Executive Summary: If using a calling card with a local access number, you will only be charged for a local call.
All calling cards are cellular/mobile-phone compatible. Using a calling card from a cellular phone is a great way to reduce your long distance bill.
Your cellular phone provider can only charge you based on telephone numbers that you connect to on your cell phone. Since your connection is made with a local access number*, there is no option for the cellular company other than to bill you for a local call. Everything that occurs after you dial your local access number: i.e. "Please enter your destination number: <enter number>" is not recorded by your cellular phone provider. This information is recorded by a computer that connected to the local access number that you dialed.
SCENARIO 1: What your Cellular Provider Records for Billing Without a Calling Card
YOUR CELL ->
Long Distance Number -> [EXPENSIVE CELL PHONE COMPANY COMPUTER] -> Your Calling Destination
Verdict: You are charged for a long distance call at your cell phone company's rates.SCENARIO 2: What your Cellular Provider Records for Billing With a Calling Card
YOUR CELL ->
Local Access Number -> [CALLING CARD COMPUTER] -> Your Calling Destination
Verdict: You are charged for a local call by your cell phone company (i.e. regular airtime).Summary: If using a calling card with a local access number, you will only be charged for a local call. Even if you are sitting at a Toronto Starbuck's talking to a friend in Milan, Italy about the great Toronto Coffee.Note: 800 access from a cell phone: If you are using a calling card with a toll-free number--rather than a local access number--your cellular provider will likely bill you for a local call as well. Phone Card Depot has heard of one case in England where a mobile phone company charged a premium for 1-800 access to prevent users from using calling cards for long distance. As far as we know, this is not the case in Canada and the USA. Call your cellular provider to be sure.
*Local Access Number: A local telephone number used to connect to your calling card. This differs from a toll-free access number, because toll free access numbers typically incur a per-minute premium.
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