calling cards for cheap phone rates to DR

[Loren]

For those of you who asked me, I did a little research and came up with the websites for some of the cards I have been using. I always have purchased these cards locally, but it appears you can buy them off the web. I am pretty sure that almost all the cards out there use voice over IP technology, but only the cheaper ones route calls over the internet.

Blackstone <A HREF="http://www.blackstonecallingcard.com/Business/ProductsBusiness/ProductCatalogbusiness.htm">http://www.blackstonecallingcard.com/Business/ProductsBusiness/ProductCatalogbusiness.htm</A>

At Blackstone, there are several different cards. The Tropicard can also be used in the DR to call the USA. The quality of the connection with blackstone seems to vary based on the card you buy (quality vs. price). One of their cards will give you 5 cents a minute US to DR but there is a connection fee. Others have no connection fee, but less minutes. Better for when you make lots of short calls.

The Nickel Card <A HREF="http://www.nickelcard.com">http://www.nickelcard.com</A>

This card seems to have really good quality, though you dont get as many minutes as with some of the Blackstone cards. There is less of a problem with all of their lines being busy than with some other cards.

Does anyone else know of some good cards? Who has the best regular residential long distance rates to the Dominican Republic from the USA? I have seen businesses get 21 cents a minute, but they had to make big dollar commitments.

 

[Jim Hinsch]

PT-1 (888-660-5377, www.pt-1.com) as your long distance carrier. US$0.25/min provides dial-1 service from the USA.

I did not find much useful on the linked pages because of the connection fees, pre-payment in discrete increments, and lack of information about billing increments. The calls need to be at least 15 minutes or longer each to compete with ITT's US$0.24/min. rate.

The one site has a whole slew of cards shown, some of which don't even have rate information included, such as <A HREF="http://www.blackstonecallingcard.com/Business/ProductsBusiness/BStonePlat.htm">http://www.blackstonecallingcard.com/Business/ProductsBusiness/BStonePlat.htm</A>.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

 

[LORRI HUSSEY]

HERE IN CANADA WE HAVE WHAT IS CALLED OLA CARDS I THINK YOU CAN GET THEM IN THE US AS WELL. I HAVE THEIR TOLL FREE NUMBER TO CALL 1 877 878 4146. THERE IS $1.35 CDN CONNECTION FEE EACH TIME YOU CALL BUT THEN IT IS ONLY .13/MINUTE. FOR A $20 CARD IT GETS YOU 2 HOURS AND 40 MINUTES. WELL THAT IS THE BEST I CAN TELL YOU. OH YEAH THE COMPANY IS CALLED GOLDLINE COMMUNICATIONS I THINK. THEY DO HAVE A WEB SITE BUT I WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO OYU ON THAT. TAKE CARE.... LORRI

 

[Loren]

thanx Jim,

I will try that ld carrier.

For Blackstone's card, the Tropicard gives you about 70 minutes for $10 US, but no connection fee. I use this one when I am going to make a lot of short calls. The plain Blackstone card with the medal gives you 5 cents a minute to the DR, but the sound is crappy, and you get a lot of busy signals unless you call late at night. There is a $2 connection charge, so this is good only if you are going to talk on one call for a long time.

The nickel card seems to be pretty good about not getting busy signals, and the quality is better than my PCS cellular. I find it to currently be the best value.

 

[Jim Hinsch]

The Tropicard you mention (link below) shows 74 min. for US$20. That's US$0.27/min. How do you get 70 minutes for US$10? I still haven't seen a card cheaper than IDT (US$0.24/min, 6 second increments, no connection fee) for calls under 15 minutes.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

 

[Dave]

I have been using Tropicard for the past year. It is without a doubt the best I have found. A $20.00 card will give me 2 hours 1 minute of talking time. 16.5 cents per minute as long as I use the local access number. If I use the 800 number the rate is a little higher. Tropicard has no access charge and does not round up to the next minute. They do have a .29 cent monthly maintenance fee and a .49 cent surcharge if calling from a pay phone. If you live in MA or NY I don't think you will find a better card. The Massachusetts Tropicard has three local access numbers. Boston, Lawrence and Peabody.

 

[Dave]

I have been using Tropicard for the past year. It is without a doubt the best I have found. A $20.00 card will give me 2 hours 1 minute of talking time. 16.5 cents per minute as long as I use the local access number. If I use the 800 number the rate is a little higher. Tropicard has no access charge and does not round up to the next minute. They do have a .29 cent monthly maintenance fee and a .49 cent surcharge if calling from a pay phone. If you live in MA or NY I don't think you will find a better card. The Massachusetts Tropicard has three local access numbers. Boston, Lawrence and Peabody.

 

[Jim Hinsch]

Re: Tropicard calling card

What is the number for information on this card and how do you explain your lower rate when the advertised rate is US$0.27/min?

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

 

[Loren]

Jim, that chart you saw was from Blackstone, one of Tropicard's distributors. It may be out of date. I have tried to find a newer one on the internet but could not. Tropicard is issued by RSL com, and they have an arrangement with Codetel that lets you use tropciard down there.

my rates are more in line with Dave's. The rates I get are posted in the Latin grocery store where I buy the card.

 

[Dave]

Re: Tropicard calling card

The customer service number on my Tropicard is 800-899-1503 Hope this helps

 

[Jim Hinsch]

Re: Tropicard calling card

Thanks. Unless you live in NYC, there is no local access number. The per minute cost from an 800 number is US$0.20/min., no access fee, rounded up to the nearest minute. A good deal. I am investigating purchase options.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM