There are many telephone companies that are specifically operating as long distance service providers. Many of these companies are smaller businesses that are able to offer low rates for these types of calls. Having a specific long distance company can save you cash in the long run if you often make calls out of your area.
| Provider | Plan Name | State-to-State Rate | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Pioneer 2.7 Rate Buster | 2.7¢ | Details |
|
Pioneer 3.25 TalkCents | 3.25¢ | Details |
| Provider | Plan Details | Monthly Rate* | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | VoIPo Home Phone
* $15.00/mo. or $6.21/mo. with 2 year contract | $6.21* | Details  58 Reviews |
.png&contenttype=png "1-VOIP") | HOME PHONE SERVICE
* $8.97 is monthly cost with 1-year prepay | $8.97* | Details  7 Reviews |
 | Axvoice
* $6.25/mo. 1-year prepay equals $75.00/year | $6.25* | Details  75 Reviews |
 | Traditional Landline Service
* Device contains a backup battery and is not designed to be run without electricity indefinitely. | $32.50* | Details  7 Reviews |
If you are thinking about switching over to a long distance service provider instead of using a traditional service provider or would like to use a VoIP service provider for your home phone service or long distance needs, please consider the following:
If you are already making or are planning to make a lot of long distance calls, then having a long distance phone service plan is probably best for your needs. These types of plans will offer good rates for the types of calls you will be making. One example is this: if you made a long distance call out of Maryland with Pioneer Telephone, it would cost just $0.033.
These are very competitive rates, particularly if you happen to switch from a traditional company who has higher rates. Some companies charge as much as $0.10 per minute for long distance calls.
However, customers who do not make a lot of long distance calls will not benefit from a plan that caters to this type of feature.
For example, customers living in California who only make 30% of out-of-state calls would pay only $19.08 a month if they choose a Talk Cents plan with Pioneer Telephone. This is a less expensive plan than AT&T’s Unlimited Nationwide Calling One plan, as their plan costs $26.99 a month. However, it is still more than if the customer would choose a plan with a VoIP provider.
You must also consider the company that you are looking at, as some of the smaller ones have limited service areas, making their rates higher in certain states.
You must first get local call service before you can use a long distance service provider. If the area you reside in is served by a particular long distance company, you will also be able to use their local service. But if that company cannot provide local service, you will have to put in a local phone line from a different local phone service provider before you will be able to use another long distance service provider.
Many long distance service providers do not offer a variety of options when it comes to cell phones, as well. When you type in a cell phone number into the rate evaluator of a long distance phone service business, you will either get a rejected signal or will be told to consider an alternative plan. With Pioneer Telephone, the system will direct customers to Tier C, another plan, although the rates stay close to the same. These rates are typically about a $0.03 per minute charge for all out-of-state phone calls.
These plans may also give you limited access when it comes to certain types of features, such as call routing and voicemail. ECG does not mention anything about these features on their website, and when you check out Pioneer Telephone you will see that you can add on certain features with their plan. There may or may not be an additional cost for these features.
It’s simple to switch providers after finding one that you prefer. Just sign up for their service and the provider you have picked will get in contact with your local phone company for you. The switch should happen within a week or so. For most customers, there is no need to contact your local phone service provider yourself. However, ECG always recommends that their customers get in contact with their old long distance phone service provider to make sure they do not continue to charge you.
Most customers notice no change in call quality. Every company we work with transmits their signals over fiber optic networks. Most of them actually work with the larger, well-known telephone service providers. They are paid from these providers to use their networks, so you can be assured of excellent quality.
Your savings will depend on the amount of long distance calls you make. If you choose an Easy 2.5 long distance plan with ECG over One Full Featured Phone Line from Comcast, you will go from $44.95 a month to $14.80 a month. In a year you will save $361.80, which ends up being around a 68% percent discount.
