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CopperCom Announces Multiple Customer Deployments

stabuev - tabuev@mail.ru — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:35:34 GMT

CopperCom at Fall VON made a series of announcements.

First, the company said Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company (NNTC), a cooperative in Jackson, Neb., is installing its Converged Switching eXchange (CSX) softswitch. NNTC also has purchased CopperCom�s Switchmaxx Unified Self-Care Web portal and Voicemaxx Web-enabled voice mail service.

NNTC supports approximately 7,100 access lines, serving 26 communities in rural Nebraska. The cooperative plans to offer IP services such as VoIP and IPTV, using the CSX softswitch.

Meanwhile, Ontario and Trumansburg Telephone Companies have completed the first stage of their deployment of CopperCom�s softswitches as part of a strategic network overhaul. The IOCs, based in upstate New York, have installed the first of two CopperCom CSX softswitches. The network will connect two service areas and allow the companies to roll out VoIP, broadband data, video, aggregated long-distance and other advanced services, as well as continue to provide legacy offerings.

The CopperCom CSX softswitches are being deployed with Occam broadband DSL equipment at two locations 50 miles apart and connected by a new fiber-optic network.

Ontario and Trumansburg Telephone Companies serve 11,000 customers.

Similarly, CopperCom also is working with S&A Telephone Co. in Kansas. That provider is using the CopperCom CSX as part of a major system upgrade so it can offer VoIP. S&A Telephone Co. already sells local and long-distance service, and DSL.

Finally, Swayzee Telephone Co. in Swayzee, Ind., too, has replaced its legacy switching system with the CSX switch. Swayzee Telephone Co. serves 1,100 subscriber lines, and provides DSL, wireless Internet, cable TV and DSS satellite systems.

Lightyear Alliance to Open Training Center in Indianapolis

stabuev - tabuev@mail.ru — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:30:15 GMT

Lightyear Alliance, a division of Lightyear Network Solutions, will on Saturday open a new development and training center in Indianapolis.

The company, which provides telecommunications products, says it plans to add more than 2,000 full and part-time sales agents in the next 18 months in the Indianapolis area.

Lightyear Network Solutions, a licensed and regulated public utility is opening a new development and training center with their Lightyear Alliance division this Saturday September 16, 2006.

A ribbon cutting ceremony with Lightyear Alliance President Josh Henderson, CEO and Founder Sherman Henderson and several other corporate executives will begin promptly at 9a.m. The center is located at 2495 Directors Row Suite A-B directly across from the Indianapolis Airport. Lightyear Alliance is less than a 3 year old division of Lightyear Network Solutions founded in 1993.

The Lightyear Alliance division offers a full buffet of telecommunications products including, but not limited to, joint ventures with all major wireless (cell-phones) and broadband internet providers.

Additional services include Lightyear traditional local and long distance phone service, business services, and the newest technology in over 100 years called Lightyear Xstream Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol or VoIP. VoIP offers substantial savings over traditonal phone lines with unlimited local and long distance service as low as $16.58 per month.

Lightyear Alliance currently has over 200 agents in the Indianapolis area with plans to expand that to over 2,000 full and part-time agents in the next 18 months.

If you would like more information on Lightyear Alliance checkout our local website at [ >>> ]

S&A Telephone Co. Upgrades and Simplifies Network with Deployment of CopperCom CSX Softswitch

stabuev - tabuev@mail.ru — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:28:36 GMT

--CopperCom today announced S&A Telephone Co. in Kansas will deploy a CopperCom Converged Switching eXchange (CSX(R)) next-generation switch as part of a major system upgrade. The deployment will simplify management of S&A’s network, and enable them to offer next-generation IP services, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), in the future.

«Our network had multiple legacy switches, and the upkeep and management was getting to be extremely expensive and time consuming,» said Janet Bathurst, general manager, S&A Telephone Co. «The CopperCom CSX will simplify system management, ease upkeep costs significantly, and moves us to more current, state-of-the-art technology.»

S&A Telephone Co. provides local telephone service to the Kansas communities of Allen, Admire and Scranton. The company offers telephone service, long-distance service, and DSL.

«The CSX will be a very cost effective solution for S&A, and it will certainly ease system management demands,» said Mel Ethem, vice president of sales, CopperCom. «Further, S&A is now well-positioned to expand its service offerings beyond legacy services.»

