Return-Path: Received: from k.gp.cs.cmu.edu by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa14579; 6 Nov 90 22:31:09 EST To: bovik@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: [Cellio] long distance service Date: Tue, 06 Nov 90 22:31:07 EST Message-ID: <14577.657948667@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU> From: Harry.Bovik@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU 08-May-90 12:19 CELLIO@CATNIP.PSY.CMU.EDU long distance information A few weeks ago I posted a request for information on the various long distance services. AT&T's Reach Out America (which is what I have now) gives you an hour of long distance (evening and night out-of-state calls only) for about $7.50 a month, plus discounts on rates for other calls. For another ~50 cents a month you can get additional discounts (e.g. 25% off instead of the normal 10% off on evening rates, and some small discount for international calls) Sprint charges for calls based on distance, and late night rates kick in at 11pm. There are no special plans. Rates seem to be about $.25/min prime, $.15/min evening, $.12/min night for calling Los Angeles; I don't know what the basic service costs. MCI charges flat rates per minute (within the different calling times), based on the plan you have. This makes it cheaper than Sprint if you call the west coast a lot, but a bit more expensive if you call mainly the east coast. For at least some plans, "night" rates kick in at 7pm. Here are the messages, for those who want more info: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Hank.Walker@taurus.ece.cmu.edu Reply-to: Hank.Walker%taurus.ece.cmu.edu@psy.cmu.edu There are really only three choices now: MCI, Sprint, AT&T. Everyone else is tiny in comparison. The last time I checked, if you went with an AT&T plan like ReachOut PA, ReachOut America, etc., and your calling patterns fit these plans, prices were about the same between the different companies. I just got my haircut, and my barber was telling me about all this hassle he had with his shop phone (getting rid of bogus charges), which was with Sprint, and he changed it back to AT&T. And AT&T did the switch for free. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Lonnie.Chrisman@A.GP.CS.CMU.EDU Reply-to: Lonnie.Chrisman%A.GP.CS.CMU.EDU@psy.cmu.edu I know what you're asking for, but last time I saw a succinct summary like that was 3 or 4 years ago. I thought I'd put in a plug for my 'ole mom anyway, though. In the event that you decide to go for MCI, my mom markets MCI, so if you sign up with her she gets a small commission. To you there should be no difference whether you sign up with her or directly --- you should be able to take advantage of all the same deals or whatever that they may be offering at the time you sign up. However, she would pay your switch over cost if you got it from her, so it could save you a little. Now, unrelated to my mother's business pursuits, I just switched over from Sprint to MCI. I haven't received my first bill yet, so its much to early to get a good feel for MCI. However, here are a few comments about the two. I had Sprint for about 5 years and was quite happy with it, almost no complaints that entire time, and they have pretty good prices. In my checks, I found that Sprint is typically a little cheaper for calling on the East Coast than MCI, but a little more expensive when you call the west coast... this is for late nights. The only thing that annoyed me with sprint was that their FON card originally had a $0.50 surcharge, which I just assumed stayed approximately constant, but I hadn't used it for a while. Then one month I found out they had raised this to a $2 surcharge (at least from Florida to Pittsburgh), it caught me by surprise, and it seemed a little rediculous. All and all, though, I would recommend considering Sprint quite seriously. As for MCI, its too early for me to tell whether I will regret this switch or not. One thing you should watch out for, however, when comparing these. Sprint has a single "plan", so when they quote you rates, that's the way it is, and there is no overhead rate for that service. MCI on the other hand has several different "plans", one of which doesn't have any monthly surcharge, the other plans charge various amounts depending on the plan. Some of the plans with higher monthly fixed charges have lower hourly rates. So when MCI quotes you rates, make sure you know which plan they are quoting. I may have been taken on this point because part of my choice for switching to MCI was the "fact" that their rate to anywhere in the USA after 7pm was only $.13/minute, as quoted to me from an MCI representative (other than my mother). Sprints rates are variable depending on distance, and late night rates don't take effect until 11pm. Anyway, I noticed in all the junk they sent me that this nice rate comes only with a special plan with an approx $10/month fee, which probably would outweight the number of calls I would make. It looks like their normal service may have the same sort of thing Sprint had. If their prices don't turn out to be competitive with Sprint's, I may very well switch back. Anyway, I'm sure you can find out more accurate info from the respective companies. However, let me know if you want me to have my mother send you an MCI sign-up form. Lonnie ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: David.Lampenfield@EDRC.CMU.EDU Reply-to: David.Lampenfield%EDRC.CMU.EDU@psy.cmu.edu my sprint? rates are about .25 per minute prime time .15 evenings .12 late nights to Los Angles. I have never noticed any delays in getting through or any poor quality in the connection. The billing was such a mess that you must pay by check only, no electronic or pay-by-phone.