Cheapest internet/telephone

[madmax]

I'm looking for my cheapest option for phone and high speed internet. Before I had netzero dial up for 9.99 a month (not too fast but worked) and standard telephone for $14 a month. So, thats $24 a month. What I was thinking of was some sort of internet service with an internet phone. I know nothing of either. Is there some combination close to that same price? I'm really not interested in cable tv unless it works out price wise. Any ideas? I do have a cell phone that would take care of me for phone service if need be. ($100 a year tracfone).
madmax

[Ricardo]

Is there some combination close to that same price?

Internet + Phone for $25? In this century? Let me know if you find anything close to that.

[Early B.]

I've been considering this option: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/show...highlight=ooma

I haven't decided yet.

[madmax]

Internet + Phone for $25? In this century? Let me know if you find anything close to that.

That is what I have now, I was looking for something cheaper!
madmax


BTW, the thought of any more than this seems excessive to me. Maybe I'm old school but I feel these huge monthly expenses people pay for tv programming, cell, home phone, and internet are a governmental means to keep people jailed in their present financial position. Maybe thats a little extreme... ;)

[goingganzo]

the cheapest that i can think of is 15 a month for high speed with 24 a month for vonnage

[bobman1235]

IF DSL is available in your area, it's usually only 5 dollars a month more than what you're paying for dialup (really, dialup?), and about 200x faster and more convenient. Well worth the added "cost".

Couple that with your cell phone (unless you live in an unreliable cell area I see no reason to have a home phone) and you should be fine.

If there's no DSL in your area unfortunately there's not much to do about cheap internet - most cable internet plans I've seen (at least in my areA) are 45 bucks a month, maybe even more if you don't have at least a basic cable plan.

[Marty913]

Obviously it probably depends a lot on where you live and the providers available (for internet anyway). I have Cox Communications (cable company) and pay $25 for internet and $16 for phone ($10 + $6 in taxes and FCC crap). AT&T offers a "basic" DSL internet for $20 here. The basic versions are not normally advertised so you have to ask.

The best deal in Internet phones is a product called MagicJack at www.magicjack.com. $20 for the device and $20 a year for unlimited local and long distance. It does have a few drawbacks but it works OK, you get a real phone number, and yes it really does cost $20 paid once a year. Of course you have to have your PC on and you have to have broadband Internet. The phone number they assign you may be in another area code unless you live in or near a major city. That can be checked on their web site. I'm not pushing the product (no affiliation), it's just there and it works given the drawbacks.

[candyliquor35m]

As more and more AT&T customers dump their home phone service to use their cell 24/7, AT&T will soon add dsl internet for free or for $5-$10 mo. to keep their home customers from jumping ship.

I'm sticking with my $12.99 dial-up and $20 home phone until that happens.

[WilliamM2]

How can anyone live with dial-up just because it's cheap? Isn't your time worth anything?

[janmike]

How can anyone live with dial-up just because it's cheap? Isn't your time worth anything?

I agree. Time is important. The day I get dial-up again is the day I buy a black & white TV and a portable Bose Boom Box.

[jm1]

I will always have a land line in our residence.

Recently, an ISP's 911 call center messed up by sitting on a call (the people thought they were talking to the local 911 emergency service center), then redirecting the call to a different city's 911 emergency service center. The people finally went to a neighbors house and used a land line to call 911. Unfortunately, the ISP errors may have cost the life of a small child.

There are also too many periods where we have had no ISP service. We have only had service disruption on the land line once for 2-3 hours due to someone digging up a trunk line in the neighborhood.

[madmax]

How can anyone live with dial-up just because it's cheap? Isn't your time worth anything?

I have not had any problem with dialup. Its slow with porn sized files but for the typical audio/video and general information type sites it isn't much different than what I had at work. Well maybe different but then $10 vs $40 a month is not worth it to me since I spend 9 hours on line at work and maybe half an hour at home. Given the $30 a month difference, I'd rather have an extra handfull of LP's every month. Personal preference only.
madmax

[candyliquor35m]

Personal preference only.

I agree and add the savings of free tv and I can afford to have my house cleaned once a month ($50) and my lawn mowed twice a month ($40).

