Advice needed on long distance telephone service

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Up until a few minutes ago, I had AT&T long distance service. I paid them what I owed them and cancelled that today, as I never use it to make outgoing calls. This has nothing to do with politics. It's simply a matter of "I never use it to make outgoing calls." The AT&T was here, because that's what we always had. Yeah, well, we used to get three newspapers delivered every day, and milk too, but that's been a while.

I have a landline, which I almost never use, even for local calls. I might make one or two outgoing local calls per month. Nearly every incoming call is spam, so I don't answer the phone, unless the caller leaves a message. I mean, seriously, every last call is to tell me that I've won the Social Security lottery or whatever. The Red Cross calls to remind I should donate blood again, but I think I can keep track of that all by myself.

I just don't ever make long distance calls on my landline. If it were up to me, I'd get rid of the landline altogether, but I have to have it. I'm going to cut back to some bare minimum service on local service too, but let's just concentrate on the long distance aspect for now.

My mobile phone is what I use when I make outgoing calls. I'm sort of bothered that I'm blocked from receiving incoming long distance calls too. Realistically, only two people every call me legitimately long distance using my landline number, and I can make sure that they call only on my mobile number.

I have VoIP on my work computer, but I reserve that for calls that aren't personal.

Should I have some bare minimum landline long distance service? If so, can people here who still have a landline recommend an alternative to AT&T? Years ago, we had something called Dime Line. I don't know what's out there today. I might find the loss of long distance service not to be important and rely solely on the mobile phone for long distance calls. I'm sure that if I change my mind, AT&T will welcome me right back.

If I'm not mistaken, toll-free numbers will still work for outgoing calls. Incoming ones too, I guess, but I wouldn't know.

If there's a better forum for this, please let me know.

I don't need to be reminded about OAN. I know already.

Thanks.

[cbabe]

1. Enhanced communications group. Used for

ten plus years. Monthly plan for unlimited long distance calls.

www.boom.us

1.800.767.5599

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. Does this work for landlines? NT

[cbabe]

3. Yes. Landline only. Sorry I wasn't clear.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. Thanks. When I went there I saw a whole bunch of mobile plans. NT

[cbabe]

6. Give them a call. (ha)

[RainCaster]

5. I use VOIP to replace the landline

It's a third the cost, kept same number. Https://www.ooma.com

[targetpractice]

7. I just helped a friend...

... Signed up with MintMobile... We ported her landline number to her cell phone... $8 per month including a Samsung Galaxy A12 phone. Unlimited voice (long distance) and 4GB data per month. At the time she paid upfront and got the second year free... Really good deal, and I've been in tech support for a long time.

The company is owned mostly by Ryan Reynolds... Very clever marketing, and super smooth set up experience. And, if you are a senior, they have dedicated line to help make things go easier. Color me impressed.

[targetpractice]

8. Keeping your landline number...

... If you cancelled AT&T already, you may have trouble keeping your number... The best approach is to sign up with a new provider first, let them port your number, and then cancel your current provider.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

10. I still have a landline number. It's wth Verizon.

Local service is one bill, and long distance is (was) another. This began not to make a whole lot of sense.

[hunter]

9. PennyTalk is pretty common around here.

We have a large immigrant population who use it to call home.

If your landline phone has speed dial you can program the access number on that.

http://www.pennytalk.com/

My inlaw's rural landline service got so bad, going out with every storm, wildfire, or woodpecker attack, that they replaced it with wireless. It's a little box they plugged their existing landline phone into and it counts as another phone on their wireless plan. The landline phone still works as it did when it was a landline, except it takes a little longer to get a dial tone. You just pick it up, wait for the dial tone, and dial the number, same as ever.