Many of ZapTel’s phone cards can be used from a variety of phone types: landlines, mobile and cellular phones, computers, and pay phones.  Check out these different options to see which one works best for you.

Calling from Landlines

All of ZapTel’s phone cards can be used for calling from U.S. based landlines.  All cards come with toll free access numbers while a few also have local access numbers available to save you more money per minute.  These local access numbers are not toll free, but if you have a home calling plan that has unlimited local minutes, then using the local access number may be a good choice for you.

Click here to find the best rates for your calling destination.

Calling from Outside the USA

Not all of ZapTel’s phone cards can be used for calling from outside the USA back in.  ZapTel carries 6 global phone cards that can be used from countries all over the world: Absolute Global, Absolute World, Global Caller, Global Line, Study Abroad Student’s Choice, and True North.

Before purchasing a phone card to use from outside the USA, please read our Travel Phone Card FAQ Page for important information about the best ways to use these phone cards.

Calling from Mobile and Cellular Phones

All of ZapTel’s phone cards can be used from mobile phones.  Please note that while your international charge will come off of the balance of your phone card, your mobile phone minutes will be reduced.  Also, if you’re planning to take your mobile phone outside the country where your service is established, you will need to first contact your provider to make sure that they will provide service to the country you’re traveling to and that they do not charge you roaming fees.

Please read our Phone Card & Mobile Phone Primer for more information about best phone card practices when used from mobile and cellular phones.

Calling from Pay Phones

All ZapTel phone cards can be used from pay phones in the USA.  Please note that there is a pay phone surcharge per call that will come off of the balance of the phone card.  This surcharge is FCC mandated to make sure that the provider of the pay phone receives payment for their equipment to be used to place your call.

Outside of the USA, global phone cards may be blocked from pay phones.  Most countries don’t regulate phone card usage from pay phones, so pay phone carriers are permitted to either allow or block phone cards from being used, or they may impose a surcharge per call or per minute.  It is difficult to know which carriers follow which practices in which countries.  When we receive feedback, we note it with the phone card access numbers, so please read all the notes about where you’ll be calling from before purchasing.

Calling from Computers

ZapTel carries 7 phone cards that can be used to make calls from your computer: Call the World, Destination Cell, Extreme Talk Time USA, Flying Colors!, International Student’s Choice, Precision World, and Wireless World.

Please read our Internet Dialing Page for information on how to use these cards from your computer.

Phone Card Coupon for Week of June 28, 2010

Through July 18^th, take 5% off your $30 or more recharge of your ZapTel phone card. Use the following code to receive the discount:

RECHARGE

Enter the coupon code on the Review Your Order page, and be sure to click the “Add Coupon Code” button on the page to apply the discount. Offer expires at Midnight Central Time on July 18, 2010.

ZapTel carries 6 different phone cards that can be used from many countries all over the world: Absolute Global, Absolute World, Global Caller, Global Line, Study Abroad Student’s Choice, and True North.

Here are some quick tips to make sure you choose the right phone card:

1.  Choose the country you’ll be calling from and to by doing a rate search.

2.  Find the card with the best rate.  Cards that have additional fees are noted with “Additional Fees Apply”.

3.  Read all the details for the card you’re reviewing by clicking on the name of the card.  You’ll see tabs that say About this card, Instructions, Access Numbers, and Rate Table.  Make sure to read all the details on the first two tabs to know how your phone card will work.

4.  Look up the access numbers for the countries you’ll be calling from.  Next to the access numbers will be any notes about limitations for the countries.

5.  Once you’ve found the card you’d like to purchase, add it to your shopping cart and check out.

Click here to read more about using phone cards while traveling.

Phone Card Coupon for Week of May 10th

Through May 24^th, take 5% off your purchase or recharge of a ZapTel global travel card (as listed above). Use the following code to receive the discount:

TRAVEL

Enter the coupon code on the Review Your Order page, and be sure to click the “Add Coupon Code” button on the page to apply the discount. Offer expires at Midnight Central Time on May 24, 2010.