[madmax]

You got it! $50 for cable + 40 for internet + $80 for cell phone + $15 for XM radio + $30 for a landline w/long distance + $10 for HD = 225 per month. After 15 years of that you spent 40,500. I elected to make due with work internet/cable etc, a $7.50 a month cell phone and dial up internet and ended up with $35K in the bank (which just this week allowed me to afford my dream home and last month allowed me to buy my dream speakers) as well as not being a slave to the outside world. Its not for everyone, a family gets some real advantages having this stuff, but for me, I'm enjoying the benifits right now. I really don't think I'm much behind by not enjoying these benifits of technology. I know lots of people who live from day to day on their wages who would never consider "doing without". I'm good with it though.
madmax

[WilliamM2]

You don't need every service known to man. $22.95 for cable internet, and $14.80 for cable TV.Total bill with the taxes etc. is only $45. You could then use Skype for your phone, and you can get a local number for $2.95 a month. A lot less than $225

[Marty913]

You got it! $50 for cable + 40 for internet + $80 for cell phone + $15 for XM radio + $30 for a landline w/long distance + $10 for HD = 225 per month. After 15 years of that you spent 40,500. I elected to make due with work internet/cable etc, a $7.50 a month cell phone and dial up internet and ended up with $35K in the bank (which just this week allowed me to afford my dream home and last month allowed me to buy my dream speakers) as well as not being a slave to the outside world. Its not for everyone, a family gets some real advantages having this stuff, but for me, I'm enjoying the benifits right now. I really don't think I'm much behind by not enjoying these benifits of technology. I know lots of people who live from day to day on their wages who would never consider "doing without". I'm good with it though.
madmax

I do applaud your efforts and believe everyone should look at how the little things add up. If it works for you, great. Having said that, I agree with WilliamM2 regarding your estimated costs, they seem quite high relative to what I'm paying. Basic DSL is $15, a 450 minutes cell plan is $40 (there are less expensive plans), basic cable is $20, and a land line phone is less than $15. Yes, you certainly can spend $225 a month or more. You can also spend less than $100.

[rjknbak]

I just hooked up Phone Power voip. cheaper than vonage. I have been very happy with them.

[madmax]

I do applaud your efforts and believe everyone should look at how the little things add up. If it works for you, great. Having said that, I agree with WilliamM2 regarding your estimated costs, they seem quite high relative to what I'm paying. Basic DSL is $15, a 450 minutes cell plan is $40 (there are less expensive plans), basic cable is $20, and a land line phone is less than $15. Yes, you certainly can spend $225 a month or more. You can also spend less than $100.

Cable is $40 per month basic service both in CO and MD, not much I can do about that. I'll check out DSL. Is cable or land line require for that, I'm unsure. The cell phone plan for $7.50 sounds like it is staying. Overall, I don't consider these minimal costs. Over the years it adds up to the cost most people can't afford for the stuff they really want.
madmax

[furball]

I am paying

1) $40 for basic HD cable
2) $30 for basic cable high speed internet
3) $80 for 2 cell phones (I'm planning on getting rid of this as soon as the current contract runs out)
4) $36 for basic land line (local calls only)

All this adds up to something like $190 per month, which is like over $2,000 a year, quite a large chunk of change. My current stereo set up only cost me like $3,000.


The thing that bugs me is that I can't get a basic land line that is lower than $36 a month, I have been told that is the lowest priced option they offer. And that I am paying $80 for 2 cell phones which I rarely use (haven't terminated the contract because of the early termination penalty). Are there less expensive options out there?

[Marty913]

Cable is $40 per month basic service both in CO and MD, not much I can do about that. I'll check out DSL. Is cable or land line require for that, I'm unsure. The cell phone plan for $7.50 sounds like it is staying. Overall, I don't consider these minimal costs. Over the years it adds up to the cost most people can't afford for the stuff they really want.
madmax

Too bad about cable being $40. It is approaching that here with the bull$hit taxes, FCC charges, etc. You can still get "lifeline" cable but you have to ask for it (they don't promote it but it's the law in most places) but that only gets you local + a few others). Makes you want to throw an antenna on the roof and go free.

