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Understanding Your Long Distance Provider
by Dista Trifade
http://www.longdistancebargains.com
There are many companies that offer long distance phone
services. Before you sign up for one of them you need to
understand the basics of long distance phone calls and
decide which one would best suit your purpose.
When you sign up for long distance service, you need to
change or switch your long distance provider. It usually
takes several days before you have the service active on
your line. Once you have the service established, you will
be dialing directly from your phone. Switched long distance
service only works for the lines on which it was activated
and it doesn't work from cell phones.
If you need instant access consider using a prepaid calling
card. Calling cards work from any touch tone phone and
require that you dial an access number and authorization
code (PIN) to use their service.
The most reliable long distance service is the switched
service which is generally the service on your home or
business phone. This service uses a different technology
for establishing a connection to your destination number
but the service is usually a little higher than those of
calling cards.
A Third Party Verification (TPV) is required when signing
up online. By dialing the number shown on the form, the
TPV will record your voice granting permission to switch
your long distance provider. This will act as an
electronic signature for your long distance agreement.
It usually takes 3-4 business days to activate the service.
This period may vary, depending on your local phone company
and other factors. You will be given a 700 test number to
dial from your line. There is usually a message, saying that
your service is activated. The number and message vary by
carrier and rate plan.
Once the service is set up on your line, you will be dialing
directly. You will keep your local phone company, but you
will be receiving a separate bill for your long distance
calls.
Toll free numbers are normally used by businesses to allow
their customers to call them at no cost to the customer.
Long distance phone services vary from company to company.
With the basic knowledge of how and what these companies
offer can help you make the choice for the provider that
best suites your needs.
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