About CopperCom

CopperCom provides innovative, next-generation switching, portal and application solutions for communications carriers. The company develops and delivers comprehensive solutions for carriers making the challenging transition to next-generation services or deploying leading-edge IP networks, from the ground up. The combination of CopperCom’s technology and experienced management team make it the ideal partner for service providers seeking to flourish and expand in a competitive environment.

Headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla., CopperCom has been in the communications business for more than two decades. It is a subsidiary of The Heico Companies, an approximately $2.5 billion dollar diversified organization specializing in the management of sector-leading companies. Heico offers the corporate strength, resources and leadership necessary to support CopperCom’s growth. Additional information can be found at [ >>> ]

CopperCom is a trademark, and CSX a registered trademark of CopperCom Acquisition Corp.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risks and uncertainties.
Contacts
For CopperCom, Boca Raton, Fla.
Breakaway Communications
Patty Oien, 415–358–2482
Mobile: 510–303–7289
poien@breakawaycom.com

Whaleback Systems Announces Channel Distribution Strategy and Programs

stabuev - tabuev@mail.ru — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:27:19 GMT

-- Launches Whaleback Partner Program and Recruits Established Interconnect Companies to Sell the CrystalBlue Voice Service™ so SMBs can Benefit from the Economics, Functionality and Reliability of Broadband VoIP

Whaleback Systems™ today introduced the Whaleback Partner Program, a comprehensive channel program for interconnect companies~~including resellers, VARs and System Integrators~~to accelerate the distribution of Whaleback’s CrystalBlue Voice Service. As part of the announcement made at the Fall VON tradeshow, Whaleback also named the initial members of this program. Whaleback is a Managed Service Provider (MSP) and is the first and only company that has created a full-functionality, premises-based IP PBX with Key System Unit functionality ~~along with the necessary broadband-based telephony service infrastructure~~to offer a fully integrated, end-to-end broadband business telephony service for Small and Medium Business (SMB) customers.

«Channel partners can align with Whaleback to create added value in their offerings to their customers by offering small and medium businesses a premises-based managed broadband VoIP service,» said Mark Galvin, co-founder, president and CEO of Whaleback. «We offer a set of programs designed to appeal to a variety of qualified resellers, system integrators and VARs. Our unique business model creates a compelling business value to end customers while establishing a recurring monthly revenue stream, shortened sales cycle and low cost of entry for our partners.» By partnering with Whaleback, channel partners can:

-- Retain customer relationship and ownership by offering a fully managed VoIP service that frees customers from the limitations of IP Centrex services and the costs and hassles of internally managed IP PBX platforms. Channel partners can refresh their installed base of customers by offering a managed solution and they can address new markets with a reduced sales cycle.

-- Maintain hardware onsite so they can support moves, adds and changes for their customers.

-- Earn activation fees at the time of the sale by deploying the service.

-- Earn recurring monthly annuity payments for the life of each four-year customer contract.

Since Whaleback provides robust, 24X7 monitoring and management, channel partners can reduce their support costs and truck rolls and increase their profit while providing their customers with a highly reliable telephony service. Whaleback provides a Partner Demo Kit that allows channel partners to demonstrate the CrystalBlue Voice Service at their office. They can also leverage it as a portable demonstration that can be brought to the location of customers and prospects to show the call quality and ease of use of this managed service. Whaleback channel partners can also reduce their own telephony costs and are eligible for discounts on the CrystalBlue Voice Service.

«SMBs depend on trusted resellers, system integrators and VARs for reliable, easy-to-use solutions, and Whaleback offers a win-win-win solution,» said Galvin. «SMBs win by selecting a managed service that reduces their telephony costs and lets them take advantage of the economies of broadband cable or DSL connections--and the advanced features enabled by IP services. Our channel partners win because they no longer have to depend on IP PBX platforms offered by giant equipment manufacturers that were designed for large enterprises and stripped down to address the SMB market, and Whaleback benefits by reducing the costs of our business model by trusting our channel partners to offer CrystalBlue as a long-term telephony solutions for SMBs.»

Partners Enthusiastic About the CrystalBlue Voice Service

Whaleback channel partners are compensated for initial installation of the CrystalBlue Voice Service, and they receive ongoing revenue streams for the life of the customer contract. Since Whaleback provides robust 24x7 monitoring, channel partners can offer their customers and prospects reliable VoIP services delivered over cable or DSL networks.