Rates have been updated on the following phone cards for many calling destinations:

• Africa’s Best
• Asia’s Best
• Europe’s Best
• Extreme Talk Time International
• India’s Best
• Middle East’s Best
• Minute by Minute
• Oceans International
• Oceans Africa
• Oceans Asia
• Oceans Europe
• Study Abroad Student’s Choice
• T World
• True North

To see the list of the best phone card rates to your calling destination, click here.

I spoke with a customer this weekend who was a first time phone card and international caller.  It reminded me that while our knowledge revolves around phone cards, many are still unsure about how to pick the best one for their calling needs.  Before you buy a card you should define your calling need so you can make the best calling card purchase for your money.

Here are a few questions you should answer to help you select the best phone card:

How often will you use your phone card?

Knowing how often you plan to use your phone card will help you narrow your choices. If you plan to use your card two or more times per week, don’t rule out cards with additional fees. If you plan to use your card once per week or less, then a flat-rate no fee card may be in your best interest.

How long do you plan on talking for each call?

This is another helpful tip that can help you decide between a phone card with fees and one with no fees. Long talkers usually get the most minutes out of a card with fees. Short talkers usually get the most minutes out of a card with no fees. The tipping point between long calls versus short calls is usually between 25 and 30 minutes per call.

Will you be calling a landline or mobile phone?

When you do a rate search for your calling destination, you’ll see that there are two different rates: one to a landline and one to a mobile phone. Most mobile phone rates are anywhere from double or triple (sometimes more) than the landline rate. This difference is due to how most international mobile phone providers bill their users for incoming calls. Most people outside the US have free incoming calls on their cell phones, so when a call is placed to them, someone has to pay for the call to be accepted. This cost defaults to the person placing the call, hence the increase in the rate. It’s best to know the type of phone you’ll be calling so you can choose the card with the best rate per minute.

Once you’ve narrowed your choices done to a couple phone cards, do the math to see which card will be most cost effective for you. Click here to read how to do phone card math.

Once you’ve chosen your phone card, how do you make a call?

When you purchase your phone card, you’ll receive the dialing instructions for that particular card.  It is important that you read those directions as not all phone cards work exactly the same.

In most cases, you need to dial the access number for your card, the PIN, then the number you’re trying to reach.  Some cards, though, ask you to press the pound (#) key after you dial the destination number or PIN.  So please make sure to read these carefully before proceeding with your call.

When placing an international call with your phone card from the US, you usually need to dial in this manner:

011 + Country Code + City Code + Number

You do not need to dial any zeros between the 011 and the country code as you would, for instance, in Europe.

Also, if you’re dialing to a mobile phone, some countries have you dial something other than a general city code.  For example. the customer I was helping this weekend was calling her son’s mobile phone in Guatemala.  When calling there, you would dial 011+502 (the country code for Guatemala)+ 8-Digit phone number.  Mobile phone numbers begin with either a 4 or 5.  I was able to help her understand how to dial the number properly so she could reach her son.

Phone Card Coupon for Week of February 15th

Through February 28^th, take $1 off your purchase of a new phone card or recharge from ZapTel this week in honor of Valentine’s Day. Use the following code to receive the discount:

ILUVZAP2

Enter the coupon code on the Review Your Order page, and be sure to click the “Add Coupon Code” button on the page to apply the discount. Offer expires at Midnight Central Time on February 28, 2010.

There are many sites and bloggers who link to ZapTel to offer their visitors a recommended choice for their phone card needs. ZapTel has an affiliate program where you can link to ZapTel and earn a commission.

So why should you choose to link to ZapTel?

Bloggers who link to us usually do so because they have been ZapTel customers and want others to know about it so they, too, can take advantage of using a good quality product from a company who cars about their calling needs. Some blogs are country specific so they link to a particular product. Other blogs are may focus on a specific topic like travel or shopping where they link to our homepage. In this case, linking to ZapTel compliments their information offering.

