Long distance calling cards help students afford to call their parents while away at university and college.

Campuses offer students the chance to meet and bond with one another and to experience life away from home.  Many students do not subscribe to dormitory land line phones, and rather opt for the freedom and flexibility of cell phones in their place.  This poses a problem as many cellular carriers charge exurbanite long distance rates.

Pre-paid long distance cards allow students to easily call home using a number that can be dialed using their local cellular phone plan.  However, these Pin-based cards may be difficult to find on campus, or selection may be limited.

A viable option is to search on-line for a calling card as selection is greater and the local access number and PINs are delivered immediately to the student’s e-mail address.  Some on-line retailers even allow phone card PINS to be sent securely to multiple e-mail addresses; making it easy for parents to purchase a phone card for their child and have it sent to the students’ e-mail address.  Phone Card Depot (calling cards) is one on-line phone card retailer that offers this feature. 

“We have seen a dramatic increase in calling card companies targeting students, the cards are a perfect fit.” says Lisa Kittelsen, advertising manager for Kalendar Productions Inc. Canada’s largest broker of student handbook advertising.  According to writer Julie Morgenstern, --columnist for “O”, The Oprah Magazine and the author of four books--parents also benefit from this long-distance medium establishing a weekly “check-in” routine is an important and excellent way of keeping the lines of communication open.  E-mail is an option, but the more personal and satisfying method of communication, when face-to-face encounters are not possible, is speaking on the telephone.

For many families, a child in college or university can cause financial stress due to tuition and other school related fees.  Paying regular long distance rates can add up and pre-paid long-distance cards help alleviate the costs associated with calling home from college, as they offer low long distance phone rates not available through other means. 

Students should not sign contracts with long distance companies as they are typically not living in residence for the full year of the contract.  Furthermore, shared dormitory phone lines can lead to billing complications for students and parents.   Most users choose to buy one phone cards and share the PIN number between the family, allowing more flexibility of use. 

Phone cards are today’s choice for the lowest long distance rates because of their flexibility, control over spending and of course, the low long distance phone rates.