Increasingly, when it comes to selecting a telephone service, consumers are making the call.
They are doing this by taking advantage of a growing number of ways available to communicate, from “plain old telephone service” to wireless phones to phone service from cable companies.
It’s even possible to use an Internet connection to make phone calls. You can send e-mails to people anywhere in the world, and surf the Net wirelessly. Having so many choices is great, but it can be confusing.
The nonprofit National Consumers League (NCL) says it’s important to learn about your communications options and shop around for the services that are right for you.
For example, consumers can choose from hundreds of long-distance companies and in most places there are many choices for local service, too. Wireless phones are also popular ways to make local and long-distance calls. In fact, some people are only using wireless phones. Before you cut the cord, though, test the wireless service to be sure it works from your home and keep the battery charged so you can make calls in emergencies.
Another choice is VoIP-phone service over the...