Find out more about saving on international calls with Passport
- Using Passport From Your Cell Phone
- Pricing & Rates
- Service Requirements
- Phone Numbers & Virtual Numbers
- Calling Features
- 911 Services
- Payment & Billing
- Customer Service
Using Passport From Your Cell Phone
Why should I use Passport from my cell phone?
By linking your cell phone to your Passport service, you can enjoy the freedom to make unlimited international calls anytime, from anywhere, and you will avoid paying the high international rates that your cellular service provider may charge.
Your calls to all locations in the Passport Unlimited Calling Plan (see the complete list) are included in the monthly cost of your Passport service. If you call countries or cities not included in the Passport Unlimited Calling Plan, you will be charged Passport’s low per-minute rates.
Important note: Depending on your cellular service plan, airtime charges and surcharges may apply. Consult your cellular service provider for details.
How do I use Passport from my cell phone?
When you sign up, you can associate your cell phone number with your Passport service. This will enable your cell phone for unlimited international and domestic calling through your Passport calling plan. To use the feature, you will need to dial a toll-free access number (see instructions below).
If you're not ready to use this feature right away, you can enter your cell phone number later in the online account center.
To make an international call from your cell phone, follow these easy steps:
- Dial the Passport toll-free access number: 1-866-978-7260. (You should store this number in your phone’s address book or speed dial list.)
- When prompted, dial 011 + country code + city code + the local number you wish to call.
That’s it! No need to enter an account number or a long PIN number. Your international call will be connected immediately and you’ll be saving with Passport.
To activate calling from your cell phone, you must first connect your telephone adapter to your broadband modem and connect a phone to the adapter. Then, make a call from this connected phone (not from your cell phone). The call can be domestic or international.
After this one-time activation process, your cell phone will work with your Passport service.
Is there any additional charge for using Passport from my cell phone?
This feature is included with your Passport service at no extra charge. Please note that, depending on your cellular service plan, airtime charges and surcharges may apply. Consult your cellular service provider for details.
Can I get Passport for my cell phone only?
No. This feature is not available separately.
Is Passport a cellular phone service? Can Passport replace my current cellular service provider?
No. You can use Passport to make international calls from your cell phone, but you must already have cellular service to use this feature. At this time, IDT does not provide cellular phone service.
Pricing & Rates
How much is Passport?
The Passport Unlimited Calling Plan is only $39.95 a month when you sign up for a 12-month contract. Every month, we will charge you this amount, plus the cost of out-of-plan calls, a $1 Enhanced Service Fee and a Universal Service Fund surcharge. We will charge the credit or debit card you used when signing up for Passport.
Is there an activation fee?
No. There is no activation fee for Passport. That's a savings of $30 compared to other service providers.
What countries are included in Passport's Unlimited Calling Plan?
In addition to unlimited calling within the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, you will be able to call over 60 countries in Latin America, Europe and Asia at no extra charge. For calls to countries not in the plan, you can still take advantage of Passport's low international rates.
(Please note: Your service may be suspended, restricted or cancelled if your usage is inconsistent with residential voice usage.)
How am I charged for calls to out-of-plan countries?
If you call countries or cities not included in the Passport Unlimited Calling Plan, you will be charged Passport’s low per-minute international rates.
If your out-of-plan calls in your current billing period are less than $25, these charges will be combined with the cost of your Passport monthly plan. This total amount will be charged to the credit or debit card associated with your Passport service at the beginning of the next billing period.
If your out-of-plan calls exceed $25 during your monthly billing period, your credit or debit card will be charged immediately for the cost of those calls. The monthly cost of your Passport plan will be charged separately.
Is there a service contract with Passport?
You have the option to sign up with or without a contract. With a 12-month contract, you'll pay $39.95 per month for Passport service with the Unlimited Calling Plan. Alternatively, you can sign up without a contract. The monthly fee without a contract is $44.95 for the Unlimited Calling Plan.
Are there any termination fees?
Yes. If you sign up for the $39.95 monthly Unlimited Calling Plan and cancel your Passport service within 12 months of activation, you will be charged an early termination fee. You will be charged $39.95 for each remaining month of your 12-month service agreement. For example, if you cancel your service after five months, you will be charged for the remaining seven months of your service agreement. After you have had Passport service for 12 months, the early termination fee no longer applies.
