Are you paying more for phone service then you’d like to be? Then, see if one of these seven strategies could help to lower your bill:

Switch to VoIP
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a relatively new technology that allows you to make and receive calls over a broadband Internet connection. Providers include Vonage, SunRocket and a host of others, including many phone and cable companies.

Cost: Plans offering unlimited local and long distance range from $15-25 a month. Smaller, minute-based plans are also available; and start at $9.95 a month. To get started, you may also need to purchase a VoIP router, though many service providers offer a free router with sign-up.

Potential savings: Varies by person. To estimate your savings, subtract the monthly cost for VoIP from your current monthly phone charges.

Pros:

Calls to the United States and Canada included in the pricing
International call rates as low as 3-cents per minute
Cons:

Doesn’t work during a power outage unless you have a back-up battery system
VoIP may not be compatible with your local 911 system
Call quality may not be as good as it is on a traditional phone line
Bundle Your Services
Do you have cable, high-speed Internet and a landline or cellphone? If so, bundling all of your services with one provider could be your biggest source of savings.

Potential savings: $20 or more a month.

Pros:

Only one bill to pay
New customer rebates and introductory offers may make the deal even better
Cons:

You’ll probably be required to sign a contract
Many bundle offers include a low introductory rate, and a much higher rate thereafter
Taxes and other hidden fees may apply
Ditch Your Landline
Use your cell phone for all of your calls, and cancel your traditional phone service.

Potential savings: The cost of your current landline plan: local and long-distance.

Pros:

One less bill to pay
The ability to answer all of your calls on the go
Cons:

If your cell plan doesn’t include unlimited minutes, you could accrue overage charges
911 service for cell phones isn’t available in all areas
Forget to charge your battery, and you’re temporarily off the grid
Call quality may not be as good as it is on a traditional phone line
Cancel the Extras
If your phone service comes packaged with a bunch of features – call waiting, caller ID, etc. – you may save money by unbundling your services and shopping a la carte. Contact your service provider to find out how much a basic, no-frills phone line costs. Then, add on just the features that you need (generally about $5 each).

Potential savings: Varies, but a basic phone line usually runs around $22 a month (taxes and fees included).

Pros:

You only pay for what you want
You get to customize your phone services
Cons:

Less bells and whistles
Comparison Shop
Not satisfied with the deal your current provider is giving you? Then, shop around for a better rate. When it comes to phone service, there are more options than ever.

Potential savings: Varies by customer and locale.

Pros:

You don’t have to wonder if you’re getting the best rate possible
Cons:

Requires a bit of effort
Unlimited Long Distance
Do you make a lot of long distance calls? If so, signing up for an unlimited long distance plan could make a lot of sense.

Potential savings: Varies by person. To estimate your savings, subtract the monthly cost for unlimited calling from your current monthly long distance bill.

Pros:

The same bill every month
The freedom to make as many long distance calls as you want
Cons:

Terms and exclusions may apply
Use a Phone Card
If you only make occasional long distance calls, a phone card may be cheaper than paying for traditional long distance service.

Potential savings: The cost of long distance service in your area.

Pros:

You only pay for the calls that you make
Your long distance service is portable – just take the card with you when you travel
Since you pay up front, there are no surprise bills
Cons:

Most cards have expiration dates
Connection fees often apply
Lose the card, and you’ve lost the minutes

您是不是正在為電話服務(wù)支付更多的費(fèi)用?而且這些費(fèi)用還是您樂意付出的.那么,請(qǐng)您看看以下七項(xiàng)策略中的任何一項(xiàng)是否能夠幫助您降低您的開支.

轉(zhuǎn)換成VoIP

VoIP,或者說是網(wǎng)絡(luò)專用小交換機(jī)上的聲音，它是能讓你在打、接電話時(shí)都利用網(wǎng)絡(luò)寬帶的一項(xiàng)新科技。其供應(yīng)商包括Vonage,Sunrocket,還有其他的一些相關(guān)的包括許多的有線電話公司在內(nèi)的供應(yīng)商.

花費(fèi):這項(xiàng)計(jì)劃為您免費(fèi)提供一個(gè)月的從15到25美元不等的本地和長(zhǎng)途電話費(fèi)用.更小的,以分鐘為單位的計(jì)劃也是很優(yōu)惠的.它每月從9.95美元開始,要想得到這個(gè)優(yōu)惠,您得先購買一個(gè)VoIP路由器,盡管許多服務(wù)供應(yīng)商在您注冊(cè)后會(huì)免費(fèi)提供一個(gè)路由器.

節(jié)省潛力:因人而異.要想計(jì)算自己的節(jié)省費(fèi)用,只需用您當(dāng)前的電話開支減去您當(dāng)月使用VoIP的費(fèi)用即可.

持支持態(tài)度的:1.這些費(fèi)用里包括打到美國和加拿大的電話.

