Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: john@bovine.ati.com (John Higdon) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Sprint Wars (Was: Sprint Puts it in Writing: On Your Bill!) Message-ID: <12467@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 23 Sep 90 09:36:06 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Reply-To: John Higdon Organization: Green Hills and Cows Lines: 55 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 669, Message 3 of 9 On Sep 23 at 0:51, Todd Inch writes: > Yes, all my LD calls are normally intRA-state, inter-LATA (206 to 509) > but Sprint never EVER mentioned intER-state call savings, or > intRA-state exceptions, or "average calling patterns" or anything like > that. > >10 cents per minute anywhere in US. > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > This is a continuation of the BIG LIE. It means "anywhere except > within your own state." But, who would ever dial long distance inside > their own state? (sarcastic smiley here) This is a point that should probably get more than a mention, particularly for those who live in the western United States. Intrastate rates, not being regulated by the FCC, are usually a ripoff. And ALL advertising by the IXCs involves interstate calling. That's just fine for folks who live in the tiny (areawise) eastern states and make lots of calls across state lines. But a lot of us out here find that virtually all of our calling is within the state. In fact, many businesses find that the majority of calling is within the LATA. A frequent converstation I find myself having is with LD salescritters who can't understand that it doesn't make any difference what carrier my client uses -- it won't affect the amount spent on telephone calls one bit. Ninety-nine percent of the toll calls are carried by Pac*Bell anyway. A number of well-meaning readers advised me a while back to check out this plan or that plan involving long distance. Unfortunately, no IXCs currently offer any calling discounts for traffic within California. Since I make about two calls outside the state per month, no IXCs interstate rates or packages interest me in any way. Periodically, I do review my calling within the state and look for the best bargain. Right now, it's AT&T, particularly their WATS service. Recently, I checked the various rates and found Sprint intrastate INWATS to be nearly twice the AT&T rate. When the Sprint rep proudly quoted me the rate, I mentioned that I would stick with AT&T. He asked why and I told him that he had just quoted an amount that was double AT&T's. He insisted that I was mistaken and then went into a spiel about how when I actually got the bill, I would find that I had been "misled" by AT&T. Then I told him that I was looking at my bill. He told me that he needed to check it out and would call me back. Still waiting. Moral of the story: Be very careful when shopping for intrastate rates. Don't just assume that everyone is cheaper than AT&T. In fact, don't assume anything! John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@bovine.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !