displayed and also informs about the length of time you can speak. Most of the phone cards warn the user when there is just 1 minute on the card. Thus the prepaid phone cards are easily accessible to the regular travelers who can avoid the expensive roaming charges of a cell phone and also can save a lot of money. Remote Memory Systems Calling cards representing the Telephone Accounts The remote memory is the second major technology used in the calling cards which generally uses a toll free number to check the balance amount as well as to get through the database. Since the United States of America did not have a unique nation-wide public telephone service as well the major departments were deregulated, there was no regular incentive with the various parts of the world. The facility of inserting a phone card into a machine was marked by vandalism fears just like the teller machine. In the year 1980 in the month of December, the very first prepaid phone card with remote memory was released in the US by the Phone Line Company. These types of cards were circulated in several countries since the telecom companies were deregulated. The Remote Memory cards do not need any particular card reader and could be utilized from any type of phone. The production of these cards has proliferated because of its low cost and easy access. But still the remote memory card usage gradually declined because of the several numbers that need to be keyed in before usage. If you are calling an international number, the user has to enter the local access number first, and then enter the secret code keys and finally the destination number. Depending on the destination number, the call is processed after the remaining time is announced. These cards need unique PIN information, an access number and its instructions which are printed or even can be sent through email. There are numerous websites that sell the calling cards via e-mail process. The calling cards or the phone cards are easily obtainable in the retail stores of many countries. Usually, the remote memory calling cards comes in varieties and is also delivered by several companies. The important features of the card are the Pinless dialing, rechargeability, speed dial, etc. including the maintenance fee, connection fee and the taxes. Virtual Phone Cards – Telephone Accounts not needing a card With the latest introduction of calling accounts, the phone card providers have improved the convenience to the users by decreasing the rates. The accounts are mainly in the electronic pattern and do not require the printing on the phone card. With the credit cards, these accounts could be purchased through online and is immediately delivered to the users through e-mail. The delivered e-mail has the PIN information along with the instructions to use it. Certain prepaid calling cards propose features such as automatic top-up, Pinless Dialing, manual online recharge and many more. Adding to these, certain virtual calling cards allows the users to check their CDR reports (Call Detail report) with the help of their phone account. For almost a decade, the inventors of the virtual calling card have been glittering their path and have made a substantial growth by making it into a multi-billion dollar company. This competitive industry has numerous corporations such as MCI, IDT, AT&T as well as the Zaptel.com, CallingCards.com, STIphonecard.com and SpeedyPin.com which offers lowest rates from the United States. Since the minute rates are periodically declining, these calling cards are very useful for the customers and certain businessmen also find that the margin declines as well. Related articles
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