Calling Card & Phone Card Online Comparison

Many people use calling cards to save money on international phone calls. International calling has traditionally been a pretty expensive endeavor, and calling cards offer some relief to the pain of high per-minute charges.

In the past couple of years, other types of international calling services have emerged that can save consumers even more money. A case in point is Packetel’s long distance offering, which offers low per-minute rates from any phone, even a cell phone, with no setup fees or hidden charges.

The service works by providing the user with a personal access number (local) and online account management. The access number can be used on any phone to take advantage of low international calling rates.

TMCnet asked Frank Tam, president at Packetel, to explain some of the differences between the company’s long distance service and traditional calling cards. His points are expanded upon below.

No-PIN Dialing with Trusted Phone Numbers – Using a feature called Trusted Phone Numbers, Packetel’s service allows you to create a speed-dial of sorts to avoid having to dial a PIN when placing international calls. This works when you register your Personal Access Number as a Trusted Phone Number. Then, you can access account features without having to enter your PIN.

Real-time Online Call History – Unlike with traditional calling cards, Packetel’s international calling service provides you with an online account that displays real-time call history. This means no more guessing how many minutes you have left.

Online Phone Book and Quick-Dial Function – Packetel’s international calling service provides two features called Xpress and Quick-Dial Numbers. These are speed-dial numbers you pre-program into your online phone book to enable quick dialing of friends, family and colleagues.

Multiple Calls in One Session – If you are making a series of calls, you can do so without having to start a new session for each call. Packetel’s service also lets you make quick re-dials from within your initial session.

Local Access Number – When you sign up for Packetel’s international calling service, you are assigned a Personal Access Number. This is a number local to your area that you dial to access the long distance service.

Follow Me – Packetel’s service includes Follow Me (call forwarding) functionality so calls can conveniently be forwarded from one number to another.

To learn more about Packetel’s long distance service, please visit the International Calling channel on TMCnet.com, brought to you by Packetel.

Source: http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/international-calling/articles/19049-how-packetels-international-calling-service-differs-from-traditional.htm

Wireless Carrier to Offer Pre-Loaded Mobile Banking App
BASKING RIDGE, NJ and ATLANTA, GA (October 15, 2007) Mobile banking and payments enabler Firethorn Holdings, LLC and Verizon Wireless have partnered to provide Verizon Wireless customers with the ability to easily interact with their financial institutions using Firethorn’s mobile financial services application.

The relationship provides a unique opportunity for financial institutions assessing their mobile strategies. With Verizon Wireless’ mobile banking offering, powered by Firethorn, customers will be able to access and manage their financial relationships while on-the-go. In addition, Verizon Wireless and Firethorn will team with financial institution partners to conduct marketing and consumer education programs aimed at aiding and encouraging adoption.

Verizon senior vice president of consumer products Jim Straight said, “After carefully researching the marketplace and surveying consumer preferences, we concluded Firethorn will provide a secure, easy-to-use and flexible mobile banking solution that will deliver a superior user experience for our customers. We expect these mobile banking services will be valuable to our customers, paving the way for us to introduce more comprehensive payment capabilities.”

As financial institutions join the Firethorn Network that already includes Wachovia, SunTrust Bank, Regions Financial, BancorpSouth, Synovus among others, Verizon Wireless customers will be able to access these relationships in a simple and secure fashion. Verizon Wireless plans to pre-load the Firethorn application on devices in the future.

“Firethorn’s larger vision is to provide consumers with a safe, secure and consistent access point to their financial information through their ever-present mobile device,” explained Firethorn chairman and chief executive officer Tripp Rackley. “Viewing balances, making transfers and paying bills is the first step. Bringing new and exciting functionality to the mobile handset, such as the ability to view and redeem loyalty points, reload gift cards and perform purchases at the point of sale, including contactless payments, is core to our mobile financial services strategy.”

Source: Verizon Wireless (www.verizonwireless.com)

Top Trends in Mobile Communications

According to a new AP-AOL-Pew Research Center mobile lifestyle survey, U.S. cell phone users find themselves increasingly addicted to using their cell phones. In fact, 29 percent say they could not live without their cell phone.

