Flat-rate Plans for Local Calls Only

Transcription

1 Flat-rate Plans for Local Calls Only Local Saver Pack 30 Local Saver Pack Unlimited Talk America United cents per month for 30 local calls (0-15 miles). Local calls after the first 30 cost 10 cents each $10 per month for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles). Does NOT include a monthly line charge of $2.63 for downtown, $5.61 for the rest of and near suburbs and $9.08 for other parts of $12.95 per month for 1,000 minutes of local calls (0-15 miles) and three calling features. A local toll rate of 3.9 cents per minute and long-distance rates of 4.9 cents to 6.9 cents per minute are included in this package. Most areas served by Only appropriate for consumers who make fewer than 50 local calls a month, or less than two per day. You would have to make about 225 to 370 local calls a month to save money under this plan, and since SBC s local call rates are capped at $11.02 per month, the most you could save is about $1. You can get unlimited local calls for about $11 per month, under SBC s standard rates but SBC s local toll rate is much higher. This may be appropriate for heavy callers (about 250 calls per month) who need the three calling features. RCN Unlimited Local Calling Plan Flat-rate Package $18 per month for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles). metro area $19.68, $22.66 or $26.13 per month, depending on where you live, for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles), the line charge, and two of these features: call waiting, three-way calling, call forwarding, voice mail, speed calling 8, automatic callback, repeat dialing, and caller ID (number only). Not a good plan, considering that s local call rates are capped at $11.02 per month. You would have to consistently make about 125 to 205 local calls per month and want the most expensive calling features offered to save any money under this plan. Z-Tel Z-Line Home Basic AT&T Call Plan Unlimited-3 Features Plus AT&T Call Plan Unlimited-3 Features Enhanced Economy Solution $19.99 a month for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles) and call waiting. Local toll and long-distance calls are 7 cents a minute for in-state calls and 4.9 cents a minute for out-ofstate calls $22.55 for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles) and three optional features $26 for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles), caller ID and two additional features $26.95 per month, for all local calls (0-15 miles), the line charge, call waiting, caller ID with name and an inside wire maintenance plan called Linebacker. Note: SBC also markets Economy Solution Plus, which adds Voice Mail Plus to the features. 5 Area Selected Communities Selected Communities Not a good deal, considering caps its local calls at about $11 per month. Given that caps its rates at $11.02 per month, this is not a good deal, even if you want the three features. Given that has an $11.02 cap on local calls in a month, this plan is not a good deal, even with the three calling features. You would have to consistently make about 190 to 315 local calls each month, depending on when you call, and want all of the calling features to save money under this plan. At best, those savings would be under $2.

2 Flat-rate Plans for Local Calls Only CoreComm Local Plus 5 Telephone Corp. Basic Service $27.95 per month for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles), the line charge and five calling features. Local toll calls are 5 cents a minute and long-distance calls are 6.9 cents per minute $29.99 per month for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles) and the line charge. Note: There is a $92.52 connection fee. If you really wanted the five most-expensive calling features, you would have to make about 20 to 30 calls a month to save any money under this plan. If you made hundreds of local calls per month, your savings, at best, would be about $10 compared with SBC, which caps local calls at $11 per month. Given that caps its rates at $11.02 per month, this is not a good plan. Sensible Solution $30.95 per month, for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles), the monthly line charge, caller ID with name, an inside wire maintenance plan called Linebacker, and three other calling features. Note: SBC also markets Sensible Solution Plus, which is identical to Sensible Solution, but adds Voice Mail Plus to the features. You would have to consistently make about 90 to 145 local calls each month, depending on when you call, and want all of the calling features to save any money under this plan. At best, your savings would be uner $7. CoreComm Unlimited $39.95 per month for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles), the monthly line charge, five calling features, and unlimited Internet. Local toll calls are 5 cents per minute and longdistance calls are 6.9 cents per minute. Also markets a twoline offer, 2-Line Premium Connect, for $54.90 per month. You could save money under this plan if you want ALL the calling features and the most expensive ones and you need the Internet. The local toll rate is reasonable, but you can find better long-distance rates. Worksheet for Local Calling Flat-rate Plans Step 1: Enter your monthly line charge Step 2: Enter the total amount spent on local calls from 0-8 miles 1 Step 3: Enter the total amount spent on local calls from 8-15 miles 2 Step 4: If applicable, enter the total amount spent on optional services 3 Step 5: Add up lines 1 to 4 and put the total here 6 Step 6: Compare the total on line 5 with the alternative plan you are considering. 4 If the above total is greater than the total cost of the plan you are considering, you may benefit by switching. 1 Verizon calls this category Home Exchange. 2 Verizon calls this category Extended Area Service (EAS). 3 For a true apples-to-apples price comparison, only include those optional services included in the plan(s) you are considering. Optional services are features such as voice mail, call waiting, and caller ID. 4 Most of the plans exclude taxes in the flat-rate fee. For those that do include taxes, subtract the amount of taxes on your current bill from the total cost of the plan you are considering for a good comparison.

