Re: Alternatives to LOCAL phone service???

SlugBug <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> I am going to be moving to a "new" (built in 1915) house at the end of
> this month.  So far, I've gotten the heat, water and electric turned on at
> the new place.  I haven't transferred or turned on new phone service,
> though.
> 
>   For the past couple of years, I have thought on and off about
> disconnecting my local phone service.  About 80% of the messages on my
> answering machine are advertisements from various companies. 


I'll have to look for a cheapo VM service. Seems I remember one once,
where you call an 800 number and then have a PIN code to access a
mailbox. Should be cheap to provide, just the way home answering
machines have multiple mailboxes.

Sounds like it's time to sign up for the "do not call list" and tell
every telemarketer to "put me on the do not call list" to get those
messages on the answering machine paired down.

A call to 911, which immediatey identifies the address, is the best
reason to keep a landline, that and reliability. If anyone thinks
cellular E-911 will get an ambulance to your door anytime soon, they
are wishful thinking.

You should be able to cancel you long distance service with any LD
carrier without paying a switching fee to the local phone company.
Problem is, if you forget or a guest ever make a LD call, fees will be
VERY high "casual dialing rates", because the call will still be sent
through the old LD provider by the local phone company.
The local company wants money for any changes, even a change to No PIC
(Primarary Insterstate Carrier).

LD carriers that charged no monthy fees use to be around, and the
local taxes and fees are the same in many locals, with or without an
LD carrier. So in that case is won't reduce the bill.

For my money, it's hard to beat the lowest price local "measured rate"
plan. You might have to ask for it from the local telephone company.
Using a no tax 2.5 cent/minute Onesuite or Pincity local access number
(if available) is very cheap LD. An cheap answering is very
inexpensive voicemail.

To reiterate another posters suggestion, an older digital ATT
cellphone signed up with a $3.33/month prepaid Pharosint.com cell
plan, has got to be the bargain for free incomming text messages or
pages. I believe it would be difficult for incomming phone callers to
leave a free page, since it has to be keyed quite quickly. An
autodialer to leave a number page or computer for internet text
message might work better.

All cellular phones are required to connect to emergency service, IF
there is a compatible network or tower within range. There are lots of
cellular dead spots and more "no service" areas, for some of the 5
different handset technologies. If that particular cellular provider
does not offer service in that area, 911 may not work. Try calling 611
to test coverage first. Analog capable handsets usually have more
universal coverage.


-
David