According to Gus DiPopolo, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Quality Communications, «We like the concept of a premises-based VoIP service because typical small and medium businesses can easily identify the value it offers. We are partnering with Whaleback because CrystalBlue is a unique premises-based, managed service. It allows us to deliver high value to our customers and provides a recurring revenue stream that functions like an annuity for our business.»

Stephen Mannarino, President of AmeriCom Voice and Data, said, «Whaleback has a voice solution that clearly meets the needs of the SMB market. The CrystalBlue Voice Service delivers strong voice functionality to our customers and it reduces costs for us and for our customers. As a managed service, CrystalBlue helps us eliminate the need to roll trucks to support our customers, and it allows our customers to take advantage of the economics and features of broadband voice.»

Whaleback Partners

The following firms are founding members of the Whaleback Partner Program:

Accu-Tel is headquartered in Rollinsford, NH and it serves the telecommunications needs of small and medium businesses in Southern New Hampshire and Southeast Maine.

AmeriCom Voice and Data is a comprehensive technology company based in Norwood, Massachusetts. AmeriCom sells, installs and maintains telecommunication systems, data products, security system and health care automation systems. For more information, visit www.americominc.com.

Comm-4 specializes in communication and secure data solutions. For more information, visit www.comm-4.com.

ComputerSmith Consulting, LLC provides service and support to small businesses seven days a week. Its team of IT professionals helps organizations regain control of computers and networks. For more information, visit www.computersmithllc.com.

C.S. & M Tele-Systems is based in Tiverton, RI. The firm sells, installs and maintains telephone systems and computer networks. For more information, visit www.cmstelco.com.

Quality Communications is a full-service communications firm with expertise in the design, installation and maintenance of telephone systems and data networks. Founded in 1987, Quality Communications has grown into one of the most successful communications firms in the Metropolitan New York area. Based in New Jersey, Quality Communications has installed and currently maintain systems in 33 states. For more information, visit www.qcnj.com.

Direct Access Systems (DAS) is a premier managed solutions provider of conferencing and collaboration technologies. For more information, visit www.directaccessinc.com.

EmersonTel provides infrastructure, equipment and consultative services to the small-to-medium business community of southern New Hampshire and the New Hampshire seacoast.

Kent Communications specializes in providing a variety of telecommunications services to New Hampshire businesses. For more information, visit www.kentcomsystems.com.

Logic Communications is based in Franklin, MA and it engages in the services and installation of high-quality, leading-edge communication technology, network systems and peripherals. For more information, visit www.logiccommunications.com.

Mid-Atlantic Communications is based in Avoca, PA and is a regional communications solutions provider serving nearly 4,000 business customers throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. For more information, visit www.midatl.com.

NetTel Systems is based in Weymouth, MA and offer a full range of business communications solutions including desktop call control, paging, networking, IP solutions, voice mail, unified messaging and call distribution. For more information, visit www.nettelsystems.com.

Premier Studios is a full-service media production company. Premier has been servicing national and international clients since 1988. For more information, visit www.premierstudios.com.

Telnet Systems is a leading provider of telephone, data network and converged business solutions to small businesses throughout New England. For more information, visit www.telnetsystems.com.

TMT-Excel Communications is based in Hauppauge, NY, and offers superior, customized and dependable business telephone system solutions. Its customer base exceeds 2,000 business, commercial, industrial, healthcare and education organizations throughout the tri-state area. For more information, visit www.tmtexcel.com.

TNCI is a leading national telecommunications provider delivering an unmatched balance of industry experience and stability. TNCI offers are a range of solutions including local and long distance service, audio/web conferencing, dedicated IP, integrated voice and data services, private line, frame relay and enhanced network solutions. For more information, visit www.tncii.com.

To Apply For Membership

Whaleback is aggressively recruiting qualified integrators, VARs and resellers. To apply for membership, visit www.whalebacksystems.com/partners and read more about the advantages of becoming a Whaleback channel partner and fill out an online application and you will be contacted by a Whaleback representative shortly.

