GlobalTel*Link, now operating as ConnectNetwork, is the platform you need to set up on your end to receive calls from a facility that uses GTL as their carrier. Here is how the process works.
Go to connectnetwork.com and create an account. During setup you will register the phone number where you want to receive calls and add funds to what is called an AdvancePay account. That prepaid balance is what gets drawn down as calls come through. You need money in the account before calls can connect, so funding it at setup is a required step rather than an option.
If you already have an existing ConnectNetwork account, you can add the InmateAid number to it alongside your existing number. That is the key step for getting the savings. Once the InmateAid number is registered in your account and your inmate has it on their approved call list at the facility, calls through that number will route to you at a significantly lower rate than your regular number. The savings can be 50 percent or more depending on the facility and your current rate.
GTL publishes a rate calculator on their site where you can compare what different numbers cost at a specific facility. That is worth checking before you sign up for anything.
InmateAid also offers a free estimate before purchase. Text, email, or call InmateAid with your current number and the facility name and they will tell you exactly what you are currently paying and what you would pay with an InmateAid number. If the numbers do not show savings, the fee is refunded. There is no risk in getting the estimate first.