I’ve had customers email me over the years, because they were trying to order long distance phone service online, but didn’t know what some of the questions on the order form were asking. So, I decided to do a series of videos, that walk customers through the online ordering process. This video shows step-by-step directions for ordering TCI 3 cent long distance phone service. So, if you’re ordering Total Call International long distance phone service, and don’t know what you’re supposed to put in some of the blanks, watch this video first.
Total Call International Ordering Video
January 15th, 2010Google Voice: Top 10 for 2010
January 5th, 2010Mark Sullivan, over at PCWorld figures Google Voice is going to be one of the top 10 up and comers in 2010 because of it’s potential ability to deliver cheap or free long distance service. Of course, Skype does this now, and has millions of users, but it looks like Google’s service might not tie you to your computer like Skype does.
Of course, I think that Google’s Android is going to end up taking over the world in the next 5 years, and Google Voice and other VoIP type services won’t be worth anything…. Which brings us back to what Google’s really going to do with Google Voice. I figure they will give it away for free, and kill the VoIP industry in one fell swoop, just like they did to the web stats industry with Google Analytics. What they do with Google Voice once they’ve killed the VoIP industry is anyone’s guess right now.
Primus Borrows 130 Million Dollars
December 11th, 2009Does anyone know what’s going on with Primus, and why they need 130 million dollars? Are they expanding, paying off debts, or just trying to stay alive?
Dec 10 (Reuters) – Primus Telecommunications Holdings and Primus Telecommunications Canada on Thursday sold $130 million of senior secured notes in the 144a private placement market, said IFR, a Thomson Reuters service.
Is Long Distance Service Dead?
July 16th, 2009It’s kind of hard selling long distance phone service anymore. Sure, you have the random customer wander in who still wants long distance service, but why bother? In the old days (pre 2005) everyone had long distance service. Of course, now, you can’t make an average of $3.00 per customer per month, like you used to be able to do when discount long distance phone service was 6.9 cents per minute instead of 2.7, but any customer that is willing to sign up for a long distance account still gets my unwavering attention, even though they are now only worth an average of 32 cents per month….. Seriously, what’s wrong with me? Why do I bother? LOL
With VoIP now costing less than $5.00 per month for unlimited service, and unlimited cell phone plans now under $100.00 per month, why would anyone bother spending the money on local and long distance service? If you know the answer, drop me a line.
TCI’s PICC and Toll Free Fees
April 29th, 2009Total Call International’s current PICC fee is $2.75 per line per month, but that only applies to business customers after their first line. Residential customers never have PICC fees on their long distance service.
TCI is currently charging $1.00 per month to have a toll free number, and more toll free numbers, after the first, will cost you an additional 50 cents each per month. Total Call is one of the few companies that charge their toll free customers the same rates as they charge them for their long distance service. This may not be 100% of the time, but they do in most areas. (Which beats the heck out of Unitel, which I switched away from last week, because they were charging me twice as much for my toll free minutes as they were for my regular long distance minutes.)
If you’re interested in learning more, visit Total Call’s Website.
TCI’s 3¢ Residential Plan
April 15th, 2009I have a few questions about your 3 cent residential plan.
I read in the FAQ’s that the switching fee is reimbursed, how does that work, do I call into customer service and indicate how much the fee is and then they credit my account? Does this credit then have to be used up within a monthly period, or will it stay on my account until it is used?
I also would like to know if paper billing is available without an additional fee. I saw in the terms and conditions it says there is no fee for a paper invoice, but on saveonphone.com it says there is a .99 fee for this. Which is correct? Also, can I pay by check or does the payments have to be made via electronic debit?
Thanks,
Matt
Pioneer Telephone Rollover Question
April 7th, 2009We are interested in obtaining a business phone line, toll free number and fax line from Pioneer Telephone. We would like to have the capability of calls rolling over to a cell phone if the main line is busy.
What you really need is a local phone service provider first. They would be the ones setting up your actual business lines with phone numbers and the rollover feature. Once you have your local numbers, then Pioneer can get you the toll free number, as well as be your long distance carrier.
Use the tool at the top of this page to find the local carriers, and any special deals they may have, in your city or town.
http://www.calling-plans.com/local-telephone-service.htm
Then, once you have a local provider, and telephone numbers, you will be able to just hop online and order Pioneer’s long distance service and a toll free number. Once you have done that, you will get a welcome email from Pioneer with the toll free customer service numbers.
$15.00 For Unlimited Long Distance
April 2nd, 2009Qwest is offering it’s customers unlimited long distance service for $15.00 a month if they have local service through Qwest. This should pretty much make Qwest the cheapest long distance carrier for it’s customers. This discount should keep most of their customers in-house, instead of having them jump ship for discount carriers like Pioneer, Opex and Total Call International.
If you don’t have local service from Qwest, but you still want Qwest’s $15 Unlimited Long Distance Deal, you can get it for $25. LOL
States that Qwest currently services with local service are Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
TCI & Opex Become One
March 30th, 2009Total Call International (TCI) bought Opex. Anyone have any information on this?
TCI’s rates are still 3 cents per minute with no monthly fees or minimums. While Opex’s long distance rate is still holding steady at 2.7 cents per minute. I’m not sure if TCI has plans to integrate Opex into their existing product line, or just keep Opex as it is, since it has great placement on the net, and has a name for good service at a great price.
Visit Opex or Total Call International for more information.
If you have any information on this Telecom Merger, please drop me a line.
Pioneer Telephone’s Taxes and Fees
February 5th, 2009I’ve had a bunch of requests for tax rates from people interested in signing up for Pioneer Telephone’s long distance service lately, so I thought I’d just post them here so everyone can see them.
Pioneer’s Universal Service Fund fee is currently 11.3% of the customer’s state to state and international calling. Their TIF, or access fee, is currently 6%.
Pioneer doesn’t have a monthly fee for accounts that use electronic billing, but customers who want a paper bill in the mail, and are using less than $15.00 worth of service in a month, will be charged 99 cents for it.
Pioneer’s PIC-C fee for businesses is $4.21 per line. They do this a little different from most of the other discount telecoms, in that Pioneer charges a business for all of their lines if they have more than one, but Pioneer doesn’t charge them the PIC-C fee if they have only one line.
There is a 99 cent charge per month for each toll free number, and if someone calls your toll free number from a payphone, you will be charged an additional 69 cents for that call, which goes to the owner of the payphone.
Pioneer Telephone is a good company, with good service, if you are looking for a new long distance carrier, try Pioneer Telephone today!