If you think the content of your site or blog suggests that your visitors would find an introduction to ZapTel’s phone cards relevant, check out the specifics of our program and apply. We’re looking for sites and blogs with relevant content that suggest a professional, trustworthy approach to doing business. If your application is accepted, you can then select links or banners to place on your site. We have just about anything to fit the look and feel of your site or blog.

Click here to learn more about ZapTel’s affiliate program and to fill out an application.

If you have any questions about our affiliate program, please contact us at affiliates@zaptel.com.

Phone Card Coupon for Week of February 8th

Through February 14^th, receive $1 your from ZapTel. Use the following code to receive the discount:

TRYZAP1

Enter the coupon code on the Review Your Order page, and be sure to click the “Add Coupon Code” button on the page to apply the discount. Offer expires at Midnight Central Time on February 14, 2010.

This is a question we hear often, and even though I’ve answered this question in the past, I thought it would be good to talk about it again.

ZapTel has a phone card solution for almost any business need. Here are some examples of business customers I’ve worked with and how phone cards have helped them with their employee calling needs.

Sending employees overseas with a phone card

I have helped a company purchase phone cards for employees going to Europe for training sessions. While there, the company provides their workers with a phone card so they can call home while they’re away. This company likes using the True North phone card. While their employees are in Europe, they can monitor everyone’s phone card usage through their online account and add funds when needed.

Before sending your employees with a phone card to use from a hotel, it is best to contact the hotel first and ask a couple questions:

1) Can phone cards be used from the hotel phones? Some hotels will block phone cards from being used so it’s best to ask first.

2) Can a toll free number be dialed from the hotel phones? Some hotels may block toll free access numbers but local access numbers may be allowed. The True North and Study Abroad Student’s Choice cards both have local access numbers available. If you plan to use a local access number from a hotel, please be sure that the hotel considers the access number local before dialing. You don’t want room charges for having to dial the access number for your phone card.

3) Does the hotel charge a fee for using the phone regardless of whether or not you’re using a phone card? This may seem silly, but we’ve had customers report that some hotels charge a fee just for using their phones. This ends up on your bill at checkout. ZapTel is not responsible for any charges that the hotel chooses to charge your room because of its policies.

I’ve also assisted another company where phone cards were blocked from being used where they were sending people. In this case, their employees had their laptops with them. The customer instead chose the Flying Colors phone card which allowed their employees to call back to the US from their computers using Internet Dialing. All they needed to do was provide their employees with USB headsets with a microphone and they were able to call back from Africa to the US for just 4¢ per minute.

Click here to learn more about Internet Dialing with ZapTel.

Virtual companies and work at home employees

Many virtual companies and other companies that have employees working from home enjoy the flexibility of phone cards since there is no landline service that needs to be set up to make phone calls. A couple companies I’ve helped like the Call the World and the International Student’s Choice for their employees. They prefer these cards because they are rechargeable, have online call detail records, and PINzap Pinless Dialing. This allows the manager to monitor usage and add funds when needed. Employees like the PINzap Pinless Dialing because all they have to do is dial the access number from the phone number associated with their card and make calls.

Employees needing to call international clients and offices

Many companies find it more cost effective to have their employees use a phone card for their international cards instead of adding an international dialing plan to their phone service. Workers can affordably make phone calls from any phone (both landline and mobile) with their phone cards. Companies I’ve worked with have purchased the True North and Call the World phone cards for their employees to use.

If you’d like more information or personal assistance with choosing a phone card for your business need, send us an e-mail at corporatesales@zaptel.com.

Phone Card Coupon for Week of February 1st

Through February 7th, receive 5% off the purchase or recharge of a True North phone card from ZapTel. Use the following code to receive the discount:

TRU5NORTH

Enter the coupon code on the Review Your Order page, and be sure to click the “Add Coupon Code” button on the page to apply the discount. Offer expires at Midnight Central Time on February 7, 2010.

