Long distance calling has grown since the invention of the phone. Quality and rates were once issues of grave importance just even 10 years ago. When you used to phone long distance you had to worry about paying 25 cents or more per minute, being charged in huge block increments, static and echo quality problems, and this was with the big telecommunications providers! We have come a long way since then.
Today, we have access to an unlimited variety of calling services, all with quality features that easily rival any phone services of the past. Now you can telephone long distance from almost anywhere to talk and not have to worry about minutes or quality troubles. If you aren't using these pre-existing solutions for long distance service, then you should read on to find out what the services are and how you can save on or even get free long distance.
1.Many seek long distance cheap in pricing, but how about free? One product offers you just that. The company is called Skype and allows you to use your computer and current Internet connection to call other Skype users online for free. This technology is a form of VoIP, but better known as a soft phone. Many international businesses and users are using Skype to not only save on long distance calls, but to get them for free.
2.Since we brought up VoIP previously, we will stay on the subject. VoIP is the newest, but not necessarily a new technology. VoIP has allowed the ability for consumers and businesses to have unlimited long distance access for a flat monthly rate, saving consumers untold amounts on their long distance phone service. I in fact use VoIP myself and love the quality of my calls, but even more, the price.
3.Prepaid phone cards. Whether it is long distance international calling or USA domestic, prepaid calling cards really offer a lot for less. If you are ever in a jam, it's great to know you have one of these cards around. Many providers offer long distance cards for under one cent per minute domestic and even one cent per minute for many international long distance calling destinations.
4.Mobile phones. Yes, phone long distance for the same pricing you would your local, it is something many are just used to now. Mobile phone long distance is something so commonplace now, users don't even think about the word “long distance". They know they have either their flat rate or unlimited calling plan, and never sweat any of it.
As you can see, there are multiple options to save on long distance without having to look far and wide, it just depends on what technologies you are willing to adopt and which services you are requiring.
T1 technology provides a better option for communication than the technology available over what is these days called POTS (Plain Old Telephone System). The crucial difference between the two is while T1 depends on digitization of voice and data, POTS depends on analog conversion and re-conversion of the same.
Digitization of traffic and use of optic fiber cables makes this new system approximately sixty times faster than the conventional phone system.
The capacity of carrying high volume of traffic also makes this line many times more efficient than the older one. In fact a single T1 line is capable of supporting twenty four simultaneous conversations in place of only one which the older system is capable of.
Moreover, in this new system, the channels are not restricted to any specific telephone. Instead they are considered as a pool and whenever there is a requirement, a particular channel gets busy. The moment it is free it reverts to the pool and is once again to the requirement of another user in the system. Thus a 24 channel T1 connection can service about 100 to 150 users without any of them having to wait for a free line.
This speed and flexibility and greater load carrying capacity make it a worthwhile option of communication in today's fast moving world of business and commerce.
Another very important facility which T1 long distance service offers is that it can avoid the local telephone provider and can directly connect you to your long distance provider. Long distance dedicated T1 services usually are toll free services. That is, the caller does not have to pay anything for the call. The receiver enjoys this facility by paying a monthly subscription which depends on the usage.
Many business establishments are opting for this new system even though installation of it is a time consuming and costly process and the monthly usage charges are also not cheap!
The current scenario of long distance telephony has become extremely competitive and the rates are tumbling down steadily. So, negotiate to the last penny and try to squeeze the maximum concessions you possibly can from the service provider.
They claim of an extremely high 'availability rate' of 99.99%. In simple terms it means that out of 100 hours of usage, you will be able to use the system for 99.99 hours without any breakdown. Do not forget to include in your contract a punitive clause if the service fails to keep up to that level of efficiency.
If you browse the net, you will find that there are many telecom consultants who claim that they can provide you with complete solution ranging from choosing the option which best suits your need to choosing the provider and finally negotiating the best rates possible. They also claim that they can substantially reduce your telecom bills by intelligent choice of schemes and providers.
It is not a bad idea to interact with a couple of them to verify whether they can really cause a difference.
Both Robert Thomson & Van Theodorou are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.