How I saved $100 a month on my phone bill

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How I saved $100 on my phone bill

By John R. Fisher, Ph.D.

LivingBetter Online Magazine, April 2, 2005 http://www.livingbetter.org

Monthly statement, March 3, 2005, Total $177.41

Sprint solutions (local service, caller id, call waiting, return call, repeat dialing, three way calling, call forward, slective call forward, voicemail, data lineguard) - $39.95
Data services (DSL connection to the Internet) - $54.99
Monthly service charges - $0.15
Discounts and promotions - <$5.00>
Long distance (Flat rate to U.S., long distance charges to Canada) - $60.14
Taxes and surcharges - $27.18

Monthly charges, April 2005, Total $62.90

Champion Communications Voice over Internet (Free long distance in U.S. and Canada, reduced rates internationally, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, call transferring, call blocking, call return, speed calling, automatic call back, 3-way conferencing, 7 digit dialing within my area code, enhanced voicemail, free calls to all other Champion customers worldwide) - $32.95
Local cable connection to Internet - $29.95

For more information about Champion Communications Voice over Internet, go to the following website. http://www.championcommunications.biz/fisherhouse

Last year I started making calls from my computer using Voice over Internet technology to my children 's phone numbers in Canada. The service cost me less than 2 cents a minute, but was incumbered because of the inadequacy of my computer equipment.

Then in March 2005 I was introduced to Voice over Internet technology that used my phone hooked to the Internet through a router. I can now dial my family and friends' phone numbers using my phone. The system works as well or better than traditional phone service. It has all the features of my previous phone service and more. Best of all this service saves me more than $100 a month, partly because there are no state or federal taxes.

The Federal Communications Commission declared in November 2004 that a type of Internet telephone service called DigitalVoice is not subject to traditional state public utility regulation and therefore not subject to state taxes. The FCC found that DigitalVoice service cannot practically be separated into intrastate and interstate components, precluding dual state and federal regulatory regimes. DigitalVoice customers can use their phones from a broadband connection anywhere in the world, making it difficult to determine whether a call is local, interstate or international in nature., the FCC stated.

Another advantage of this service is that I can take my telephone with me when I travel anywhere - anywhere in the world. All I need is a broadband Internet connection. Recently, I spent a week with my daughter in Idaho. I took my router and attached it easily to her Internet connection. Using one of her extra phones, I was able to call local and long distance phone numbers in Canada and the United States for free.

A further advantage of the system is that I can for a $6 fee (if I choose) add extra phone numbers in other area codes to my phone line. I can have a local phone number in a location where I have business contacts or where my family and friends live. They then can call me for free. It makes an 800 phone number unnecessary. and saves money.

Voice mail is available from the phone, through email, or online at a website assigned to me for my personal use. It is archived for three years. I can also check my record of phone calls received or called on my personal website online.

If you want more information, contact me <http://www.fisherhouse.com/message.html> or go to my website at <https://www.championcommunications.biz/fisherhouse/>.

References:

Federal Communications Commission. 2005. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP). Retrieved April 2, 2005 from http://www.fcc.gov/voip/