About Whaleback Systems

Whaleback Systems is a Managed Service Provider (MSP) and the pioneering developer of the first business phone solution built from the ground up for broadband. Unlike traditional systems, the Whaleback CrystalBlue Voice Service is 100 percent premises-based and software-driven. It includes the only IP PBX with Key System Unit features and Road Warrior Functionality. Whaleback’s all-inclusive, unlimited nationwide calling package makes the most advanced technology immediately affordable for companies that need between 5 and 1,500 phone stations. The Whaleback service is available through partnerships with channel partners and VARs. For more information, visit www.WhalebackSystems.com.

Consumer Reports Rates Cordless Phones and Tips for Reducing Phone Bill

stabuev - tabuev@mail.ru — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:21:07 GMT

Ratings reveal which performed best based on voice quality and features.

The world may be going cellular at a rapid rate, but the humble cordless phone still holds a place in many homes. Consumer Reports’ October issue features ratings of 47 cordless phones that are divided into four categories — single and multiple-handset varieties and with and without answering machines.

CR Best Buy models include cordless phones made by Uniden, AT&T and GE. For consumers considering a cordless phone without a built-in answerer, CR recommends the single-handset Uniden EXI 4246, AT&T 2116, and GE 27831GE1, all CR Best Buys for their overall performance, combination of features and price. For multiple-handset phones, CR recommendations include the feature-packed Uniden TRU 9465, and CR Best Buy AT&T E2718B that comes with more handsets; both performed very well overall.

Cordless phones featuring an answerer often cost little more than comparable phone-only models and take up about the same space. The single-handset AT&T E2126, is a CR Best Buy due to its very good performance and sensible set of features for a very good price. CR Quick Picks in the multiple-handset with answerer category include AT&T 5947B, VTech i6765, and AT&T E2727B, which is also a CR Best Buy. These integrated fine performance and a practical blend of features, although the VTech and AT&T E2727B one extension limit makes it less suitable for larger homes.

Shopping for a cordless phone:

* Decide between analog and digital. Phones using analog transmission tend to be less expensive and have better voice quality; however, they are more susceptible to eavesdropping than digital phones.

* Settle on desired features. Most models feature caller ID, a headset jack and a base that can be wall-mounted. As a general rule, the more feature-laden the phone, the higher its price. CR’s report includes a section on features that count when choosing a cordless phone, which can make calling more convenient such as, a speakerphone, a base keypad, and power backup.

* Make sure you can return it. Check the return policy before making a purchase in case unexpected problems occur once the product is brought home that cannot be resolved, such as wireless interference.

Five Ways to Cut Phone Bills

Telephone technology has undergone drastic changes in recent years. Competition among providers and the advent of new services have lowered costs in some cases, and raised them in others, and complicated the decision process in choosing a reasonably-priced and reliable service provider. CR offers the following tips to lower phone service costs without sacrificing safety:

1. Switch to Internet phoning. Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, transmits phone calls via a high-speed Internet connection. It can save consumers about $400 a year, since monthly plans start at about $20 a month, include unlimited local and long-distance calling and are not as heavily taxed as conventional phone services. Disadvantages include two requirements — a broadband Internet connection from a cable or DSL provider, which can cost $40 or more altogether, and AC power. If the power or internet connection goes out so does the phone service.

2. Using a cell phone for everything. Some consumers are dropping landline phone service all together and relying solely on their cell phone to cut costs. National anytime minutes plans featuring 500 minutes generally cost $40 to $50 a month. Unfortunately, the voice quality of a cell phone still lags behind that of a landline and service may not be available everywhere, including certain places in a consumer’s own home.

3. Trade down to a cheaper cell phone plan. A consumer may not be using all the monthly minutes he or she pays for a cell phone plan. Some providers offer plans with 200 to 300 minutes that cost between $30 and $40 which are cheaper than the promotional plans they tend to push to consumers. The downside of a less expensive plan is if a consumer goes over the allotted time, the extra cost can be 10 cents to 45 cents a minute, which can erase any savings.

4. Take a local/long distance bundle. Buying unlimited long-distance and local service from the same landline provider can cost about $35 to $55 a month. Long-distance service alone can cost that much, so essentially the local service is free. However, consumers who don’t make many long-distance calls can save money by buying phone services ’a la carte or using prepaid calling cards.