Knowing what kind of phone card will give you the most minutes is important.  Depending on your calling habits and the destination of your phone calls, a phone card with additional surcharges and service fees may actually give you more time than a flat rate phone card.

Here are some pros and cons of buying a card with additional fees vs. a flat rate card.

Calling Cards with Additional Fees

Pros: You usually receive a lower rate per minute.

Cons: The additional fees will lower your available balance, which will reduce the number of minutes you receive.

Best Use: If you make frequent (meaning 2 or  more calls per week), long phone calls (30+ minutes in length), you may benefit better from a card with additional fees.

No Fee Calling Cards

Pros: No additional fees so billing is clean and easy to keep track of.

Cons: You may be paying a higher rate per minute.

Best Use: If you make less frequent (one or less calls per week) and/or shorter phone calls (less than 30 minutes in length), you may benefit better from a flat rate card.

EXAMPLE:

Let’s say you call to Japan 3 times a week and speak for 45 minutes each time. You are trying to decide between the Minute by Minute flat rate card and the Asia’s Best which has additional fees.

Minute by Minute: At a rate of 4.7¢ per minute, the total cost at the end of the week would be $6.35.

Asia’s Best: At a rate of 2¢ per minute (with a 19% surcharge per call and 99¢ weekly service fee) the total cost at the end of the week would be $4.21.

You would save $2.14 per week or $8.56 per month by using the Asia’s Best card, even though it has additional fees.

However, if you only call to Japan once per week for 20 minutes, the card you should choose will change.

Minute by Minute: At a rate of 4.7¢ per minute, the total cost at the end of the week would be $0.94.

Asia’s Best: At a rate of 2¢ per minute (with a 19% surcharge per call and 99¢ weekly service fee) the total cost at the end of the week would be $1.47.

You would save $0.53 per week or $2.12 per month by using the Minute by Minute card.

ZapTel Phone Cards with Low Rates and Additional Fees

• Africa’s Best *
• Asia’s Best *
• Destination Cell
• Europe’s Best *
• Everyday USA
• Extreme Talk Time International
• Extreme Talk Time USA
• Genesis
• Global Caller
• Global Line
• India’s Best *
• International Student’s Choice
• Mexico’s Best *
• Middle East’s Best *
• Oceans International
• Oceans Africa
• Oceans Asia
• Oceans Europe
• Philippine’s Best *
• Phone Bank
• Precision World
• TalkHome India

* See this week’s coupon for this phone card below.

ZapTel Phone Cards with a Flat Rate per Minute

• Absolute Global
• Absolute World
• Au Pair’s Choice
  
• Call the World
• Flying Colors!
• Minute by Minute
• Study Abroad Student’s Choice
• True North
• T World
• Wireless World

Phone Coupon for Week of January 25th

Through February 1st, receive a 5% discount on any purchase or recharge of an Excite Best phone card from ZapTel. Use the following code to receive the discount:

BESTCARD5

Enter the coupon code on the Review Your Order page, and be sure to click the “Add Coupon Code” button on the page to apply the discount. Offer expires at Midnight Central Time on February 1, 2010.

Many customers have asked us how they can keep their phone card organized in their ZapTel account.  Here are the answers to the questions we’ve gotten so you can have the tools to best use your ZapTel account.

“Can I delete old cards?”

We cannot delete phone cards or PINs from your Zaptel account, but you can arrange your dashboard so the PINs that are old are hidden.  When you log on to your ZapTel account, click on the link that says “Customize My Dashboard.”  This will allow you to display only the PINs you want to see when you log in.  Don’t worry — your other PINs are still available when you click on the link “see all your PINs.”

“Can I label the PINs I purchase?”

Yes.  When you’re in your dashboard, click on the little label next to the card name and you can label the PIN you’ve purchased.  This is great if you have PINs that are used for specific purposes, family members, or employees if your ZapTel account is used for business purposes.

