stevem@fai.UUCP (09/09/87)
I tried to send the following to the originator of the request by mail, but it bounced back to me: Subject: Re: Choice of long distance carrier In article <8708212245.AA09660@bu-it.bu.edu> you write: > >I would appreciate advice/recommendations on my upcoming choice >of long distance carrier. I would also appreciate a copy >(or pointer) to the last survey of long distance carrier >rates in telecom-digest. (I've been offnet for several >months.) My calling pattern is mostly from home (area code 301) >to California (area codes 805, 707) and to West Germany. >Calling is almost entirely during non-peak rate periods. > >Oh yes, home is Baltimore, MD. With respect to Germany, I >would appreciate information on who supplies service >(anyone other than AT&T yet?) and differencies in hours >for minimum rate. > >Also the local phone company (C&P) charges extra (of course) >for tone service. Does anyone know if they're actually >equipped to NOT provide it if you don't order it? > I tried Sprint first (about 4 years ago) at home. I constantly ran into recordings asking me to call back later since all circuits were busy (or even worse just a network busy signal). After that, I decided to try MCI. I found that most of the time my connections were very poor quality (either I couldn't hear the other party or vice versa). I then gave up on the CHEAP carriers and went back to AT&T because I want to be able to place a call and to be able to hear the other party. Just recently, I started having problems completing calls at work -- Lo and behold, I found out that the company had just switched to Sprint for long distance service. When I complained to our telecom department, they told me to dial 10288 and the number I was calling (this places the call over AT&T). My suggestion would be to go with AT&T -- if the two largest competitors of AT&T are in this bad of shape, what can you expect from the small ones? Incidentally, I don't find AT&T's rates that bad. I also subscribe to their "Reach Out America" plan which is a real good deal if you make your calls on the weekend. --- Steven A. Minneman (Fujitsu America Inc, San Jose, Ca) !seismo!amdahl!fai!stevem The best government is no government at all. --- Steven A. Minneman (Fujitsu America Inc, San Jose, Ca) !seismo!amdahl!fai!stevem The best government is no government at all.