3 Measured-rate Plans for Local and Local Toll Calls Standard Rates Bands A and B (0-15 miles): 5 cents per call during peak; 4.5 cents per call during shoulder peak; and 3 cents per call during off-peak. Band C or Local Toll (15-30 miles): 10 cents per minute. It s often less expensive to stay on s standard rates than to go with flatrate plans being offered by SBC itself and competing companies. However, SBC s local toll rates are very high. You can find local toll rates for as low as 4 cents a minute. Shop around. Verizon Standard Rates TruComm Economy Line Home Exchange: 2 cents per call peak, 1 cent per call offpeak. Verizon Service Area Extended Area Service (EAS): 2 cent connection fee plus 1.8 cents per minute during peak; and 1 cent connection fee plus.9 cent per minute during off-peak. (Note: Consumers also can choose another option: 11-cent per call during peak and 5.5 cents per call during off-peak.) Local Toll: miles: 5 cents per minute peak, 3 cents per minute off-peak. 17+ miles: 10 cents per minute peak, 5.9 cents per minute off-peak $19.95 per month for two calling features and a rate of 2 cents per minute for all calls within your local-calling region (also called the Local Access and Transport Area). The monthly line charge, subscriber line charge and number portability surcharge are included. Region It s often less expensive to stay on Verizon s standard rates than to go on a flat-rate plan. However, Verizon has several local toll calling plans, including one that charges a flat 5 cents per minute for all local toll calls. Given that caps its local calls at $11.02 per month and you can get local toll rates for as low as 4 cents per minute from some longdistance companies, you may be better off staying on s standard rates, unless you want the calling features, most of your calls are local toll calls and you do not have dial-up Internet access. 7

4 Global Teldata, Inc. Flat-rate Plans for Local and Local Toll Calls $12.95 or $14.95 per month, depending on whether you live in the city or the suburbs, for unlimited calls 0-8 miles away and the monthly line charge. Calls 8-15 miles away are 2 cents per minute and local toll calls are 3 cents per minute. Not a good plan if most of your calls are local (0-15 miles away). However, the local toll rate is very low. This could be a good deal for those who make more than 65 local toll calls each month. RCN Talk $14 per month for the line charge and 100 local and local toll calls. After 100, local and local toll calls cost 10 cents each. area You might save money on this plan if you make a lot of local toll calls but typically such calls are only about 10 percent of all local calls. Remember, SBC s standard rates charge a nickel, at most, for local calls and you can find local toll rates for as low as 4 cents per minute. McLeod USA One Line Preferred $17.95 per month for unlimited local and local toll calls, the monthly line charge, subscriber line charge, and the number portability charge. metro area plus most urban areas in. Could be appropriate for people who make about $8 worth of local and/or local toll calls per month. Remember, charges at most, a nickel per local call, and you can find local toll rates for as low as 4 cents per minute. Global Teldata, Inc. TruComm Basic Residential $25 per month for unlimited local and local toll calls, plus the monthly line charge. For those who live in the suburbs, the offer is $29.95 and includes caller ID and call waiting $29.95 per month for up to 3,000 minutes of local (0-15 miles) and local toll calls (beyond 15 miles), the monthly line charge, the subscriber line charge, the number portability charge, call waiting, caller ID with name, 3-way calling, speed dialing, call waiting ID, call forwarding, automatic call back and repeat dialing. Calls beyond 3,000 minutes are 2 cents per minute and long-distance calling is 4.9 cents per minute. Region You would have to make more than $20 of local and local toll calls each month to save money. Remember, SBC charges 5 cents, at most, for a local call and local toll rates are as low as 4 cents a minute. This plan may be beneficial if you actually want all the calling features, you don t mind paying perminute for local calls beyond 3,000 minutes, and you make a lot of local toll calls. If you didn t want the calling features, you would have to make $11.02 worth of local calls and more than $5 ( suburbs and downstate ), $8.50 ( and near suburbs) or $11.50 (downtown ) worth of local toll calls each month to save money. Talk America United Unlimited Plus $30.95 per month for unlimited local and local toll calls and your choice of 16 calling features. Long-distance rates of 4.9 cents to 6.9 cents per minute are included in this package. Most areas served by The few consumers who truly need a lot of different calling features could save money under this plan. Otherwise, you can find plans that include unlimited long-distance for about $10 more. 8