If you sign up for the $44.95 month-to-month plan, there is a $39.99 fee for the telephone adapter if you cancel your service within 12 months of activation.
Are there any additional fees?
You will be charged the following fees in addition to the cost of your calling plan:
- Enhanced Service Fee: This fee is a monthly charge to recover costs incurred by IDT to maintain and connect a phone number with the public phone networks. The fee is $1 per month per phone line. Virtual phone numbers are not subject to this fee.
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Universal Service Fund Surcharge (USF): This monthly surcharge recovers what IDT must pay to the Federal Universal Service Fund for providing Passport to you. The Federal Universal Service Fund was created by the federal government to help ensure affordable telecommunications service across the country, especially for low-income customers and residents of rural communities. All telecommunications providers are required by law to pay into the Federal USF. The USF Surcharge is 7.4% of the cost of your monthly calling plan and out-of-plan calls. This percentage is subject to change in accordance with FCC regulations.
What is the total monthly cost of Passport service?
When you sign up for Passport, you'll receive a free telephone adapter. There is no activation fee. We will charge you for your chosen calling plan, $14.95 shipping and handling for your free adapter, a $1 enhanced service fee and a federal USF surcharge. Below are sample costs:
| Cost of First Month | |
|---|---|
| Passport Unlimited Calling Plan (with contract) | $39.95 |
| Telephone Adapter | FREE |
| Shipping & Handling for Adapter | $14.95 |
| Enhanced Service Fee | $1.00 |
| Federal USF Surcharge | $3.03 |
| TOTAL | $58.93 |
| Cost of Each Additional Month | |
|---|---|
| Passport Unlimited Calling Plan (with contract) | $39.95 |
| Enhanced Service Fee | $1.00 |
| Federal USF Surcharge | $3.03 |
| TOTAL | $43.94 |
If you make calls to countries or cities that are not included in the Passport Unlimited Calling Plan or if you have virtual phone numbers, your monthly cost will be higher.
Service Requirements
What do I need to use Passport?
In order to use Passport, you will need:
- A broadband Internet connection (cable modem, DSL, FiOS or any other high-speed, always-on Internet connection)
- A telephone adapter (provided free when you sign up)
- A telephone
When you sign up for Passport, you will need to provide a credit card or debit card account so that we can charge you for your Passport monthly calling plan.
How do I set up my Passport service?
Once you receive your free telephone adapter, you'll be up and running in minutes. Simple installation instructions and a Getting Started Guide are included with your telephone adapter. For more information, see About Passport.
How fast does my broadband connection need to be?
Passport requires a minimum upload speed of 150kbps and a minimum download speed of 1mbps. Please confirm with your broadband service provider that your connection speeds meet these requirements.
Can I use any phone with the telephone adapter?
Yes. You can plug your cordless or wired phone into the telephone adapter, pick up the handset, and dial when you hear the dial tone.
What is a telephone adapter?
A telephone adapter is a device about the same size as a cable or DSL modem. It allows you to connect your phone to your broadband Internet connection.
I already have a telephone adapter. Can I use it with Passport?
You must use the telephone adapter provided by IDT. This telephone adapter is specially designed and programmed to be used with Passport service.
Do I need a computer to make calls with Passport?
No. You just need a telephone, a broadband Internet connection and the free telephone adapter we will send you. To access the online account center, you will need a computer with Internet access and a web browser. (We recommend using Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7.0 or higher.)
Phone Numbers & Virtual Numbers
Can I transfer my telephone number to Passport?
Yes. When you sign up, you have the option to transfer your current phone number. There's no charge and no hassle -- just sign up for Passport and we'll take care of the rest.
What's the advantage of a Passport virtual phone number?
Having a virtual phone number can allow your family and friends to call you for less. For example, if you live in New York City and have family in Mexico City, you can add a Mexico City phone number to your Passport service. Now, when your family calls your virtual phone number, they will be charged the cost of a local call -- even though they are speaking to you in New York!
You may add up to 10 virtual numbers to your Passport service. For more information, see our Virtual Numbers page.
How do I get a Passport virtual phone number?
There are two ways to get a virtual phone number for your Passport service: You can choose to add a number when you sign up for the service or you can add one later through the online account center. Virtual numbers are subject to availability. For more information, see our Virtual Numbers page.
Is there any additional charge for virtual phone numbers?
