Calling Solutions for Students of Expat Parents

Sep 08, 2003
By Michael Sedge

September is traditionally back-to-school month for students around the world. While these young adults will face many challenges throughout their education, one immediate concern-particularly for students of expatriate parents-is how to efficiently and easily make a phone call home.

"In just the United States there are nearly 16 million students currently enrolled in 1500 major colleges and universities," said John Jenkins, President of Dial Thru International. "The telephone is a part of each of their lives. In the past year we have strived to simplify the use of this communications tool while reducing the costs, whether the student's family lives in the States or abroad.

What Jenkins is referring to is DTI's College Network, which offers state-to-state calling for 4.5 cent per minute. Each student is provided an attractively branded Student Connect Calling Card that can be used with any public or private phone. The Card can also be used from phones in over 22 countries, for those studying abroad.

In addition to the low-rates, Jenkins explains that the College Network program has been designed to offer convenience and efficiency to today's active students.

"We've incorporated modern technology into this program, to provide students with online account management and monthly e-statements, as well as our traditional, 24/7 toll-free customer service," Jenkins said.

Students desiring to save on their state-to-state and international calling can find more information and sign-up forms on the web at www.dialthru.com or by emailing Michaels@dialthru.com.

Another program that international parents find both cost effective and beneficial when students move away, is Rapid Link's HomeLink service. In this case, expatriates are issued a personal identification number (PIN) that can be used through Rapid Link's network of international toll-free numbers. After dialing the free phone number and entering the PIN, the company's system automatically dials the parent's international phone number.

"One of the benefits of HomeLink," explained the marketing director of Rapid Link, "is that parents have full control over the child's phone bills, since they can only used the system to call the pre-programmed telephone number."

If, for example, a parent lives in Italy and a student is going to school in the United States, a HomeLink service could be set up, costing the parent 16 cents per minute. The student could use a public or private phone, dial a free phone number, enter their PIN and the parent's home phone would ring, in Italy. The student could not use the service to make any other calls, but the parent would be assured his or her child has a means of calling, at a low, international rate.

For more information on visit www.dialthru.com or email info@dialthru.com