If you are paying high rates for long distance, then it's really time to change. All the carriers that I review on these pages are high quality services with very cheap rates. Most have no monthly fee, and they will all treat you well. If you would rather skip this review, go to my long distance comparison to see the details of my four recommended carriers side-by-side.
Sign up for Pioneer Telephone online - click here
Overall impressions
Pioneer Telephone really impresses me. It's a high quality service with customers who really like the company (always a good sign). The rates are extremely cheap -- the cheapest overall from what I've seen. The website looks good and, more importantly, works well. Choose a plan and you will quickly have the key rates and details in front of you. There is also a FAQ section with lots more information if you need it. If you are looking for a new long distance carrier, I think you'll be very happy with this choice.
Int'l Rate Examples
Australia 5.9¢
Brazil 6.9¢
Canada 5.9¢
Chile 4.9¢
China 4.9¢
France 4.5¢
Germany 4.5¢
Greece 4.9¢
India 20.9¢
Indo 6.9¢
Iran 19.9¢
Israel 4.9¢
Italy 4.9¢
Japan 5.9¢
Malaysia 5.9¢
Mexico 17.9¢
Nigeria 10.9¢
Philipp 22.9¢
Poland 5.9¢
Russia 4.5¢
Sing 4.9¢
S Africa 12.5¢
S Korea 5.9¢
Spain 4.9¢
Taiwan 5.5¢
Thail 5.9¢
UK 4.9¢
Rates as of 00/2007.
Bold rates are the best in my comparison.
Calling plans, rates and fees
3.25¢/min plan -
Pioneer Telephone starts off with the cheapest interstate rate in my long distance comparison, and then it keeps getting better. Both the international and in-state long distance rates are among the cheapest of all the carriers I've reviewed. And if you call another Pioneer customer, the rate is just 1.9¢/minute. Despite the low rates, calls are billed in 6 second increments.
2.7¢/min plan -
This plan is the same as above, but calls are billed in one minute increments (rounded up to the nearest whole minute). If most of your long distance calls are short, choose the first plan. But if you call long distance and spend a long time talking on the phone, this is probably the better deal.
Both plans -
There is no monthly fee with either of these plans if you view your statements and manage your account online. There is a 99¢ per month charge if you request paper billing statements in the mail. You must pay by credit card or by auto-debit from a bank account.
The rates to Alaska and Hawaii have increased to 12¢/min in the past year. The international rates are very cheap but not quite the cheapest of the carriers I recommend. If you need a long distance plan with better rates to these states or to a specific country, you may find a better provider in my comparison.
Business users -
Pioneer's combination of cheap rates and excellent customer service make it a very good long distance carrier for business calling. Pioneer can also provide you with a toll free number with free setup and the same low rates.
Customer support / user experience
One of the best reason to choose Pioneer Telephone is the way they treat their customers. This begins with a toll free customer support number that you can call and talk with a live person. You can also contact Pioneer by email or online if you prefer.
Extra features
Pioneer provides toll free numbers with free setup for just 99¢ per month. Toll free numbers can receive incoming calls from the USA and Canada. These calls are billed the same low rates as outgoing calls.The incoming toll free service for Alaska and Hawaii has high rates compared with other carriers I've featured here.
Conclusions
Pioneer Telephone was an easy "Editor's Choice" in comparison with the other long distance carriers that I've reviewed here. Pioneer is excellent in almost every way. They provide extremely low rates, great service, and clear communication with no hidden fees. Unless you have a specific reason to choose another carrier, Pioneer seems like a great choice to me.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment