The telecom industry today provides many different ways to receive low cost long distance calling. Between cell phones, prepaid calling cards, VoIP phones, dial around long distance and regular switched long distance, identifying which service is right for you can be difficult. Matching the right service to your needs will provide you with the most economic and efficient solution.

Cell Phones

Cell phones have become widely used globally. Advantages of cell phones are their mobility and easy of use anywhere in the country, some phones even worldwide. Nationwide plans have eliminated domestic long distance calling on cell phones. Call to anywhere in the country for the price of just minutes. Many people have taken advantage of this feature make their domestic long distance call using their cell phone.

Making an international call using your cell phone can be costly, especially for phones without international dialing plans. Rates per minute to countries outside of the United States are high and over priced. Some carriers charge as much as a dollar per minute or more on your international calls. Connection quality on a cell phone is dependent upon the service quality you receive.

There are two different payment options for cell phones pre and post paid. Prepaid cell phones are becoming more used throughout the United States. Using prepaid ensures never talking over your budgeted dollar allotment. Select prepaid phone carriers such as Locus Platinum and Oxygen Wireless offer international calling at the price of just regular domestic minutes. Typical users of prepaid phones include people who don't like the idea of being forced into a contract, people who constantly move from place to place, people who rarely use a cell phone or have one for emergency purposes, and people who have poor credit.

Postpaid phones are ideal for people who don't want to be bothered with having to recharge their phone. Rates per minute are cheaper on a contract phone then on a prepaid.

Cell phones are great for everyone. They are an easy way to eliminate domestic long distance charges on your analog phone. They also provide great portability.

Prepaid Calling Cards

Prepaid calling cards are a low cost solution to making long distance phone calls. Calls can be placed from almost any phone, including, land lines, cell phones, pay phones, VoIP phones, etc. Generally, calling cards receive the lowest calling rates on the market. However, using a calling card involves a tedious dialing process; dialing an access number, then a PIN, and finally the destination number.

Different calling cards provide different qualities of connection. Some calling cards provide high quality connections, while others prove to be inadequate and static connections.

Many calling cards have fees, such as maintenance fees, connection fees, etc. In addition, minutes on calling cards have an expiration date.

Prepaid calling cards are ideal for, people who rarely need to make international phone calls. It is an easy and cheap way to connect your call - plus never be surprised by an overpriced phone bill.

VoIP Phones

In 1995 Israeli computer hobbyists found ways to route telephone calls through the Internet. This process has since evolved into a VoIP phone system. Within the past few years VoIP phone services have been commercialized and made available to consumers. VoIP phones offer a variety of features not standard on analog phones. Advanced features such as find me, follow me ensure that you will receive your calls anywhere worldwide.

Most VoIP phone plans, like cell phones have no domestic long distance charges. Meaning call to anywhere in the United States or Canada for the price of just minutes. VoIP phones have the advantage of portability. Bring your VoIP phone anywhere you travel. Plug it into an internet connection and use your phone as if it were in your home.

Generally, international rates on VoIP phones are extremely low. This is a result from the low cost of terminating calls through the Internet. VoIP phones work identical to land line phones. Providing the same connection quality and reliability.

VoIP phones rely on a broadband Internet connection and power to work. Should either of these services go out, your VoIP phone will not work.

VoIP phones are ideal for people who frequently make domestic long distance calls. They provide great low international rates. VoIP phones make ideal business solutions and residential phones. Use a VoIP phone system for your company and begin to save on your telecom costs.

Prepaid Dial Around Long Distance

Dial-around long distance became popular during the 90's. Dial-around services are most commonly recognized by 1010 phone numbers. Traditionally they were dialed prior to making a long distance call. Using a 1010 number would circumvent your traditional long distance carrier, and place the call through the 1010 number. Dial-around services have evolved to include time and money saving features. Most dial-around services today are prepaid.

Prepaid dial-around long distance services work similar to a calling card. An access number is used to access your account. Prepaid dial-around services tend to have lower international and domestic long distance rates then long distance carriers. However, tend to have higher rates then calling cards as a result of the features offered with the service.

Common prepaid dial around long distance features include:

• PIN-less dialing
• Speed Dial
• CallBack feature
• Domestic and international access numbers
• Rechargeable accounts
• detailed records to your calling records

In addition, dial around services, have no connection fees, maintenance fees or expiration dates. Connection quality for dial around services is generally higher then a calling card.

Prepaid dial around long distance is a good calling solution for people frequently making domestic or international long distance calls. Features such as PIN-less dialing will make your connection process fast and easy. Prepaid dial around long distance services provide you the option of making calls from your home, work office or any other phone.

Switched Long Distance

Switched long distance is the simplest way to place a call. Common long distance carriers are Wiltel, Prescient World Wide, AT&T, Verizon, etc. Rates per minute are generally most expensive through a long distance carrier. However, calls are connected with the highest priority and connection quality. Unlike a calling card, customers do not need an access number to make phone calls. Simply pick up the phone and begin dialing. For international calling, there are several carriers in which specialize in calling to certain regions. Generally switched long distance is a post pay service, however there are carriers that allow you to prepay.

Switched long distance is ideal for people frequently making domestic or international calls. Rates per minute are generally a little higher then a calling card, however a better quality connection is supplied, and a quicker dialing process.

Conclusion

Determining which service is right for your needs can be a difficult process. Outlining each of these telecom services should help decipher which service is right for you. The key is to match your need with an appropriate service.