Phone Calling Card

A phone calling card is a small card, usually made of plastic or paper, which is used similarly to a credit card or debit card, but for purchasing phone connection time. It is also about the same size as a credit card. Phone calling cards for Africa can come in several varieties, including the prepaid variety and the postpaid calling card variety.

A prepaid phone calling card can be most closely described as similar to a debit card. With a prepaid phone card in Africa, you start with money already in your account and you can purchase minutes you are on the phone with the money in your account. You can use the card until your account money runs out. This is just like a debit card in which you have money in your bank account, and can use the card until your money runs out in your account.

With a postpaid phone calling card, you do not need any money to start calling. Rather, you make calls and the minutes you spend on the phone are added up and you are billed later for the charges. This is more like a credit card because with a credit card, you can make purchases with no money down, and get billed later.

Both types of calling cards are good for different people in different situations. Some people want to designate a certain amount of money to their calls and not go over that amount. For these people, a prepaid card would be good because they are guaranteed not to spend more than they set out to spend. They simply purchase a card in the denomination they set out to spend and once the card runs out, they can’t call anymore and spend more money.