Meanwhile, users also say they are also growing more savvy and confident in using the services and features on their phones, including mobile messaging, mapping, search and more. In 2006, the must-have feature is mobile mapping and directions, with nearly half of adults surveyed saying they would like to have these features at their fingertips.

Topline Survey Findings

Text Me: Thirty-five percent of those surveyed say they send SMS text messages to friends, family and business colleagues, including 65 percent of those ages 18-29 and 37 percent of those ages 30-49. At the same time, 18 percent say they have used or would like to use a mobile instant messaging service on their cell phone.

Forward Me: Twenty-one percent of mobile users say they would like to have all instant messages (IMs) forwarded from their PC desktop to their cell phones. Meanwhile, 38 percent say they would like to have desktop IMs from select contacts that they choose automatically forwarded to their mobile device, including 50 percent of those ages 18-29.

Email Me: Eight percent of cell phone users currently access their email from their cell phones. At the same time, 24 percent of those who do not check their email from their phones say they would like to be able to do so.

Find Me: When asked about using their cell phone to search for movie listings, weather, stock quotes and more, seven percent say they do this already. One-quarter (24 percent) say they would like to be able to do this on their phone. Meanwhile, 30 percent of those surveyed say they want to browse the Web from their cell phone.

Smile for Me: Twenty-eight percent of mobile users say they use their cell phones to take photos, while another 19 percent say they would like to have a camera on their phone. Meanwhile, six percent have recorded video clips with their cell phone, and another 17 percent would like this feature on their next phone.

I Gotta Have It: The new mobile lifestyle survey also revealed that mobile phone users consider mobile mapping, email, search, instant messaging and video to be must-haves in the next phone they purchase.

In addition to talking, here are the things that respondents say they either do now or would like to do on their next mobile phone.

– Use mobile maps: 51 percent

– Send text messages: 48 percent

– Take pictures: 47 percent

– Play games: 34 percent

– Send mobile email: 32 percent

– Use mobile search: 31 percent

– Browse the Internet: 30 percent

– Play music: 25 percent

– Record video: 23 percent

– Have desktop instant messages (IMs) sent to their phone: 21 percent

– Send mobile instant messages: 18 percent

– Watch video or TV shows: 16 percent

As for their interest in new and upcoming features:

– 38 percent say they would like to have desktop IMs from contacts they choose automatically forwarded to their mobile device, including 50 percent of those ages 18-29

– 21 percent say they would like all desktop IMs automatically forwarded to their cell phone

When it comes to mobile users and their cell phones, survey respondents say:

– Their cell phone has helped them in an emergency: 74 percent

– They place calls as a way to fill time when traveling or waiting for someone: 41 percent

– They make most of their calls at times when the minutes are free: 44 percent

Addicted to mobility? Americans are exceedingly passionate about their cell phones. So passionate that…

– 52 percent keep their cell phone turned on all the time and 24 percent keep their phone charged most of the time

– 29 percent say they make more calls with their cell phone than with their home phone. Among this group, 76 percent make a lot more calls with their cell phone.

– 15 percent of adults surveyed say they aren’t quite ready to cut the cord, but are somewhat likely to get rid of their landline. Eight percent say they are very likely to ditch their landline in favor of a cell phone-only existence.

– 40 percent of those ages 18-29 say they are likely to get rid of their landline. In fact, 49 percent in this age group say they make more calls with their cell phone than with their landline.

The downside of being mobile:

– 36 percent have been shocked by the size of their monthly cell phone bill

– 28 percent have driven less safely when talking on their cell phone

– 24 percent feel they need to answer their phone even if it interrupts a meeting or meal

– 23 percent say too many people call them on their cell phone

– 22 percent have been untruthful about their whereabouts when on a cell phone

The survey also revealed a real need for a guide to cell phone etiquette. Today, three in four U.S. adults have a cell phone, yet talking loudly and behaving in an annoying manner while on the phone is all too common.

– 50 percent of cell phone users who say they frequently encounter people talking very loudly in public on their phone

 Source: http://mobile1.aol.com/survey