SBC a good deal?

Have you considered switching to only having a cellphone? Depending on what you use the landline for this may be a worthless suggestion.

 

i agree with kilgore. go the cellphone way. hell, if i didn't want/need dsl so much i wouldn't have a land line myself.

 

I've actually tried both. I've gone the cell only route, and just couldn't make it work for that cheap. I always ended up paying a LOT more. Even if you can cut down your calls, if that's the only line you have, it still adds up because people will always call you on that number, and may do so not just in the evenings and on weekends.

When I got a land line, I did switch to SBC, for that deal. I think with some kind of fees or taxes, I end up paying around $52-54. I have no complaints about it at all. One month something happened and they were late sending their bill. That sucked because it was due almost right after we got it, then we got the new bill right after that. In the grand scheme of things it was minor, and sinve I have friends and family all over the place, the long distance rate is really a big help for me. I like SBC.

 

You could go with <a href="http://www.vonage.com/">Vonage</a> or some other VOIP phone company. I don't know what's available in Houston (I only use a Cell-phone), but VOIP is awesome. I set one up at work over the summer.

 

Faos,

I have a similar package from Verizon, but it's costing me something like $52/month I think. There's no way I'd go away from landlines anytime soon either.

 

FAOS,

We have a similar package with SBC - no unlimited long distance - and it is very inexpensive.

 

Only thing is you can't call international from a cell phone...or can you?

They don't really have an emoticon for what I want to express right now.

 

I can't honestly say because:

a. We only get X number of free minutes per month, not unlimited.
b. We have a second line for a fax machine.

So, we end up paying like $65/month plus tax for all that. It was definitely a good deal.

 

the 99 cent only chain in Houston sells long distance phone cards 99 minutes for 99 cents. dunno about the quality or ability to connect but these would be good if going on a trip or to keep handy for emergencies.

SBC owns Cingular so sometimes they have package deals for cellular/landline/dsl

 

Use landline for all your local calls, the cheapest is like 28 bucks per month for unlimited local calling.

And use ur cell for long distance calls.

It works out well for me.

 

Vonage looks pretty cool....You can get a area code from almost any area code..pay $34.99 a month for unlimited calls to anyone in USA/Canana...free caller id...call waiting...voicemail..

But some DSL providers require you have them as a local provider meaning you pay $30+ for broadband, $15+ for local, and then the VoIP fees...then a cell phone.

 

Those unlimmited plans charge like crazy for fees and taxes. I think you pay taxes for each call even though your not charged per minute for the call.

It ends up being much more than the quoted price.

I'm looking to switch to Vonage now. I have cable so I don't have the DSL parking problem.

 

I have this plan and while there are some fees (there are fees on everybody's bill) there are no additional taxes for having the plan.

My wife calls her sisters and mother long distance every night, so we get good use of the plan. My only complaint is the number we have is not a "metro" number for Houston, but a local number...so we have to dial 1 to call from one area code to another...but it doesn't matter because of the unlimited long distance.

A good Houston metro line is about the same price as this deal.

 

Have you tried it yet? I heard most of VoIP services have really poor sound quality, and gets drop calls all the time. Is it true?

 

Our VOIP at work is kickassly awesome (I'm a bit partial, since I installed it). But I don't know how well it works over the internet -- ours works over our local network. Then outside calls go to a Voice T-1 line that works over the regular phone network I believe. I've never heard anything but good about Vonage though.

 

I am doing the SBC all in one package, and it rocks.

No more multiple phone bills and it is a set fee per month, much better for us consumers.

Now, my cell phone ....ugh...since I call Europe a lot, it is a hefty bill.

DD