Press Room

Quick Fix: Getting an 800 Number

April 12, 2005 - The Problem: Your child rarely calls home.

The Solution: Consider an 800 number for the family. These services have been around for years, but often with exorbitant per-minute charges. Now prices are dropping, though they can still add up. Kall8, an add-on to your regular phone service, costs $2 to set up and $2 a month; most incoming calls are 6.9 cents per-minute.

Though the monthly fees are often higher, traditional phone carriers offer the service too. AT&T and SBC charge $2.95 a month; AT&T calls are 15 cents per-minute and SBC's per-minute price is a dime; neither charges a setup fee. Even Internet-calling companies now have the service. Vonage, for example, levies a $9.99 setup fee and $4.99 per month, for 100 minutes of calls. Such providers can be attractive for heavy users.

The Caveat: Calls made from a pay phone typically cost an extra 25 cents to 50 cents.