Traditional Home Phone Service
On February 14, 1876, two inventors both independently designed devices that could electrically transmit speech -the telephone. Both reached the patent office within hours of each other. Alexander Graham Bell was the 5th patent logged on that day. Elisha Gray was the 39th. The rest is history. In today’s world, telephones are very common in households. There are many technologies and services available.
Allconnect partners with three different types of traditional phone companies:
- Regional Bell Operating Company (RBOC) such as Verizon, Qwest, AT&T
- Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) such as Cavalier
- Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) such as First Communications, Cox, Knology
Traditional Phones offer three calling types: Local Calling, Local Toll Calling, and Long Distance.
Your Local Phone Service offers Phone Number Assignment, Directory Listing Options, Additional Listing Options, Common Calling Features, and Advanced Calling Features. There are four Advanced Calling Features:
VOIP Service Providers
Voiceover Internet Protocol is a modern technology that offers telephone service using a high speed Internet connection. A regular phone or a computer with a microphone can be used and the customer can still call anyone with a normal phone number. Allconnect has partnered with several VOIP service providers to offer Voiceover IP phone service.
Equipment Needed for VOIP:
- Phone
- Adapter/Router
- High-Speed Modem
- High-Speed Internet Connection (DSL or Cable Internet)
VOIP Features Include:
- Unlimited Local Calls
- Long Distance Minutes (varies by plan)
- Call Forwarding
- Call Return
- Call Waiting
- Caller ID
- 3-Way Calling
- Voicemail Plus (receive notifications via email, online and on the phone)
- 911 dialing
- Fax machine compatibility (optional)
Digital Phone
Digital phone also uses the Voice-over-IP technology with one main exception--a DSL or Cable Internet connection is not required. Allconnect® has partnered with some cable companies to offer Digital phone including Buckeye CableSystem, Brighthouse Networks, Time Warner Cable, and Cox Communications.
Equipment Needed for Digital Phone:
- Phone
- Phone Wall Jack
- Cable Modem - required to transfer the calls through the phone lines, though Internet access is not required.
- NID Configuration - The installer configures the NID (Network Interface Device)--aka the gray box outside the house--to enable digital phone to be used through all phone jacks using the same line.
Digital Phone Features Include:
- Unlimited Local Calls
- Unlimited Long Distance (State-to-State)
- Call Forwarding
- Call Return
- Call Waiting
- Caller ID
- 3-Way Calling
- 911 dialing
Wireless Cell Phone Plans
Allconnect has partnered with Simplexity, LLC, an authorized dealer for AT&T, Nextel, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless wireless cell phone plans. You can compare rates, plans, and wireless devices so you can make an informed decision from a variety of wireless carriers.
Equipment Needed for Digital Phone:
- Wireless device (cell phone)
- Wireless cell phone calling plan
- Wireless data plan (if necessary)
Wireless Cell Phone Features May Include:
- Anytime minutes: A block of minutes used for calling during peak times (generally anywhere from 7am-7pm. Check with your provider.)
- Voicemail
- Data plan: The amount of data allowed for mobile web or email before incurring additional fees.
- Texting plan: The number of text messages allowed under your plan before incurring additional fees.
