Travel Technology - Any good sites for comparing long distance carriers?

I am moving residential service and need an objective site to help me decide amongst the many vendors.

I think this might be your best bet:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=mozclient&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&q=compare+long+distance+carriers

;)

For very heavy calling, consider an unlimited plan from Verizon or ATT.

For long calls within the US, consider USADatanet. They have a plan where it is 10 cents a minute up to a MAX of 99 cents per call. but if you do lots of calls, I think a flat plan is better.

Otherwise, I like onesuite, which is 2.9 cents a minute for long distance, 2.5 cents if you use the local access numbers.

I am going to try a VoIP service-- Vonage (www.vonage.com) and forego a traditional landline, with their excessive surcharges. They have a plan for 29.99 a month with unlimited calling throughout the US and Canada, with voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, etc. That uses your home's broadband connection to route the calls. You use your regular phone. I will probably stick with the inexpensive 14.99 plan for now.

Just some thoughts.

For very heavy calling, consider an unlimited plan from Verizon or ATT.

For long calls within the US, consider USADatanet. They have a plan where it is 10 cents a minute up to a MAX of 99 cents per call. but if you do lots of calls, I think a flat plan is better.

Otherwise, I like onesuite, which is 2.9 cents a minute for long distance, 2.5 cents if you use the local access numbers.

I am going to try a VoIP service-- Vonage (www.vonage.com) and forego a traditional landline, with their excessive surcharges. They have a plan for 29.99 a month with unlimited calling throughout the US and Canada, with voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, etc. That uses your home's broadband connection to route the calls. You use your regular phone. I will probably stick with the inexpensive 14.99 plan for now.

Just some thoughts.


Vonage is absolutely AWESOME.

Many others offer cheap unlimited plans, but then smack on $15 in surcharges, with Vonage it's a mere $1.50.

Plus, Vonage comes complete with a very cheap internation plan, something you usually have to add to the other unlimited plans.

It's extremely reliable and it's service is pretty impressive.

As noted in another thread, I was considering Vonage, but the lack of stable dial-up data transfer rates with a traditional modem for connection to clients is a big problem for me. If my last remaining client who won't give VPN access to their system changed their policy I'd try it in a heartbeat.

Another concern for me is international rates. 75% of my calls on this landline would be to Europe.

As noted in another thread, I was considering Vonage, but the lack of stable dial-up data transfer rates with a traditional modem for connection to clients is a big problem for me. If my last remaining client who won't give VPN access to their system changed their policy I'd try it in a heartbeat.

Another concern for me is international rates. 75% of my calls on this landline would be to Europe.

You might want to consider getting the cheapest of the cheapest for your PSTN line, AND getting a Vonage box. You can find some operators that'll sell you basic PSTN for $10 a month.

The Vonage international rates are about the lowest you'll find anywhere. 2ct's for the UK for example is a bloody good deal :)

You might want to consider getting the cheapest of the cheapest for your PSTN line, AND getting a Vonage box. You can find some operators that'll sell you basic PSTN for $10 a month.

The Vonage international rates are about the lowest you'll find anywhere. 2ct's for the UK for example is a bloody good deal :)

That sounds like a good deal for local, but where do I look for this? I have Verizon as my local operator currently. Can I change this?

I am also getting a trial month of cable modem installed. I use DSL now. Though cable is a lot faster, it is also 50% more expensive in my area. Perhaps Cable + Vonage wil be cheaper than Landline + DSL. I'll have to sit down and do the math on this over the weekend.

That sounds like a good deal for local, but where do I look for this? I have Verizon as my local operator currently. Can I change this?

I am also getting a trial month of cable modem installed. I use DSL now. Though cable is a lot faster, it is also 50% more expensive in my area. Perhaps Cable + Vonage wil be cheaper than Landline + DSL. I'll have to sit down and do the math on this over the weekend.

No idea if Verizon offers that, but I know that SBC does in some areas. No minutes, no services etc...

No idea if Verizon offers that, but I know that SBC does in some areas. No minutes, no services etc...


