Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, also known as Etisalat, is tracing people using illegal phone cards because it says they are stealing phone call units from it. Those calling cards enable users to make international calls for a very low price. "I use them to speak to my son who is studying in the US. I use the card through my internet connection at home. I can speak with my son for hours at a very low rate," said Harish, a Dubai-based Indian.

Another woman who lives in Sharjah said she uses the cards to contact her family in Iraq. The woman said she uses two kinds of internet phone cards which are available there. "I use such cards because they are cheap and the service is available at any internet cafes. It cost me Dh35. I enter a pin code given with the card. I speak for an hour with my parents in Iraq for $10 (Dh36) which is cheaper than a mobile phone or land line," she said. She uses it from her home through her internet connection.

Residents say the cards are available everywhere, even at some internet cafes, so Sharjah Police are tracking down internet cafes that use and illegally sell internet phone cards to customers wishing to make international calls. Many internet cafe owners say the police are arresting them for selling such cards. One internet cafe owner in the Al Rolla area said the police had arrested him and accused him of stealing phone call units from Etisalat.

"The police came to my cafe twice and they took some of my computers. They said that someone had used internet phone cards through one of my computers," said Elias, another internet cafe owner. He said the police came to his cafe accompanied by two Etisalat representatives and accused him of stealing phone calls from Etisalat.

"They searched everywhere but they could not find any trace of such cards. We do not sell them. It is not our fault if a customer uses an internet phone card from our computers. We cannot monitor each customer."

Sharjah Police reported that they have already shut down more than eight internet cafes in Al Rolla, Al Ghaweer and the Clock Tower area.

Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, Etisalat (former Emirtel), is the incumbent telecommunications carrier and Internet Service Provider in the United Arab Emirates. Etisalat provides all types of telecom services in addition to cable TV service. Etisalat is currently moving to a 3G network with 97% of the UAE covered with 3g and NGN concept in its infrastructure.

Source: http://phonecards.insanejournal.com/2761.html