“Can I use my card with PINless dialing?”

ZapTel has PINzap Pinless Dialing available on many of its phone cards.  If your phone card either has a key icon on it or the PINzap Pinless Dialing link under PIN Options, then you can set up your PIN to be pinless.

“Does my card have speed dial?”

ZapTel has speed dial avaialble on many of its calling cards as well.  If your phone card has either a lightening bolt icon on it or the Speed Dial link under PIN Options, then you can set up to 99 speed dial numbers on your phone card.

If there is an account option you’d like to have, let us know!  Leave a comment on our blog or send an e-mail to suggestions@zaptel.com.

Calling Card Coupon for Week of January 11th

Through January 17th, receive $1.00 off any purchase of a global travel phone card or recharge from ZapTel.   Click here to see a list of phone cards for international travel. Use the following code to receive the discount:

WORLDCALL

Enter the coupon code on the Review Your Order page, and be sure to click the “Add Coupon Code” button on the page to apply the discount. Offer expires at Midnight Central Time on January 17, 2010.

Regardless of whether you’ve opted in or out of receiving e-mails from ZapTel, you’ll always receive an e-mail confirming your purchase.  However, you can choose whether or not you want to receive e-mails from ZapTel about product updates and sales.

When you created your ZapTel account, you were asked whether or not you want to receive e-mails from ZapTel.  If you unchecked the box next to this statement, then you are not on our mailing list.  If you checked this box, then you should be on our mailing list.

We’ve had many customers in the past ask us why they didn’t receive our sale e-mails.  When we review their accounts, we’ve found that they opted out of receiving our notifications and didn’t know this.  To help our customers better manage this, we put an alert in all accounts that have opted out so if you want to be added back to our mailing list, you can be.

If you’re currently receiving e-mails from us about our sales and wish to be taken off the list, all you have to do is log into your ZapTel account, click on the tab that says “Your Billing Address” and uncheck the box that tells us you’d like to receive our mailings.

I would love for all of our customers to receive our promotional e-mails and product updates.  Customers who are opted-in to receive our e-mails are only contacted when we have important store or product updates and sales as to not bombard everyone’s inbox.

If you have a question about the opt-in status of your account, please e-mail us at support@zaptel.com.

Calling Card Coupon for Week of January 4th

Through January 10th, receive $1.00 off any purchase of a phone card or recharge from ZapTel. Use the following code to receive the discount:

HERE2HELP

Enter the coupon code on the Review Your Order page, and be sure to click the “Add Coupon Code” button on the page to apply the discount. Offer expires at Midnight Central Time on January 10, 2010.

The first thing that you need to know about making an international call from the USA is to dial 011 + Country Code + City Code + Number.  Before placing a call with a phone card, though, it is important to read the card’s dialing instructions.

While the basics of dialing out of the USA to an international country are the same, each card could have slightly different instructions for placing a call.  When you purchase your phone card from ZapTel, the dialing instructions are e-mailed to you with your PIN.

You can also access this information from your account dashboard.  Click on the access number link next to your PIN.  This will bring you to the card specifications section.  The tab you’ll be brought to first is for the Access Numbers associated with your phone card.  When you click on the tab that says “Instructions,” you’ll see the dialing instructions for your phone card.

If you’d like to view this information before buying your phone card, click on the name of the card and then click on the “Instructions” tab as directed above.

If you’re following the instructions for your ZapTel phone card and are having trouble connecting, let us know.  You can reach our Customer Service Department at support@zaptel.com.

Calling Card Coupon for Week of December 21st

Through December 27th, receive $1.00 off any purchase of a phone card or recharge from ZapTel. Use the following code to receive the discount:

HERE2HELP

Enter the coupon code on the Review Your Order page, and be sure to click the “Add Coupon Code” button on the page to apply the discount. Offer does not apply to the purchase of recharges, cellular refill cards, or AT&T 3 for 1 offer. Offer expires at Midnight Central Time on December 27, 2009.