Calling cards allow users to call into the system, be authenticated, and call out again. They are different from remote access accounts in that calling cards have their own balance and are billed individually. In general remote access accounts should be used for those trusted by the customer administrator, such as company staff, and calling cards should be used for those who are untrusted.

Calling cards belong to groups, which set the properties of the cards, and to batches, which are sets of cards all generated at the same time. Batches make sending cards for printing easier.

To add a card group

1. Log in to the Enswitch web interface.
2. If you haven't already done so, make a rate plan to set how much the cards are charged for calls.
3. If you haven't already done so, set a number to the calling card login. One number is sufficient for all calling cards on the system, and if you're a reseller the system owner may already have a suitable number configured.
4. Go to Commerce » Calling cards.
5. Click the "New" button.
6. Enter the following:
   • A name for the group.
   • Optionally a description.
   • The rate plan to use.
   • Whether the group is locked. If so, cards in the group cannot be used.
   • If your system is configured for dial plans, the dial plan for outbound calls.
   • The callerid to use on outbound calls.
   • The credit limit. This is the amount the card balances are allowed to go below zero. Normally this should be "0.00".
   • Which taxes apply to calls made by cards in this group.
   • The time factor. This should normally be "100".
   • Whether the card users are liable for tax.
   • A destination to automatically dial. If set, users will not be asked for a destination.
   • When the cards expire. After this time they cannot be used.
   • The behaviour of the calling card menu.
   • Whether a warning is played when low on credit. If the first warning is at 60 seconds, and the repeat is at 20 seconds, the warning will be played when 60 seconds are left, again at 40 seconds left, and again at 20 seconds left. When the credit has run out, the call is cut off.
7. Click the "Save" button.
8. If you wish to use custom .wav files for the calling card menu, return to the list of card groups, edit the group you have just made, and upload .wav files using the "Upload greeting" box.

To create a batch or batches of cards

1. Log in to the Enswitch web interface.
2. If you haven't already done so, make a card group as above.
3. Go to Commerce » Calling cards.
4. Click on the "Add a batch" link beside the group you wish the cards to be in. Individual cards can be moved to different groups later.
5. Enter the following:
   • The number of batches to create.
   • A name for the batch(es). If you are creating multiple batches, a unique suffix will be added to each.
   • Whether to lock the batch(es).
   • Whether to lock each card made. This is independent of the batch being locked; if any of the group, batch, or card are locked, the card cannot be used.
   • The number of cards to make in each batch.
   • The starting balance for the cards.
   • The length of the card numbers. Cards can optionally have PINs to make them more secure. If you choose not to have PINs, the card numbers should be long enough that they cannot be guessed.
   • The method for choosing card numbers. If the cards will not have PINs you must choose random so that users cannot guess other card numbers if they know one number.
   • The PIN length in digits. Choose 0 for no PINs.
6. Click the "Create" button.
7. Download a .csv file containing the card numbers from the list cards page.
8. Send the file to a printer to make the cards.
9. Sell the cards via retail outlets.
10. Customers can use the cards by calling the number configured above. You may care to have this number printed on the cards.