This page has undergone quite a transformation over the last 5 years. When these plans were first
unveiled, they were essentially something best described as con operations. Pyramiding schemes were setup
to sell these plans and everyone including the "agents" who sold them and the end customers who used them
were taken to the cleaners. VOIP systems of rather poor quality were setup and tied to local
service by various methods. People were inticed to "buy in" as agents with promises of lucrative
commissions and guaranteed paybacks, and customers were promised unlimited long
distance calling for a flat fee that ranged from $9.95 to well over $100.00 per month. Bottom line was that these companies collected as much as they could and then disappeared leaving agents and customers
with nothing to show for their money. A few of these may still be lurking around. If so, AVOID THEM.
The next incarnation of these plans was also designed to use the Internet to handle the calls.
The most popular of these (Vonage) is still around as of Spring 2004, BUT there are some serious
drawbacks. This is a technology that might have had some promise if not for the almost immediate
marketing of conventional unlimited calling plans by the major long distance carriers. The idea was to use
existing high-speed Internet connections to route phone calls for a flat fee. The problems are obvious.
First you had to have access to high-speed Internet by cable, which meant you were already spending
$40 to $60 per month. Then you had to be willing to give up your exisiting landline service if you
didn't want to pay double for local calling. Then you had to worry about non-existent 911 service,
extra charges for informational calls, and others, BUT the biggest drawback of all was reliability.
Conventional landlines don't even require that your power is working as they have their own DC powered
battery backed up systems, but they also don't require that YOUR Internet connection be up and reliable
AND that the VOIP servers are up and working, and that the traffic is not so heavy that quality is
degraded, ETC. The fee for this service is around $40 to $50 per month PLUS all the costs of cable
Internet and a conventional landline if you need emergency backup. How can this ever
be worth it?
Now major carriers have ALMOST unlimited long distance with a few caveats. Most of the major locals
around the country (including all the Baby Bells) now offer a combined local and unlimited long distance
plan IF you include ALL optional calling features, which means a total bill after taxes and goverment fees
of at least $61 to $80 or more in some areas. If you already have all the optional features and you
are spending $40 to $50 or more EACH AND EVERY MONTH WITHOUT FAIL, then this can be a good
deal. You must accept the fact that you can't make any type of data call on most of these plans. If
you read the fine print you will find that they prohibit calling dial-up Internet, faxes, and other electronic
data transfer type connections, as well as other restrictions. ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT FIRST
AND ONLY USE A MAJOR SUPPLIER. We can set you up with unlimited long distance on any phone
line in the US WITHOUT requiring that you add any optional services to your local calling for $29.95
per month. If you know you will be using more than 1000 minutes every month, then this can be the
plan for you. Business plans are also available for flat fees both from us and other major carriers.
You may send a request for information or order any of our plans by simply filling out
the form below. We can contact you by E-mail if you desire, although
we actually prefer to speak to you directly at your convenience.
We don't ask for any personal information over the Internet so just leave your name,
phone number and the best time to call, or leave only your name and E-mail
address if you don't want a return call. Leave any message you may have in the
text box at the bottom and press the submit button. You are not signing
up for any plan by filling out this form, nor are you obligated to accept anything
if we call.
You may also contact us by a variety of other methods, including a direct Net Phone
call (or voice-mail) over the Internet, an alphanumeric page, call us directly toll-free at
one of the numbers below, or fax us your bill for free analysis. You will almost
definitely get diverted to a voice-mail system during business hours as we REFUSE to
make people wait on hold for more than a minute. We will call you back at your
convenience at any time you specify if we can't take your call immediately.
Henton Communication Enterprises
Austin, Texas
Voice Number
512-778-5629
24 Hour Bill Faxing Line
512-778-5626
Toll-Free US Voice Calls Only
888-783-5204
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