Cheap long distance carrier for very few calls?

[pjrose]

We recently installed a Magic Jack for our long distance calls. The plan is to use the Magic Jack or cells for all long distance calls. We cancelled MCI as our designated long distance carrier from the landline.

Several nearby towns, with our dr, dentist, school, DD's friends, etc. are long distance (local toll). It's not always going to be convenient to go over to the computer and use the magic jack, so we want to designate whatever carrier is least expensive (but still reliable) for the occasional long distance (local toll etc) call from the landline. We need to be sure we have a carrier designated so we don't get hit with a huge bill if someone forgets to use the Magic Jack!

Temporarily, we've just designated Embarq, our local carrier.

Any recommendations for a very low cost no-minimum no-recurring charge plan? A friend used to use something like red dog or mad dog for 5c a minute...but I don't remember the details.

 

[KCI]

We have used a cheap long distance carrier for maybe 10 years. It's now called First Communications ( www.firstcomm.com ) and costs 3.8 cents a minute for long distance. Over the years it has changed names, but is always the same cheap service. The 3.8 cents a minute can only be had if you get your bill by the internet and you have auto pay. They do send you an email to say you can log on and check the bill. If the bill is under $5 for the month they don't bill you till it's over that. We have never had any problems and over the years it has saved a bundle.
KCI's Wingman

 

[KCI]

Or you can call First Communications at 1-800-274-1015

 

[gorevs9]

Do you have any objections to a calling card. Check out www.enjoyprepaid.com. If you register the card with your home phone number, then you do not have to enter a PIN for each call (but you still have to call the access #). The card can be used across the US and to/from many foreign countries. The cost is as low as 1.5 cents/minute with no fee. You can also get a free 15 minute trial.

 

[Jimbo]

Wireless Phone

If you have a three receiver wireless phone system you can plug that into your magic jack and then have the receivers throughout the house as you would with a landline.

Also, you can block your long-distance so that no calls are made by accident. Call your local carrier to check out the option.

Lastly, if you have magic jack and are happy, why are you keeping your landline? I know we have Direct TV and would have trouble conecting it to a VOIP system but it would be something I would attempt in order to cut out my local service.

I know these are not the things you were asking for so just ignore this if you are not interested in what I wrote...

 

[pjrose]

Great ideas!

Thanks for the suggestions so far - I appreciate them all!

And in answer to Jimbo's post.....

If you have a three receiver wireless phone system you can plug that into your magic jack and then have the receivers throughout the house as you would with a landline.

Also, you can block your long-distance so that no calls are made by accident. Call your local carrier to check out the option.

Lastly, if you have magic jack and are happy, why are you keeping your landline? I know we have Direct TV and would have trouble conecting it to a VOIP system but it would be something I would attempt in order to cut out my local service.

I know these are not the things you were asking for so just ignore this if you are not interested in what I wrote...

Good suggestions. We've only used Magic Jack about 3-4 times so far. I suspect that eventually we will give up the landline, but it'll take awhile before we're certain we're happy with the MJ.

As far as the 3 receiver wireless, yes, that would be the way to go. But when we first hooked up the MJ we used a wireless phone on it, and that phone interfered with our landline wireless phones. We thought the problem was the MJ and almost returned it, till we tried an old corded phone on the MJ. If/when we give up the landline, definitely we'll put wireless phones on the MJ.

And as for blocking LD in the meantime, once everyone gets used to the MJ that's a great idea! Meanwhile, I just want to cover our bases in case DD or DH picks up the LL and dials Mechanicsburg - b/c we live in Boiling Springs 20 minutes from you and you're long distance!

 

[nazclk]

Long Distance

We don't even have long distance at home, we use our cell phones.

 

[nicklinneh]

We've used www.onesuite.com for our rare LD calls. About 3 mos. Prepay $10 - 3 something cents/min. -ken

 

[yan19454]

check out grandcentral.com.

It is free but it is internet base. You need to have internet to make the call.

 

[JeffW]

For the landline long distance companies, are they ones that you can specify as a default carrier, or do you use them via first dialing an access number? I have Verizon landline, barely make any LD calls on it (use cell also), but want a defined LD carrier just in case someone in the house needs to use it. I'm on the cheapest Verizon LD plan ('Timeless' I think), but it's still a $4/month minimum fee. I'd like to eliminate that...

Jeff

 

[KauaiMark]

Pioneer for LD

We've had Pioneer telephone several years for just long distance service. They've been extremely reliable and competent.
No extra access codes or numbers to dial when making LD calls. They're great!

One of the best things with these guys is, if you DO have to call them, a real person not from India answers instead of an automated phone tree system:

http://www.pioneertelephone.com/

 

[KCI]

First Communications is a default carrier, No dial around and no fee other than the 3.8 cents a minute. You just dial the 10 digit number.
One comment on giving up your land line. If the power goes off in your area, the net phone won't work and most likely your cell phone will be very poor. We did Hurricane Charley in 2004 and had no power for 3 weeks and no cable for 3 months. Cell phones did not work because the towers (that were left) were on generators and only function at 10%. Just couldn't get a signal. And if you keep your land line, keep one old fashion plug in phone (not digital) because that's the only phone that will work.

 

[debraxh]

We've had Pioneer telephone several years for just long distance service. They've been extremely reliable and competent.
No extra access codes or numbers to dial when making LD calls. They're great!

One of the best things with these guys is, if you DO have to call them, a real person not from India answers instead of an automated phone tree system:

http://www.pioneertelephone.com/

I've also used Pioneer for several years and I'm extremely happy. No monthly fee, no minimum charge.

Love your avatar Mark, do you have season tickets?

 

[pjrose]

For the landline long distance companies, are they ones that you can specify as a default carrier, or do you use them via first dialing an access number? I have Verizon landline, barely make any LD calls on it (use cell also), but want a defined LD carrier just in case someone in the house needs to use it. I'm on the cheapest Verizon LD plan ('Timeless' I think), but it's still a $4/month minimum fee. I'd like to eliminate that...

Jeff

You tell your local carrier (ATT, Embarq, Verizon...) who to designate as your LD carrier so that you do NOT have to dial an access number and also so no other carrier can steal (slam) your calls. That way as soon as you dial 1, your local carrier connects you with the designated network.

 

[pjrose]

One comment on giving up your land line. If the power goes off in your area, the net phone won't work and most likely your cell phone will be very poor. We did Hurricane Charley in 2004 and had no power for 3 weeks and no cable for 3 months. Cell phones did not work because the towers (that were left) were on generators and only function at 10%. Just couldn't get a signal. And if you keep your land line, keep one old fashion plug in phone (not digital) because that's the only phone that will work.

We have one of the old black rotary dial phones in the garage - Last December we had a huge ice storm and over a dozen trees down over our power lines and across our driveway. No power for four days. The only two things in the house that worked were the fireplace and the old rotary phone.