CBS News has recently reported an announcement from Google, that over the last calendar year they have switched-on an average of 700,000 new Android-based devices per day. At the start of the decade Apple iOS was streets ahead of its Android counterpart, though this is far from true now with many smartphone users preferring a more flexible device (itunes ‘syncing’ haters!), which is available at a wide range of price levels. So with more and more users seemingly opting for Android-based smartphones and tablets, let’s take a look at some of the best options when making long distance phone calls.

A popular choice for making calls is to purchase calling cards from companies that offer a set number of minutes for a flat fee. However as the telecommunications market opens up and the internet provides bounteous knowledge sharing, we are hearing more and more about the dangers and annoyances with these services.  In short, calling cards do not live up to their billing, with wide range reports of people not receiving the amount of call time they had paid for. Indeed, the average reported loss to a regular customer is estimated at $125 over the course of a year.

Fortunately for those with an Android device there is an alternative.  There are now some excellent, freely downloadable apps which effectively render these old-fashioned calling cards obsolete. These are essentially ‘calling card apps’, which allow you to make calls globally at a fraction of the cost.  Listed below are three of the best.

• Viber – With 40 million users, Viber allows you to send texts and call anyone in the world. You can call other Viber account holders free of charge on the service. Another attractive aspect of the software is the lack of advertisements when in use. There are some issues at present however with the lack of landscape support for some devices.

• Fring – If you have a circle of friends that like to have group video chats then Fring is a popular choice. One of Fring’s better features is the fact that the software allows four friends on one screen at any one time and also offers free live text chat to other Fring users, although it has to be noted that some users reported issues with video feeds appearing upside down when in use, until a recent patch.

• Rebtel – For the best all round provider, Rebtel offer an unbeatable app for Android and IOS. Not only are the call rates among the best on the market but they come with complete transparency – no hidden charges like those dreaded calling cards.  Call quality is excellent and as a user you have a multitude of benefits including an option to make a call via either a local phone number (so you pay the rate of a local call even for an international connection!) or via the internet/Wi-Fi.

So which calling app is best for me?

If you are seeking a large user base, high quality calls, low international calling rates guaranteed and full compatibility with your address book and online contacts, then Rebtel’s app is a great choice. Perhaps a more compelling reason to opt for Rebtel comes from their excellent Keep Talking function, which allows phone calls transmitted by WiFi or 3G to be rerouted to a different source, without losing the call. This simple function means no more annoying interruptions to important calls while travelling or through a loss of signal.