REGULAR LONG DISTANCE: (1+) with Equal Access: Dial 1+(area code)+7 digit number means you have equal access to any interstate carrier available in your area. Only ONE can be your primary long distance carrier.  LOCAL LONG DISTANCE: Only a LEC/Local Exchange Carrier (your local phone company) have equal access and most charge higher rates. To obtain access to your long distance carrier of choice, dial a 7 digit access code BEFORE dialing long distance. This is only necessary within your LATA (local access traffic area). The number is 1010xxx.   800 ACCESS: Is sometimes provided if local access is not available for your carrier. Dial the 800# to obtain a dial tone, your phone number (ANI) acting automatically as a PIN, so billing can be perfected. Sometimes, a PIN needs to be entered if ANI verification is not possible.   800/888 TOLL FREE SERVICE: Receiving party pays the long distance. It is free to the caller. Ideal for businesses and/or homes when customers/family are invited to call often for free. 

Are available from multiple carriers. It is not necessary to switch carriers to use several different ones. One  must however set up multiple accounts to do so. Most carrier have surprisingly low phone rates to the most popular international destinations. 

(International) to bypass your local phone network for call from abroad at US prices.

Your local phone company's monopoly, till now. Through "competitive local exchange carriers" ( CLEC's )business start ups, you can now select an alternative to your local phone company. Often at the lesser cost, this is mostly limited to larger business accounts with multiple lines. 

DIAL-AROUND: Long distance services that urge consumers to dial a long-distance provider's access code or "10-10" number ) before dialing a long-distance number, to bypass or "dial around" the consumer's chosen long-distance carrier and to get a better rate. Plans vary widely, it is important to comparison shop not only the quoted rate per minute, but also the terms.

CALLING CARDS:
BILLABLE CALLING CARDS: Calling cards that either STAND-ALONE or are linked to your home/business phone bill. Every month you get a statement with a detail listing of calls. Some allow international ORIGINATION, which is great for when traveling overseas.   PREPAID CALLING CARDS NON-RECHARGEABLE: Order/buy cards that are charged up, use, and throw away when empty.   PREPAID CALLING CARDS, RECHARGEABLE: Order/buy cards that are either charged up or ZERO-BALANCE. They are often used by travelers, students, people who regularly call overseas, and those who may not have long-distance telephone service. Some cards have advanced features like speed dialing for frequently called numbers and an activity report of called numbers, which may be handy for business purposes.

INTERNATIONAL CALL-BACK:
Allows foreign offices, companies or residences to take advantage of the much lower USA rates. For example: A call from Japan to the USA costs $2.00/min. A call from the USA to Japan only $0.33. The caller in Japan calls a computer number in the USA and hangs up. The computer calls the customer back and provides them with a USA dial-tone at USA rates, to call anywhere else in the world, not just the USA.

INTER-STATE (state to state):
Calls made from one state to a different state. Recent deregulation of telephone industry has proven to be a windfall for consumers. But also because of deregulation the myriad of available plans can be quite confusing. 

INTRA-STATE:
Calls from one location in a state to another location within the same state ( in-state ). Huge variations in price can be found depending which state you are calling in. Use the comparison service to your advantage.

ALASKA SPECIALS:
Use 800 access to dial long distance and 800# to reach your branch offices/frequently called numbers to SAVE money.

CELL PHONES:
CELL PHONES: Enjoy the bulk rates of larger companies even if you have only one or two phones.   PRE-PAID CELL PHONES: If past credit issues prevent you from obtaining a regular Cell-phone, PRE-PAY and enjoy the same mobility.   

PAGERS & VOICEMAIL:
Help you stay in touch without actually being able to be "accessed" immediately, even if you have a Cell-phone. Pagers can be quite helpful if you want to carefully screen who's calling you.

•• New Local Phone Service ••
OneStar is the new addition to our local and long distance bundled services family. At this time, service availability is restricted to businesses in MA, NH, RI, VT, ME, VA and WV, but OneStar will be adding another 12 states in next 60 days. Click here for more information about OneStar service!