Cell phones are fast becoming a necessity like clothing, shelter, food and the Internet. So much of a person’s life, both professional and personal, is conducted over the phone that it seems impossible to do without it. This becomes an issue when traveling abroad as most phone plans do not operate internationally. To circumvent that problem there are international phone cards that can be purchased and which operate internationally. Here are a few of the cards we feel offer the most value to customers along with a few important points about them to help you choose the perfect one for you:

BPO Telecom : Specific for calling in China (though the card operates in 40 countries), this card receives a mention since there is virtually no other card that comes close to it if you happen to be going to China or are from China and need to be connected back home. It is the cheapest and clearest connection to China with cellphone rates as low as $0.0121 a minute! After running out of minutes, there is no need to buy a new card as this card is rechargeable. There are no hidden fees and you pay for what you use, making this an ideal card for first-timers.

Nalotel World : For speed of activation, no card is as fast as the one offered by Nalotel World. The card also comes at the low cost of $10 and activates on the same day itself (they mail the PIN within a few hours). It features PIN-less dialing and comes with a nifty Auto Top Up offer that ensures that the card never expires. You pay only for the minutes you use the card and it is backed with a money back guarantee as well.

Pingo : An international phone card for the intrepid traveler, Pingo operates globally and the card has no expiration date. Offering a range of recharges starting at $5 to $50, this card also offers PIN-less calling, speed dialing, and many more features. Offering a money back guarantee, Pingo is known for their extremely competitive rates especially for someone traveling to South America or the Middle East. This card also offers premium voice quality and almost instant connection; this is an avid traveler’s card.

Zuzume : A very well balanced card which seems to have the perfect balance between fast activation, issueless activation, competitive rates, no expiry, no hidden costs and a very wide range of countries that it operates in. Zuzume may not be the best in all its offered qualities, but taken in summation, it is arguably the best card for the sheer quality and price that it offers. Excellent for travelers to Australia and South East Asia, this card proves itself by being efficient and without any frills.

As far as international phone cards go, the sheer amount of variables that each offer along with what the customer ideally requires ensures an almost unlimited number of options for a person to choose from. As a rule of thumb, go for a card which has a good reputation and is recommended by someone who has been in the same boat as yourself.