My local, SBC i nthe bay area had a 20.00$ plan to add to my phone line, 15.00 a month, which is unlimited LD in the US. For interneational, I use onesuite.

vonage and others are 30-40$ for their unlimited LD, and you have to buy the box still. As well, if your DSL is out, then your phone is out.

My local, SBC i nthe bay area had a 20.00$ plan to add to my phone line, 15.00 a month, which is unlimited LD in the US. For interneational, I use onesuite.

vonage and others are 30-40$ for their unlimited LD, and you have to buy the box still. As well, if your DSL is out, then your phone is out.

Vonage is $29.99 a month for unlimited local/LD/Canada. Bestbuy sells the box for $30 with FREE activation and FREE 3 months service.

I love the arguement about what will happen when your DSL goes down, but the same will happen when your PSTN line goes down. My cable internet has been down for 2 hours in the past 16 months.

The thing about normal PSTN unlimited plans is the $10 in fees they smack on. at $29.95 + $1.50 a month Vonage is IMHO still the cheapest.

Vonage is $29.99 a month for unlimited local/LD/Canada. Bestbuy sells the box for $30 with FREE activation and FREE 3 months service.

I love the arguement about what will happen when your DSL goes down, but the same will happen when your PSTN line goes down. My cable internet has been down for 2 hours in the past 16 months.

The thing about normal PSTN unlimited plans is the $10 in fees they smack on. at $29.95 + $1.50 a month Vonage is IMHO still the cheapest.

well, PSTN practically never goes down at all since power is backed up and run from the local switch. Cable isn't backed up like that, but still reliable. DSL is another story, since the DSLAM could die, routing could get messed up, DNS servers could be overloaded or DOS'd. I would say, uptime on DSL is lower than Cable and both orders of magnitude worse than PSTN.

With a cell phone in hand, it doesn't really matter though.

If vonage is 29.99 I guess that means they have lowered their pricing? I thought unlimited domestic was 39.99

well, PSTN practically never goes down at all since power is backed up and run from the local switch. Cable isn't backed up like that, but still reliable. DSL is another story, since the DSLAM could die, routing could get messed up, DNS servers could be overloaded or DOS'd. I would say, uptime on DSL is lower than Cable and both orders of magnitude worse than PSTN.

With a cell phone in hand, it doesn't really matter though.

If vonage is 29.99 I guess that means they have lowered their pricing? I thought unlimited domestic was 39.99

Yes, they lowered it on May 1st. Pretty nice deal IMHO :)

My long distance is 3c/minute through these folks (http://www.covista.com/webcgi/residential.html). They have a number of different resellers with slightly different plans. I've used them for several years (I use their KISS partner). The international rates are also really good. I'm just a satisfied customer, I don't own/sell/represent them.

My long distance is 3c/minute through these folks (http://www.covista.com/webcgi/residential.html). They have a number of different resellers with slightly different plans. I've used them for several years (I use their KISS partner). The international rates are also really good. I'm just a satisfied customer, I don't own/sell/represent them.

Good, but certainly not great. Vonage for example is 2ct/min to the UK where these people are 5, The Netherlands at Voange is 5, with KISS it's 7.

Without having to pay extra Vonage offers awesome interntional rates, WITH good quality.

Try clicking on www.abelltolls.com for a whole lotta nice rate info.

MisterNice

Many Verizon areas don't offer alternate local carriers. You need to check your area by area code and prefix.

-David

Vonage is $29.99 a month for unlimited local/LD/Canada. Bestbuy sells the box for $30 with FREE activation and FREE 3 months service.


ScottC,

I called the local Best Buy here in AR and they knew about the $30 (after rebate) for the box, but didn't know anything about the free activation and free 3 month's service. Do you have a link to this or could you tell me where you heard about it?

ScottC,

I called the local Best Buy here in AR and they knew about the $30 (after rebate) for the box, but didn't know anything about the free activation and free 3 month's service. Do you have a link to this or could you tell me where you heard about it?

You might need to visit a BB in person, the box I got for the house had a large sticker on it promoting the free months and activation. I can't find anything about it on their website either :(