5 Flat-rate Plans for Local and Local Toll Calls Telephone Corp. I-Tel Saver Package TruComm Economy Line $34.99 per month for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles) and local toll calls (beyond 15 miles), plus the line charge and three calling features. Note: There is a $98.02 connection fee $39.99 per month for two lines, the monthly line charges, and a total of 1,000 calling minutes within the metro region. Beyond 1,000 minutes, the rate is 2 cents per minute for all calls within that metropolitan area. The federal access charges and the number portability fees are included in the price. If you wanted all the calling features offered, you still would have to make more than $19 worth of local and local toll calls (possibly hundreds of calls) to save money with this plan. Remember, you can find local toll rates as low as 4 cents per minute. If the typical call lasts four minutes, the 1,000- minute offer covers about 250 local and/or local toll calls. That s a lot of calls. You may save money if you need the two lines and you make a lot of local toll calls (local calls more than 15 miles away). If you go over the 1,000-minute limit, the 2 cents a minute rate is still low. If most of your calls are 0-15 miles away, stay away from this plan. Worksheet for Local and Local Toll Calling Flat-rate Plans Step 1: Enter your monthly line charge Step 2: Enter the total amount spent on local calls from 0-8 miles 1 Step 3: Enter the total amount spent on local calls from 8-15 miles 2 Step 4: Enter the total amount spent on local toll calls over 15 miles Step 5: If applicable, enter the total amount spent on optional services 3 Step 6: Add up lines 1 to 5 and put the total here Step 7: Compare line 6 with the alternative plan you are considering. 4 If line 6 is greater than the total cost of the plan you are considering, you may be able to benefit by switching. 1 Verizon calls this category Home Exchange. 2 Verizon calls this category Extended Area Service (EAS). 3 For a true apples-to-apples price comparison, only include those optional services included in the plan(s) you are considering. Optional services are features such as voice mail, call waiting, and caller ID. 4 Most of the plans exclude taxes in the flat-rate fee. For those that do include taxes, subtract the amount of taxes on your current bill from the total cost of the plan you are considering for a good comparison. 9

