Several types of calling cards are available with different companies with variable calling rates and schemes to prove themselves superior to other companies.

Mobile phones work on two types of connections postpaid connection as well as prepaid connection. In post paid connection you are bound to pay a monthly bill for the entire calls you made during the month. In prepaid connection you are required to recharge your card with certain amount to make a call. You are only allowed to make a call as far as your account balance is remaining otherwise you have to recharge your card again to continue the service. Service of the prepaid connection totally depends upon the amount you are having in your phone. While buying the international calling cards you should keep in mind the following points as the expiry date of the card, hidden costs involved or not. Before purchasing any card you should make yourself comfortable after knowing all the conditions provided by the company offering these cards.

There are certain points which should be kept in mind while purchasing a international calling card:
1. The first and foremost point which should be considered is the rates per minute and this factor is to be calculated by origin country and the country where the call is to be made.

2. The second point consists of a process known as billing increment which is basically the method of minute rounding as your call duration is 2 minutes and 53 seconds so it will be rounded as 3minutes and you will be charged for the same amount.

3. You have to be fully aware about the connection fees of the company which is taken whenever a call recipient answers your call. This is charged even on wrong number when it rings more than ten times.

4. One of the major points which are to be considered which is charged at the time of call made usually 10% of the duration of the call made. As if you have called for 20 minutes so the communication fees is charged for 22minutes.

5. Maintenance fees is also charged by some companies it is deducted from your international calling card at intervals as monthly, weekly and yearly.

6. Access number is the number provided by the company to access your card. Before dialing your destination number you have to dial this number. This number is generally toll free.

7. Denomination is considered as the value of the phone. Some of the card comes in denomination of 10 ($10 credit, $20credit etc.) this value is divided by the rates per minute. It offers the maximum numbers of minutes talk time.

8. Pay phone surcharge is deducted whenever you make a call with a pay phone. This is deducted from your calling card.

9. A calling card is rechargeable so that you can add more value to it in future.

10. You must pay attention to the expiration period of the calling card as the money in it will not be refunded back after it expired.