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Local Clubs => CAM => Topic started by: Dragsterhund on August 19, 2008, 02:11:50 PM

Title: Local DC Phone Service?
Post by: Dragsterhund on August 19, 2008, 02:11:50 PM
Does anyone know if there is a local phone service that charges you on a per-call basis or something? I'm tired of paying comcast 40 bucks a month for phone service that I only have for the alarm system in the house? When I was in college the local phone service had like a 15 dollar a month phone service (no call waiting, no voice mail, no long distance), just bare-bones basic phone service... does anyone around here offer that?
Title: Re: Local DC Phone Service?
Post by: Geaux on August 19, 2008, 04:46:39 PM
See if what you want is in the "Local and Regional Calling Plans" category.

http://www22.verizon.com/Residential/ViewAllProducts/ViewAllProducts.htm

Here's a list of other phone services available for DC.

http://www.dcpsc.org/customerchoice/whatis/telecommunications/5_1.shtm
Title: Re: Local DC Phone Service?
Post by: Ducatista on August 19, 2008, 07:15:19 PM
IIRC, when I was living in Sterling, Verizon was only $13/month.
Title: Re: Local DC Phone Service?
Post by: Dragsterhund on August 19, 2008, 07:56:37 PM
13 bucks? The cheapest package for my zip code is 36 bucks a month
Title: Re: Local DC Phone Service?
Post by: Geaux on August 19, 2008, 11:11:41 PM
Hmm, try calling Verizon or else clicking on one of those Local and Regional plans to add it to your cart, enter your address, choose the $40+ plan, change plan, update cart, select carrier,....  It let me choose the $12.78 plan without really choosing it, so I'm not sure if it'll work all the way.
Title: Re: Local DC Phone Service?
Post by: ducati culture on August 20, 2008, 06:04:01 AM
Quote from: Geaux on August 19, 2008, 11:11:41 PM
Hmm, try calling Verizon or else clicking on one of those Local and Regional plans to add it to your cart, enter your address, choose the $40+ plan, change plan, update cart, select carrier,....  It let me choose the $12.78 plan without really choosing it, so I'm not sure if it'll work all the way.

They are correct!  give them a call!  [beer]
Title: Re: Local DC Phone Service?
Post by: Stick on August 20, 2008, 07:27:10 AM
Do you have a cell and why can't you just use that? I got rid of my land line when I found out I could let people in using my cell. [thumbsup] Now I can admit people from wherever I am in the world.
Title: Re: Local DC Phone Service?
Post by: dolci on August 20, 2008, 10:45:19 AM
I think you need a landline for the alarm system - i know my house was like that.
Title: Re: Local DC Phone Service?
Post by: ducatiz on August 20, 2008, 01:42:31 PM
i have a verizon landline with no services, costs me $18/month plus tax.  i use it for incoming faxes and local calls are free, regional and long distance are something like 25cents/minute.  we would only use this phone for 911 calls if needed.

i also have a Verizon VOICEWING VOIP line.  I am very happy with that so far.  I had Vonage for several years and got sick of them. 

Altogethre, I spend about $40/month on my phone, not including the cable connection to run the VOIP.
Title: Re: Local DC Phone Service?
Post by: Ducatista on August 22, 2008, 08:46:59 PM
Quote from: Stick on August 20, 2008, 07:27:10 AM
Do you have a cell and why can't you just use that? I got rid of my land line when I found out I could let people in using my cell. [thumbsup] Now I can admit people from wherever I am in the world.

The system that is in your apartment is already connected to a phone line, so when it's dialing you, it's just waiting for the DTMF tone(s) your phone needs to send (your key presses) to let the person in.  An alarm system, however, has a modem that needs to be on a line.  You either need to have your alarm panel's modem hooked up through a landline or rent/buy the equipment to have it work over a cellular network.

The short answer is that you can't just use your cell phone.