Save on Travel, Home and Business Phones
Welcome to Communication HQ. Here you’ll find money-saving home, business and travel telecom products and services. Compare companies, rates and plans for GSM phones, international SIM cards, international calling cards, VoIP (Voice over IP) home phone options, as well as business class phone systems and toll free numbers.
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VoIP Residential Phone Service |
Affordable Virtual PBX
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Time Out for Taxes!
Many of us will be using our tax refund for new technology and spring and summer travel. Since we at CHQ are using TurboTax 2009 for our online tax form submissions, we thought we offer a link to serious savings on TurboTax through Amazon.
On this page are TurboTax 2009 options such including buying the software disks for Windows and Mac OS platforms to have shipped to you as well as downloads for Windows and Mac. Buy Federal, State and efile together or separately. We've looked at a lot of online affiliate discounts for TurboTax, incuding through USAA which is usually very generous, but nothing we found beats these Amazon deals. We are going to buy the Federal, State and eFile package for $47.99.
Well, we are off to enter and file with Turbo Tax. If you've used TurboTax in the past you know there know there is no easier way to file.
THREE TRAVEL PRODUCTS: FOR THERE, HERE, AND ANYWHERE
International Cell Phone, International Calling Card, Programmable 800 Number
Most of our customers need a cell phone for occasional overseas travel. The National Geographic Duet phone is perfect for yearly vacations as well as once-in-a-lifetime trips. The dual SIM feature lets you keep a T Mobile or AT&T iPhone number active while also having available the National Geographic international SIM (included with phone).
The NatGeo SIM has a UK phone number and includes free incoming calls in 60 countries. Rates to the US are about a dollar a minute and the SIM comes with $29 initial call credit.
GSM Phone with International SIM Card
The Duet National Geographic dual SIM Phone with the international roaming SIM card is only $179. This lets you own an unlocked GSM phone that can be used with any SIM on future trips. It is much cheaper than renting a phone.
Re-routable Toll Free 800 Number
A Follow Me Toll Free 800 number allows you to forward calls to any number you choose. Callers always dial the same toll free number and the call reaches you on the phone number you have entered into the easy to use website.
Calls can even be forwarded to the National Geographic Phone and SIM for only 38 cents a minute. The service from Kall8 is only $2 a month and calls forwarded to US numbers are only 6.9 cents a minute. Activation is instant with credit card. Click here from more information on the Toll Free Number from Kall8.
Low-rate International Calling Card
Or U.S. callers can use the Tel3 Advantage calling card to call the National Geographic UK phone number for only 15 cents a minute. The Tel3 Advantage is a prepaid card with auto-recharge meaning you won't get a bill and you won't run out of credit if your initial purchase runs out. Click here for rates and details on Tel3Advantage international calling card.
Rent A GSM Phone and Prepaid SIM Card
An unlocked GSM phone works in most countries of the world and can be used with a local prepaid SIM card to provide access to the low local rates in the countries you visit. Our National Geographic phone and SIM has a UK phone number and free incoming calls in over 60 countries. It is also a dual-SIM phone and can be used with an AT&T or T Mobile SIM and the National Geographic international roaming SIM at the same time.
Outgoing calls locally and to the U.S. are only about $1 a minute. Click here for more information about the Duet dual-SIM cell phone and National Geographic roaming SIM card.
To rent a cell phone and to purchase country-specific SIM cards we recommend Cellular Abroad. Cellular Abroad of Los Angeles is the GSM cell phone rental leader.
Click here to rent or buy a cell phone through Cellular Abroad
Recycle Your Old Cell Phones and Electronics for Cash!
Gazelle pays you for your old cell phones, laptops, monitors, DVDs, video games, camcorders and other electronics. They'll even send you a postage-paid envelope in which to mail it to them at no cost to you.
Visit Gazelle's website, enter information about your old and unused electronics, and then send them in for cash. Gazelle refurbishes and resells your unused phones and electronics or recycles the materials for reuse. Click here to recycle your cell phone, computers and electronics through Gazelle.
Gazelle has been featured in popular media such as Wired, The Today Show, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
OUR FEATURED PRODUCTS
Duet Dual-SIM Card GSM Phone AND International SIM from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC™
Use Two SIM Cards in One Phone at Same Time!
Click here for more information about the Duet National Geographic dual SIM GSM phone.
Talk Abroad International Roaming SIM Card from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC™
Roams in 220 countries. Free incoming calls in popular destinations.
Click here for more information on the National Geographic International SIM.
About GSM Phones and SIM Cards
GSM phones are the mobile phone technology used outside the
In the majority of countries there is no charge to receive incoming calls, even calls from the U.S. In fact, users can receive unlimited incoming calls even when the phone has run out of outgoing call credit.
For multi-country travel there are international roaming SIM cards that provide one phone number and free incoming calls in many countries. International SIMs are perfect for cruises, study abroad programs, backpacking, business trips and other trips involving travel to multiple countries.
Click here for more information about GSM phones and prepaid SIM cards.
Rent or Buy an International Cell Phone
A common question is whether to rent or to buy a cell phone when traveling outside the United States. A rule of thumb is, two cell phone rentals will cost the same or more as purchasing an internatIonal phone. However, some people prefer to rent a travel cell phone first to try the service before deciding whether to buy a phone.
Click here for information on buying and renting international cell phones.
Click here for GSM rentals and sales from Cellular Abroad.
International Calling Cards
Compare rates on a variety of international calling cards. Some calling cards are best for calling from the U.S. to another country, and others specialize in calling back to the U.S. from overseas. These services operate by calling an access number and entering a PIN. Charges are billed to a debit or credit card.
Click here to compare rates on international calling cards
Forward Calls with a “Follow Me” Toll Free Number
Follow me 800 numbers let callers dial a toll free number that rings to any number selected, including an international phone number. Most services have no monthly fees and charge only a per-minute rate of about 7¢ a minute when the service is used. One time set up fees are only a few dollars. It’s easy to change the forwarded number via a website and there are many additional features such as voicemail, call blocking and setting the number of rings before voicemail pick up.
Click here for more information and rates to forward calls internationally with a toll free number.
Home Phone Service for Residential Customers
VoIP Home Phone Providers and Rates
Compare money-saving VoIP home phone service from Lingo, 8x8, Phone Power and more. View a side by side comparison of plans, rates and features from several leading VoIP companies. VoIP phone service uses your existing high speed internet connection to provide telephone service at rates significantly below those of the traditional phone company. The sound quality is identical to a regular phone and there is no disruption to your computer’s internet usage. Most plans include unlimited nationwide calling, meaning there are no long distance charges. Rates are under $30 a month!
Click here for more rates, plans and features from 8x8, PhonePower, Lingo and other VoIP home phone companies.
Business Telecom Products and Phone Systems
Business Toll Free (800) Numbers and Digital Virtual PBX Phone Systems
Check out business class toll-free number services including unlimited or per-minute based plans. Read about digital phone systems that offer multiple extensions, call forwarding, hold music, and messages and fax to email service that are easy to use and surprisingly affordable.
Click here for more information about business class VoIP, virtual PBX systems and toll free numbers.