International calls are famous for being so expensive as to almost seem punitive. But if you have a business or family in another country, you do not have much of a choice. Even in the era of texting and tweeting calls remain the single fastest and most reliable way to relay information across space. This is why network and service providers are always working on ways to make international calls more accessible and affordable. Below, we review the costs of international calls and how you can cut them.
How Do International Calls Work?
There are different ways to make an international call. You can go the traditional way and pick up your phone, find out the dial code and phone number of the person you wish to call and call them. However, this method usually incurs costs from your network provider and sometimes the recipient’s provider. A 5-minute phone call could end up costing you half your monthly wages.
Alternatively, you can make international calls through the Internet. This is where you use platforms like Skype, Google Meet, and WhatsApp to connect with people across the world. The only downside to this is that it relies solely on a good internet connection and smart device, which may not always be available or reliable in the recipient country, especially in remote areas.
This leaves you with international free calls that don’t require the internet or use international connections. Internet-free international calls are a service offered by different providers through apps and platforms that allow you to use local numbers when completing a call. Essentially, you make a call on your end, and the app calls a number local to your desired destination and then connects that number to your intended recipient. This local-to-local connection is cheaper and does not require the internet.
Calling Plans Vs. Local Providers
Completing international calls through local providers is expensive because it involves multiple players, each charging different rates. Your local network provider, who initiates the cost, has to cover the cost of your call and also collect a profit. Because this is also the case for the local provider patching the call through, these types of international calls can get costly very fast.
You can usually lower these costs by working with one service provider. In addition to executing your call internally, these providers also offer different calling plans designed to suit different budgets and needs. Popular options include:
Calling Credit Bundles and Preset Minutes
This is where you get a specified number of international minutes per month and you have to pay for any calls past the limit. You can usually buy more bundles if you run out of minutes, which can become expensive if you have to keep track of your minutes.
Inclusive Plan
This is an unlimited plan designed primarily for businesses with international contacts. If the country you are calling is covered by your provider, you can make as many calls as you need for a set monthly bill.
Pay-As-You-Go
This option allows you to pay for a particular call, with rates depending on the recipient country. It is ideal if you do not make regular international calls.
Wrapping Up
Calling your employees, business partners, friends, or family abroad does not have to wreck your account balance. All it takes to bring the costs of international calls down is the right approach. Among other things, consider signing up to an international call service provider like MAJORITY. MAJORITY provides free international calls to over 20 foreign destinations, including Spain, Canada, and Mexico. You don’t need an internet connection and you can take advantage of the many calling plans. Try it today and experience affordability and reliable connections.
