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