Premium rate services or commonly known as PRS is a premium service that offers information, news, entertainent which is charged to your phone bill at the end of the day. These services can be accessed from the landine phone, mobile phone,fax and even through your personal computer. The rates of such service are usually higher and that is why it is a premium service.

As previously noted, you are billed to your phone bill. The communications provider and the provider of the content both share the revenue generated. Companies use premium rate services as an instrument for a wide range of revenue-generating activities. Common uses include technical helpdesk, various competitions, phone chats, information and directory enquiry services. Voters who use this service to caste their votes or voice their opinions are another important user-group of this service.

Services are usually provided on a '09' dialing code. The code is a little different for mobile services. In this case, codes are four or five-digit access keys followed by an alphabetic word. For example, 87654 ABCDEF.

Premium rate services can be pre-recorded programs or live services, depending on the content of the product or service. The ICTIS (the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services) regulates all the premium rate services, including 'adult' services.

The services can form an important component of Customer Relationship management of any company. Corporations can use these services to offer quick response time to their customer's queries. In turn they will have a happy lot of customers who will give them better business. The response in almost instananeous and it is a great marketing strategy. If the company wants the customers to pay for the services, then the premium rate service is the best option. Also, the tariff is flexible which can be custom made for the individual company or service provider.

The cost of these services varies widely, ranging from as little as a few cents per minute to more than a dollar. If calls are made from mobile phones, cable networks, or from public payphones, costs are much greater than the advertised rates. Call with your phone service provider for prices.

The telephone company can also help you to identify the unauthorized phone calls and can help you to get some compensation. The best option is to contact your telephone company for the 'premium rate call barring' service. By availing this service no unauthorized call can be done from your phone and you do not have to pay the huge phone bills.

Depending on how the service is used, premium rate services can be a boon or a bane.