Virtual Phone Cards

In recent times, calling card service providers have gone one step ahead in reducing the costs and increasing convenience by introducing calling accounts. Calling accounts eliminate the need for printing of a physical card; accounts are available only in electronic form. Calling accounts can be purchased over the Internet using credit cards and are instantly delivered to the customer via e-mail. This e-mail contains the PIN and instructions for using the service.

Some prepaid phone cards even offer convenient features like PINless Dialing, and can be recharged online manually or automatically via a method called auto-top-up, which brand name prepaid cellular companies like AT&T and Verizon Wireless offer. Additionally, some hybrid virtual phone cards like the one Tel3Advantage offers even allow customers to view their call detail reports (CDRs) online through their calling account.

Pioneers in the virtual phone card niche have been blazing their online trails for nearly a decade, and can be credited for growing the niche into a now multi-billion dollar industry. This hyper-competitive industry includes large corporations like IDT, MCI, and AT&T, but smaller Dot Com pioneers within this niche have been able to successfully compete by offering, in many cases, lower international rates (from the USA). The fierce competition has been great for customers because per minute rates have continued to decline, however, some merchants have seen their margins continue to decline as well.

The advantages of a virtual calling card like the one Tel3Advantage offers are many. For starters:

• It doesn't require you to enter a PIN. The system aoutomatically recognizes the number of the account holder through the caller ID.
• Speed-dial numbers. You can assign up to 20 speed-dial numbers for people you call most frequently overseas and avoid entering a second set of digits on your keypad.
• No expiration. Unlike traditional calling cards, your balance on your Tel3Advantage does not expire inmediately. Several access numbers. Customers can use their service from different phone number as long as they assign them in their backoffice online.
• Online reporting. users can also view detailed call reports and track expenses.