konstan@elmer-fudd.berkeley.edu (Joe Konstan) (09/26/90)
I just got off the phone with the MCI VisaPhone people and here is the
scoop:
1. While they say you just use your Visa Card, you actually end up
getting a card from them with your VISA number plus a four-digit PIN
(I'm glad, more secure).
2. I don't have dialing instructions yet, but it seems to be a
typical 950 access.
3. Charges appear on your Visa Bill--sign up now (1-800-627-3119) and
receive a $5.00 credit on your second month's bill after usage starts.
4. Rates are milage insensitive: 18 cents per minute weekday
13 cents per minute evening
10 cents per minute night/weekend
5. Service charge is 70 cents per call.
My analysis:
It makes sense only when:
1. You are not home, and
2. You are calling an "expensive" area (cross country or
intrastate long distance), and either
3a. You are not within an "Around Town" area, or
3b. You expect a long enough call (about 7-8 mins) to cover
the 45 cent higher fees.
Other Notes:
Cannot be combined with travel award or other programs.
Does not count towards volume discounts
Open Questions:
I don't have information about rates for international dialing (if
it is available). If anyone wants this, or other information, I can
find out, or some other Digest reader probably already knows.
What I did:
I signed up for the service (only plan to use it outside local area)
predominantly for the $5.00 credit. I'll probably have my wife sign
up too, just for good measure!
Joe Konstan