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From: normt@ihlpy.att.com (Norman R Tiedemann)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Phone Rates USA to/from Japan
Message-ID: <11085@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 20 Aug 90 20:44:33 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 582, Message 2 of 11


A short time back, there was a discussion about telephone rates
between USA and Japan and which way was cheaper. A few people quoted
some rates, but I never saw a good collection. Since I was in Japan
last week, I checked over there with the three Japanese long distance
companies and I checked over here with three carriers: AT&T, MCI, and
US-Sprint. Here is the summary list of comparison. The Yen/Dollar rate
used is 150. That is midway between the buy and sell rates quoted last
week. (And it makes the division easier). (-:

			AT&T		MCI		US-Sprint Japan Time
2PM-8PM	(1st minute)	3.05		2.89		2.87      (4AM-10AM)
	(2-n minute)	1.24		1.17		1.18

8PM-3AM	(1st minute)	2.55		2.52		2.54      (10AM-5PM)
	(2-n minute)	 .99		 .98		 .98

3AM-2PM	(1st minute)	2.16		2.15		2.15      (5PM-4AM)
	(2-n minute)	 .81		 .80		 .80

The basic calling rates for all three Japanese phone companies are the
same, but the features are different. KDD is the only one that offers
operator assisted calls, and appears to bill in six second increments.
ITJ has a different rate if you are calling from a pay phone (which is
cheaper for short calls only). IDC offers all sorts of automated time
and charges callback, and alternate billing features.  (The alternate
companies are reached just like here, with an access code. IDC's
features are accessed using different access codes.)

	 			1st	2-n		ITJ Pay Phone
BASIC RATE FOR ALL 3 COMPANIES	Minute	Minute		(All Minutes)

M-F 8AM-7PM			2.27	1.13		1.45
M-F 7PM-11PM, WkEnd 8AM-11PM	1.80	 .93		1.18
11PM-8AM			1.33	 .73		 .90


KDD is the "standard" (until two years ago, national phone company).
	Access 001...
ITJ is the International Telecom Japan (its slogan is "Digital 
	Optical Fiber"). Access 0041...
IDC is the Intrntl. Digital Communications Inc. (It's slogan is "The
	Intelligent Choice"). Access 0061... (0062-0065 for feature calls)

These are all calculations on the rates quoted, the ITJ pay phone rate
quotes is #seconds/100 Yen rate, the basic rate for KDD is calculated
from a Yen/6 seconds rate (both the first and addition minutes).

NOTES AND EXCEPTIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

MCI has a bulk rate plan to four Asian Countries including Japan which
costs $3.00/month and allows you to call between 10PM and 2PM (almost
the full two cheaper periods) for only $.79 per minute (including the
first minute).

Using AT&T's USA DIRECT from Japan to the US is the same as the
premium rate plus a service charge. (Access 0039-111) Those rates, all
times all days, are:

Service charge	2.50
1st Minute	3.05
2-n Minute	1.24

KDD Operator Assisted Rates are: (I didn't find out about US rates for
this) besides, does anybody really use these anymore?

Station-Station (first 3 minutes)	$12.60
Person - Person (first 3 minutes)	$21.00
Each Addition Minute for both		$ 3.00

That's all the info I have. The basic conclusions are:

1.) Only in the premium time do you save "significantly"
	over AT&T with the other 2 US carriers.
2.) The rates are generally cheaper calling from Japan to the USA, 
	but it depends on the time you are calling. (It is 
	interesting to note that Japan's Premium rate is during 
	their working hours, while USA's are when both countries 
	might have people in the office.)
3.) If you make a lot of calls during the cheaper period the
	MCI bulk plan could save you some money.

Hope this is of interest to someone.

	Norm Tiedemann		AT&T Bell Labs IH 2G-419
	att!ihlpy!normt		2000 Naperville Rd.
	normt@ihlpy.att.com	Naperville, IL	60566