PREPAID INTERNATIONAL CALLING CARDS Calling cards are useful telephone services for JETs since they allow you to make international calls at low rates from a public phone or fixed phone but without having the telephone owner charged for the communication charge. Several companies offer calling cards which can be very useful if you are on the move or have not registered with a discount calling service.

Several companies offer international calling cards such as Brastel and JENS ipPhone and the Japan Telecom Moshi Moshi card. These cards allow you to make phone calls in Japan and also in the U.S.A. to virtually anywhere in the world, using any type of phone, at lower rates than standard carriers.

Such cards are available at most local convenience stores such as Lawsons and Family Mart and can also be bought online, by telephone or by mail order. Cards can also be bought at Lawson Loppi terminals. These are the multimedia terminals available at all LAWSON's convenience stores. At the Loppi terminal just select the service you want, and pick up a prepaid sheet, containing all necessary information to make phone calls, from the cashier upon payment. Some card types can be re-charged with credit and some simply run out after your credit is used up.

To use the card simply dial the number and code on the card and then your destination. You can use such cards at home, public telephones, cellular or PHS phones. (Some users report better line quality when used from a public phone rather than a home phone) Cards can usually be purchased in three denominations, 1050 Card ( 1,000Yen ) 3200 Card ( 3,000Yen ) 5400 Card ( 5,000Yen) and the 24 hour flat rates are shown in InfoZone, international services.