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Call waiting, three-way, caller ID, anonymous call blocking,
voice mail and call forwarding are just some of the many features
you can get with your phone service. Most phone companies have
specific plans where they sell you a set of features which
usually costs less than getting just the ones you want by
themselves.
Then there are the phones themselves, more closely resembling
small computers lately, especially cell phones, on which you can
send email, faxes, and even browse the web. Cell phones are so
popular right now and the manufacturers are pushing them so hard
that it may actually be cheaper to operate a cell phone than a
traditional one.
Some phone tips:
Caller ID and Anonymous Caller Block can save your
life or property. Forcing people to identify themselves can be
an effective deterrent from many unwanted kinds of calls.
TeleZapper. Radio Shack, K-Mart and other outlets
sell the 'TeleZapper', a device that sits between your phone and
the phone line which responds to all calls initially with a
series of tones that causes automated telemarketing callers to
think your phone number has been disconnected. It may actually
help get your phone number removed from
telemarketing lists.
Cell Phones can call 911 even if they are not
activated. They have saved people's lives. Cars breakdown.
Carjackers are real. Unforeseen events do happen. Some
organizations (like the Riverside Rape Crisis Center) give
outdated cell phones away for free to their clients so please,
never throw an old cell phone away.
Cell phone radiation. There is no controversy that
electromagnetic waves damage human tissue, especially soft
tissue like the cells in the brain. The fight is over whether or
not the amount produced by cell phones is sufficient to do
damage. There is scientific evidence coming out of Europe that
would indicate it is true. In any case, using a 'hands-free'
attachment allows you to move your cell phone away from your
head. It can't hurt, and it does leave your hands free.
Cordless phones are not secure. Their signals can
be received by nearby listening devices including another
cordless phone tuned to the same frequency. This may not be
important to you but it's worth keeping in mind when offering
your credit card number for a purchase over the phone or making
plans for a vacation where you'll be leaving your home empty for
a period of time.
Long distance rates vary greatly from company to
company and plan to plan. The best rate for you depends mostly
on your calling habits. If you regularly spend say 300 minutes
per month on long distance calls, you may get the best price by
going with a plan that gives you a fixed monthly rate for up to
400 minutes. If you choose this kind of plan it is a good idea
to monitor your long distance use because you end up paying a
much higher premium for time you use over and above your cap.
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