You will be charged a monthly fee for each virtual number you have added to your Passport service. These fees are subject to change. See our Virtual Numbers page for pricing.
Calling Features
What calling features come with Passport?
Passport includes 13 great features such as VoiceMail, Call Waiting, Caller ID, Call Forwarding, and more. All calling features are included at no extra charge with your Passport service. See our Features page for more information.
How do I use the online account center?
Login to the Passport account center with your phone number and the 4-digit PIN you created when you signed up for the service. The online account center contains a summary of your account, recent calls, and recent transactions. You can also listen to your VoiceMail messages, manage your feature settings, and update your account information.
911 Services
Are emergency (911) services available with Passport?
Yes, you will receive emergency (911) services with Passport. To ensure your complete safety, please be aware of the following information regarding 911 calling with your Passport service:
How does Passport's 911 work?
When you sign up for Passport service, you must register the address which corresponds to the physical location of your Passport telephone adapter. (You can not specify a P.O. box.) This will allow us to identify the emergency Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in your area and route any emergency call appropriately. Because it is not always possible to transmit your location and call back number to the emergency dispatcher who receives your call, we recommend that you immediately state your location once you reach a dispatcher. Please note: Passport's 911-type dialing is NOT the same as traditional 911 or E911 dialing, and does not necessarily include all of the capabilities of traditional 911 and E911 dialing.
Will I have access to emergency (911) services if I move my Passport telephone adapter to a new location?
If you move your adapter to a location other than your service address, you will not be able to place emergency calls with Passport. If you permanently relocate your Passport telephone adapter, you must provide IDT customer service with your new service address so that we may determine the emergency services available in your area.
Will I have access to emergency (911) services in a power outage?
No. Passport 911, and your Passport service, will not work in the event of a power failure or disruption. Your Passport service and 911 dialing will not function until power is fully restored. Service outages or termination of service by the broadband provider to which you connect your Passport device or by IDT will prevent ALL Passport service, including 911 dialing.
Is 411 service available with Passport?
Yes. Please note that calls to 411 are charged as follows: 99¢ per call plus 10¢ per minute after the first three minutes.
Does Passport support 711 dialing?
Passport customers with speech or hearing disabilities may obtain assistance in placing a call by dialing 711 to connect with a telecommunications relay service (TRS) center. Specially trained Communications Assistants at TRS centers provide confidential assistance to allow persons with a wide range of speech or hearing disabilities to complete calls. Emergency calls should not be placed using 711. All customers, including those with speech or hearing disabilities, must dial 911 for emergency services. This ensures that you will reach the appropriate emergency service agencies dedicated to providing service in your geographic location.
Payment & Billing
What forms of payment does IDT accept?
We accept payment by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express) or debit card. Debit cards must be bank-issued and Visa- or MasterCard-branded; no gift cards or stored value cards of any kind can be accepted for payment.
How am I charged for Passport service?
Passport is a prepaid service. You will not receive a bill in the mail. Your credit or debit card will be automatically charged in advance for your Passport service on the first day of every monthly cycle. On your credit card statement, the merchant name will appear as "IDT."
Any out-of-plan calls will be added to your monthly charges. If your out-of-plan calls exceed $25 at any time, they will be charged to your credit or debit card separately. Your first monthly cycle begins when you make or receive your first call.
How do I update my billing information?
If you want to update or change your credit or debit card information, login to the Passport online account center, click the "Edit" link in the box titled "Your Profile," then click the "Billing Information" link.
I received an email notifying me that my credit or debit card payment for Passport was declined. What should I do?
First, please verify that the card information we have on file for your account is correct.
- Go to the Passport online account center.
- Login to the account center using your Passport phone number and PIN.
- Click on the "Edit" link in the Profile box and then proceed to review your information and make any necessary updates in the "Billing Information" section.
If your information is already correct, please contact your credit card company or bank to determine why this transaction was declined. Please note that if we are unable to charge your credit or debit card your Passport account may be deactivated and your telephone number may be disconnected. An early termination fee or telephone adapter fee may apply.
Customer Service
How do I contact customer service?
You can reach our customer service team by email or phone.
Send an email to Customer Service
Call Customer Service:
- Call toll-free 1-800-381-7860 within the U.S.
- If you are unable to use our toll-free number, call 1-801-656-2069
Copyright © 2008 IDT Corporation. All rights reserved.
