Telephone card

Calling cards (English " calling card " ) are credit cards for a phone call quota. One acquires the card a prepaid call credit that is used for phone calls until the credit is exhausted. In contrast to the calling cards, the credit is stored not on the map, but centrally at the telecommunications service provider. There are no technical devices when phone is necessary, which allows the use of any phone. The phone must enable tone dialing.

On a calling card can be found next to the value of the card a secret number (so-called PIN). With this number you can call, by phoning the often free number (0800 ) of the calling card and enter the PIN of the card. The card number and codes are transmitted by touch tone. The election process is called " call through".

After dialing one hears mostly an announcement, how high the balance on the calling card yet. Then you can the desired phone number, including area code choose and telephoned to the conditions of the calling card company. In other countries, such as in the U.S. and the UK, calling cards are already in widespread use today.

Phone calls abroad

For calls to many countries calling cards are partially cheaper than dumping provider in the call-by- call market. Please note at the collective information but are often present in small print access fees, billing in two- or even three- minute and weekly fees.

On vacation and stays abroad

Calling cards make it possible often considerably cheaper to make calls from abroad to home country. This results in two advantages: One phone call to one at cheaper rates, on the other hand you always have full control of costs. You can use the familiar phone, but also payphones or hotel phones.

About foreign ports

Calling cards found in Germany mainly use to get from foreign telephone lines to carry out conversations that should not be billed by the telephone connection ( for example in the office). This is ensured by the use of toll-free 0800 - dial numbers. Calls are billed via the authenticated via PIN calling card account.

Calling cards are also an alternative to call-by- call feature, available only on telephone lines from Deutsche Telekom available. Thus, the DSL and phone service are for providers that offer a fixed price, the phone calls abroad or in mobile networks partially expensive than on the non -use call-by- call providers. However, 0800 numbers can also be reached via telephone connections of alternative providers.

• Communication technology