| These days consumers are clearly feeling | | | | high. For example, fifty cents a minute |
| the pinch of increasing costs. From the | | | | to India is typical, even if you pay the |
| gas station to the grocery store, prices | | | | four to five dollars a month many |
| are skyrocketing. But the telephone bill | | | | companies charge for the privilege of |
| is an area where savvy consumers can | | | | getting lower rates. |
| still save. For most people, phone | | | | In recent years, there has definitely |
| expenses are a substantial element in | | | | been an explosion of superior offerings. |
| the typical household budget. | | | | Sometimes called "PINLESS" dialing |
| Notwithstanding the fact that telecom | | | | plans, these offerings enable you to |
| prices have fallen considerably in | | | | call anywhere in the world at rates |
| recent years, this is still a cost that | | | | forty to seventy percent less from your |
| can be cut through prudent planning. | | | | landline or cell phone without needing |
| These strategies will help you achieve | | | | to remember a pin code. If you type the |
| this goal. | | | | phrase "cheap international calling" |
| Tip 1: Change to a shared-use cell phone | | | | into a search engine you'll see a |
| plan | | | | plethora of options. The basic way these |
| According to the Kiplinger Letter, the | | | | services work is that you register one |
| average cell phone bill in the US runs | | | | or more phone numbers with the service |
| about $55 per month. You might ask how | | | | and provide a credit card number. They |
| the average could be $55 with so many | | | | give you a toll-free number and when you |
| ads for cellular companies promoting $29 | | | | call this number from a registered |
| or $39 plans. This is partly because a | | | | phone, you can call any country without |
| few power users spend $79, $89 or more | | | | needing a PIN code. Using the above |
| monthly. Part of the reason is taxes and | | | | example, you could cut the charge from |
| miscellaneous charges such as directory | | | | 50 cents to 15 cents per minute. |
| assistance. But a crucial reason is the | | | | Tip 3: Begin using a free teleconference |
| fact that cell phone companies hit you | | | | service |
| on "overage". Let's say you've got 1,000 | | | | For many families, phone bills escalate |
| peak minutes and this month you reach | | | | because of the need to have multiple |
| 1,099. At thirty or forty cents per | | | | conversations between family members on |
| minute on overage, your cell-phone bill | | | | the same topics. It is inefficient but |
| suddenly rockets up twenty dollars. | | | | this is the way most of us cope. In the |
| Sound familiar? The next month you get | | | | last few years, there have been |
| to 900 minutes but there is no | | | | literally dozens of companies that have |
| corresponding reduction on your bill. | | | | launched free teleconferencing services. |
| Some companies say they solve this | | | | All of them work on the same basic |
| problem by allowing you to rollover | | | | principle: they give you a PIN and a |
| your. And the rollover does help | | | | toll number to call. If all participants |
| increase your peak minutes quota for the | | | | call the same number and enter the same |
| following. But even then, you still get | | | | PIN, they are put into a group call. |
| hit with overage if you exceed the | | | | Apart from regular toll charges, there |
| increased peak minutes quota. | | | | are no charges assessed by these |
| Shared use plans are the best solution | | | | companies. If you have a large extended |
| for this problem. Also called | | | | family, one 30 minute call could easily |
| "family-plans", these plans allow you to | | | | replace 5 to 10 one-to-one discussions |
| aggregate the minutes of two or more | | | | for planning a trip or family event. |
| users into a collective bucket. Since | | | | Unfortunately, it is usually somewhat of |
| variability is typically a function of | | | | a hassle to arrange these calls in the |
| individual usage patterns, these | | | | first place; consumers often are |
| variability quotients tend to cancel | | | | reluctant to familiarize themselves with |
| each other out. Think of it this way: if | | | | the mechanics of setting up a |
| you and your spouse both have individual | | | | teleconference. Rondee is an example of |
| plans for 1,000 minutes and one month | | | | a free conference calling service which |
| you get to 1,100 minutes and your spouse | | | | is working on addressing this issue. The |
| reaches 900 minutes, you're in for | | | | service offers users a way to schedule |
| overage surcharges to the extent of 100 | | | | the conference on the web, have the |
| minutes. If you have a family plan, your | | | | invites emailed and show the responses |
| total comes in at 2,000 minutes and | | | | tracked on the website. As with many |
| there would be no overage! | | | | corporate grade conference call |
| Tip 2: Try not to use your regular long | | | | companies, Rondee enables calls to be |
| distance phone company to dial | | | | recorded. |
| internationally | | | | With consumer prices escalating, there's |
| Most long distance phone companies offer | | | | not a lot most of us can do to fight |
| excellent rates for domestic long | | | | back. But telephone expense is an area |
| distance. If you are a reasonably | | | | where being smart can mean substantial |
| frequent user on a good plan you are | | | | savings. Applying these 3 tips will save |
| probably paying less than 5 cents per | | | | the typical consumer 30% to 50% on a |
| minute. The difficulty is that | | | | monthly basis, or several hundred |
| international rates are still comparably | | | | dollars a year. |