DSL has nothing to do with cable as it's a traditional phone company Internet service. I know here in NW Florida they give you a lot of grief if you want Internet (DSL) without phone but they will do it. Maybe not where you are. I know my cable company has a "discount" Internet service for DSL prices but once again, you usually have to ask for it. It's usually half T1 speed but 10 times better than dial-up. They seem to go to great lengths to keep the less expensive stuff hidden on their website but you can usually force the issue with a phone call.

I agree with you completely about it adding up. I constantly compare and tweak my phone, cell, long distance, and satellite services. I've switched everything at least twice in the last two years. I hate to be ripped off for the same exact thing.

[candyliquor35m]

I have at&t and pay $11.05 for a land line + taxes = $20.44 mo.

You have to call them and tell them you want all the options and calling plans taken off because it is only a data line and be persistent and don't take no for an answer.

I don't let early termination fees affect my decisions. If I didn't want your cell phones, I would just stop paying for them. Eventually they will cut off your service. The worst that can happen is a meaningless blemish on your credit report.

[Marty913]

I am paying

1) $40 for basic HD cable
2) $30 for basic cable high speed internet
3) $80 for 2 cell phones (I'm planning on getting rid of this as soon as the current contract runs out)
4) $36 for basic land line (local calls only)

All this adds up to something like $190 per month, which is like over $2,000 a year, quite a large chunk of change. My current stereo set up only cost me like $3,000.


The thing that bugs me is that I can't get a basic land line that is lower than $36 a month, I have been told that is the lowest priced option they offer. And that I am paying $80 for 2 cell phones which I rarely use (haven't terminated the contract because of the early termination penalty). Are there less expensive options out there?

You might want to check out www.phonepower.com.

It may not be the same for you but when I called Cox for landline service they tried to sell me the same "bundle" you have at $36 a month. I told them all I wanted was a phone line with no LD, no callerID, call forwarding, etc. etc. or I would stay with AT&T. They immediately went "unpackaged" and sold be a phone line for $10 a month plus all the taxes crap. It still wound up being around $17 but better than $36. I'm considering trying out Phonepower for about the same price but I would pick up all the goodies + long distance.

As for cell phones, I'm staying out of contracts for the next few months. Changes are coming there (already started really) and prices will be falling.

[furball]

That $36 per month inclusive of all taxes is the very basic service plan AT&T offers, no caller ID, no call forward, local calls only, no nothing extra. This plan does give me unlimited local calls. The only other plan that might be cheaper is a pay per call plan (local calls), which is only about $5 cheaper, not really worth it.

I remember the days when a land line that gives you unlimited local calls plus pay per call long distance calls that would only cost me something like $25 a month, inclusive of all taxes and everything... Sadly those days are long gone.


And thanks for that phonepower website. But looks like it's a VOIP service, the phone service is still tied to your internet service provider, which means if the power goes out, your phone goes out with it. Which kind of defeats the purpose of a land line.

You might want to check out www.phonepower.com.

It may not be the same for you but when I called Cox for landline service they tried to sell me the same "bundle" you have at $36 a month. I told them all I wanted was a phone line with no LD, no callerID, call forwarding, etc. etc. or I would stay with AT&T. They immediately went "unpackaged" and sold be a phone line for $10 a month plus all the taxes crap. It still wound up being around $17 but better than $36. I'm considering trying out Phonepower for about the same price but I would pick up all the goodies + long distance.

As for cell phones, I'm staying out of contracts for the next few months. Changes are coming there (already started really) and prices will be falling.

[Marty913]

I agree but like anything it depends on an individual's priorities. My VOIP modem has a built-in battery backup that's good for a few hours (or I could put it on a UPS for probably 24 - 30 hours) at which time I would move to my cell phone which is my ultimate bailout. In that respect, my land line is probably a convenience more than a necessity. That and at $15 a month it keeps from from a more expensive cell plan. If I had to pay $36 a month for a land line I would probably drop it and go 100% cell phone.

Even at $15 a month I may reconsider whether "convenience" is worth $180 a year. I guess everybody has to make those decisions for themselves.