Jargon Digest
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LONG DISTANCE & 800
ACCESS
 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.
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INTERNATIONAL RATES:
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.
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CALLBACK SERVICE:
(International) to bypass your local phone network
for
call from abroad at US prices.
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DIAL TONE:
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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INTRA-STATE:
Calls from one location in a state to another
location within the same state (
instate ). Huge variations in price can be found
depending which state you are calling in. Use the
comparison service to your advantage.
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ALASKA SPECIALS:
Use 800 access to dial long distance and 800# to
reach your branch offices/frequently called numbers to SAVE
money.
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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.
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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.
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