6 Flat -rate Plans for Local, Local Toll and Long-distance Calls Z-Tel Z-Line Home Select $29.99 a month for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles) and 50 minutes combined local toll and long-distance calls. After 50 minutes, you pay 7 cents a minute for in-state calls and 4.9 cents a minute for out-of-state calls. Includes call waiting, caller ID, 3-way calling, call forwarding and voice mail. Area Not appropriate for most consumers, considering that s standard local rates are now capped at $11.02 and you can find longdistance and local toll rates with no minute limitations for about 5 cents a minute or less. Vonage Premium Unlimited Plan $35.99 a month for unlimited local, local toll and longdistance calls as well as seven calling features and all other surcharges, except a $1.50 regulatory fee per line and taxes. Note: You must have a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or a cable modem to purchase this plan. Also, you cannot get traditional 911 service under this plan. and communities in the 815 area code Could be an appropriate plan for high-volume callers. However, under this plan you have to pay a $30 connection fee and another $40 for special equipment for this type of phone serve. Also, you have to pay a separate company for DSL or cable modem service and you can t get traditional 911 service. MCI Neighborhood Advantage $39.99 per month for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles) and 200 minutes of local toll and long-distance calling. Package also includes call waiting, call waiting ID, caller ID and three-way calling. Customers pay 5 cents per minute for all local toll and long-distance calls beyond 200 minutes. Service Area Not a good deal, compared with s standard rates for local calls (0-15 miles), which are capped at $ You could find a plan that offers unlimited local toll and long-distance for nearly the same price. Amerivoice Budget Plan $39.95 per month for unlimited local calls (0-15 miles), 180 combined minutes of local toll and long-distance calls and the line charge. If you exceed your local toll and longdistance minutes, that service is disconnected for the rest of the month. Service Area Not a good deal, considering you can get unlimited local toll and long-distance calling for about the same price with other plans. CoreComm Freedom $39.95 per month for unlimited local (0-15 miles), local toll and long-distance calling, the monthly line charge, and 11 calling features. Add unlimited Internet access for an additional $ Could be appropriate for high-volume callers. Even if you don t want the extra calling features, you could save money if your local, local toll and long-distance calls cost more than $40 per month. Taxes and surcharges are NOT included in the price. Talk America Unlimited Nationwide $44.95 per month for unlimited local, local toll and longdistance calling and your choice of voice mail and 16 other calling features. Most areas served by May be appropriate for high-volume callers. If you don t want any of the calling features, make sure that your local and long-distance calls total about $45 a month. Taxes and surcharges are NOT included in the price. All Distance Connections $48.95 per month, for all local, local toll and long-distance calls, call waiting, caller ID with name, Voice Mail Plus and an inside wire maintenance plan called Linebacker. Note: SBC currently is offering the plan for $43.95 in the first year. May be a good deal for high-volume callers. If you don t want any of the calling features, make sure your calls consistently total $49 a month, not including surcharges and taxes. 10

7 Flat -rate Plans for Local, Local Toll and Long-distance Calls AT&T One Rate USA MCI The Neighborhood Complete $49.95 for unlimited local, local toll and long-distance calling, as well as four calling features $49.99 per month for unlimited local, local toll and longdistance calls, plus call waiting, call waiting ID, caller ID, 3- way calling, voice mail and speed dialing. Note: The Neighborhood does NOT currently support Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service, but you can get Internet service for an additional $35. Selected Communities Service Area Only appropriate for high-volume callers. And remember: taxes and surcharges are NOT included in the price. If your local and long-distance phone bill, with or without calling features, is more than $50 per month, you can save money with this plan. The $49.99 price does not include taxes and line charges. Z-Tel Z-Line Home Unlimited $49.99 per month for unlimited local, local toll and longdistance calls, plus the line charge, call waiting, caller ID, voice mail, call forwarding and 3-way calling. Area Worksheet for Plans that Include Local, Local Toll, and Long-distance Service If your local and long-distance calls cost more than $50 per month, you can save money with this plan, even if you don t want the extra calling features. The $49.99 does not include taxes and surcharges. Step 1: Enter your monthly local phone line charge Step 2: Enter the total amount spent on local calls from 0-8 miles 1 Step 3: Enter the total amount spent on local calls from 8-15 miles 2 Step 4: Enter the total amount spent on local toll calls over 15 miles Step 5: Enter the total amount spent on long-distance calls Step 6: Enter the total amount of long-distance line charges or fees 3 Step 7: If applicable, enter the total amount spent on optional services 4 Step 8: Add up lines 1 to 7 and put the total here Step 9: Compare line 8 with the total cost of the alternative plan you are considering. 5 If line 8 is greater than the total cost of the plan you are considering, you may be able to benefit by switching. 1 Verizon calls this category Home Exchange 2 Verizon calls this category EAS 3 If applicable: many long distance carriers don t charge a monthly line charge or fee. 4 For a true apples-to-apples price comparison, make sure you only include those optional services included in the plan(s) you are considering. Optional services are features like voice mail, call waiting, and caller ID. 5 Most of the plans exclude taxes in the flat-rate fee. For those that do include taxes, subtract the amount of taxes on your current bill from the total cost of the plan you are considering for a good comparison. 11