2.國際長(zhǎng)途費(fèi)率每分鐘低至3%.

持反對(duì)態(tài)度的:1.如果你沒有備用電池系統(tǒng),停電的時(shí)候它就不能用.

2.VoIP不能兼容你本地的911系統(tǒng)功能.

3.通話質(zhì)量不如在傳統(tǒng)的電話線上通話質(zhì)量好.

綁定您的服務(wù)

您有有線的高速網(wǎng)絡(luò)系統(tǒng)嗎?有座機(jī)或手機(jī)嗎?如果有的話,把您的所以服務(wù)項(xiàng)目綁定到其中的一個(gè)上,這樣可以給您節(jié)省很多資源.

節(jié)省潛力:每月可以節(jié)省20美元或更多

持肯定意見的人:1.只有一項(xiàng)開支

2.新客戶的回扣和推薦將會(huì)使這項(xiàng)交易更順利

持反對(duì)意見的:1.你可能得簽個(gè)合同.

2.許多綁定推薦時(shí)費(fèi)用都很低,但使用后費(fèi)用就會(huì)很高.

3.得付包括稅費(fèi)在內(nèi)的其他潛在費(fèi)用.

拋棄您的座機(jī)

用您的手機(jī)打所有的電話,取消您以前的電話服務(wù).

節(jié)省潛力:您最近的座機(jī)費(fèi)用花費(fèi):本地的和長(zhǎng)途的.

持支持態(tài)度的:1.少付一項(xiàng)費(fèi)用

2.在旅途中也可以接到所有您的電話

持反對(duì)態(tài)度的:

1.如果您的小計(jì)劃沒有包括無限的通話服務(wù),你就有可能會(huì)超額.

2.911服務(wù)只針對(duì)手機(jī)而不針對(duì)所有領(lǐng)域.

3.如果您忘了充電,你就得暫時(shí)得不到服務(wù).

4.通話質(zhì)量不如在傳統(tǒng)的電話線上好.

取消額外的花銷

如果您的電話業(yè)務(wù)有許多的功能,包括諸如呼叫等待,來電顯示等等,您就可以不用綁定和購買您的那些服務(wù)也能節(jié)省不少的費(fèi)用.和您的供應(yīng)商聯(lián)系看看基礎(chǔ)的高價(jià)的電話線要花費(fèi)多少.然后把您電話上的這些特性加在上面(大概是每項(xiàng)5美元左右).

節(jié)省潛力:不同的是,那條基本的電話線就得每月花費(fèi)22美元左右(包括稅費(fèi)和其他的一些費(fèi)用).

持肯定態(tài)度的人:1.您需要什么業(yè)務(wù)就辦什么業(yè)務(wù).

2.根據(jù)您的電話類型來量身訂做一套屬于自己的業(yè)務(wù).

持反對(duì)意見的:鈴聲少了

對(duì)比購買

您對(duì)現(xiàn)在的供應(yīng)商提供給您的服務(wù)不滿意嗎?那么去購買更好的服務(wù).談到電話服務(wù),現(xiàn)在您可以有更多的選擇.

節(jié)省潛力:由顧客和其場(chǎng)所的不同而不同.

持肯定態(tài)度的:您不必知道您是否得到了最好的.

持反對(duì)意見的:需要一點(diǎn)努力

無限制的長(zhǎng)途

你有許多的長(zhǎng)途電話要打嗎?如果有的話,請(qǐng)您注冊(cè)一個(gè)無限長(zhǎng)途業(yè)務(wù),它將大大地節(jié)省你的長(zhǎng)途費(fèi)用.

節(jié)省潛力:因人而異.要想計(jì)算你的節(jié)省費(fèi)用,只需用您當(dāng)月的長(zhǎng)途帳單上減去你本月無限打的業(yè)務(wù)費(fèi)用.

持肯定意見的:

1.每月花費(fèi)一樣

2.想打多少長(zhǎng)途就打多少

持反對(duì)意見的:有一些條款和限制

用電話卡

如果您不常打長(zhǎng)途,用電話卡可能比傳統(tǒng)的長(zhǎng)途費(fèi)便宜不少.

節(jié)省潛力:在您所在區(qū)域的長(zhǎng)途業(yè)務(wù)花費(fèi)

持肯定態(tài)度的:1.打多少電話就付多少費(fèi)用.

2.您的長(zhǎng)途業(yè)務(wù)是隨時(shí)隨地的,只要您在出游時(shí)將您的電話卡帶在身邊即可.

3.因?yàn)槟�提前付費(fèi),所以不必?fù)?dān)心會(huì)有驚人的帳單.

持反對(duì)意見的:

1.每個(gè)卡都有截止日期

2.還得運(yùn)用連接費(fèi)用

3.如果不慎把卡丟了,你就不再擁有它的使用權(quán)了.