5. Buy a phone card for long distance. Prepaid long-distance calling cards are useful for those who do not make many long-distance landline calls and are also handy for avoiding excessive long-distance fees at hotels. They generally cost between 4 and 15 cents a minute and can save a consumer about $150 a year if he or she averages 50 minutes of long-distance calls a week. However, phone cards generally require a lot of extra number punching and some tack on connection fees and other charges. A landline provider might also charge a fee for dropping long-distance service.

Plenty of routes to take to save money on calls

stabuev - tabuev@mail.ru — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:11:51 GMT

NEW YORK — With the advent of cell phones, Internet phoning and new technologies such as Skype, you can save a lot of money on long-distance (and local) calls. But it can also be confusing to navigate the myriad options and still get the best service for your buck. Consumer Reports offers some suggestions on how to save:

� TRY INTERNET PHONING. It’s not as complicated as it sounds. To get started, you need something called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which relays phone calls via a high-speed Internet connection. Service costs about $20 a month or more and offers unlimited local and long distance calls -- which could save you about $400 a year if you already have high-speed Internet. You’ll also pay less in taxes. Check with your cable company to see if it offers a package with your cable or DSL, or try a company such as Vonage, which specializes in VoIP. Just remember, you must have an Internet connection and electricity for it to work -- so have a basic landline as a backup.

� GO TOTALLY MOBILE. You could get rid of the landline altogether and save. Just get a cell phone plan that offers you enough national anytime minutes. Cell phone connections are still less reliable than landlines, however, so be sure that your phone works in all areas of your home. And if you live in a rural area, be sure that your local emergency operator has an enhanced technology called E911, which allows operators to get locations for cellular callers.

� SHOP. You can find a cheaper cell phone plan -- you just have to look. The plans that are promoted by the cell phone companies may not be right for you, and you could find a better one just by doing a little digging. Call your cell phone carrier or look at its Web site for more options. Read your bill carefully -- are you paying for services such as text messaging and picture mail that you don’t even use?

� BUNDLE YOUR LOCAL AND LONG-DISTANCE CALLS. Some companies, AT&T and Verizon for instance, allow you to buy unlimited long-distance and local service from the same company. Determine your calling habits -- do you make a lot of long-distance calls? If so, it might be worth it.

� PHONE CARDS STILL WORK. These prepaid cards can save you a lot, especially when you’re staying in a hotel that gouges on its calling rates. If you don’t make a ton of long-distance calls, the phone card might be a good option. Shop for them at warehouse clubs such as Sam’s to get really good deals. If you do your research, you could get rates as low as 3.5 cents a minute.

Yvonne Zanos: Comcast admits overcharge, makes amends to customer

stabuev - tabuev@mail.ru — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:09:03 GMT

Q. I turned in my converter box to Comcast three years ago. I just found out that I have been charged $3.79 every month for the past three years for a converter box that I no longer have. When I complained to Comcast, I was told it was my responsibility to call it to their attention. Robin from customer service informed me that they only had to credit me six months. Shouldn’t the company be responsible for removing these charges from my bill?

GERALDINE RYAN
Lawrenceville

A. The company agrees with you, Geraldine. Comcast’s Jody Doherty asked customer care agents to research your account. You are correct. The three years worth of $3.79 monthly payments were deducted in error. Ms. Doherty says Comcast will give you a full refund of all 36 or so payments, along with its apology.

«Mrs. Ryan is a valued customer,» said Ms. Doherty. «Comcast prides itself on stellar service and we thank her for bringing this problem to our attention.»

So what happened to the «we only have to refund six months worth of payments»? You were charged for a service you did not receive. Unless you signed a contract that specifically gives a company a refund deadline, there is no six-month limit on errors.

Company reps might say they can only refund six months. That may be all that particular person is authorized to refund; to get the rest, perhaps you have to talk to a supervisor.

Company reps might tell you it is their company policy to refund only six months. That could well be true, but that does not mean you have to accept the company policy. That policy is often based on how many months of easy computer access a customer rep has.

Just because a customer service person tells you that refunds are limited to three months or six months doesn’t make it so by law.

That said, this is another example of why it is important to look closely at what we are paying for on our monthly bills. Mistakes happen and the sooner we catch them, the easier they are to fix.

Q. When I opened my Verizon bill, I was surprised by a $2 charge for long-distance service that I never knew I had. I didn’t order it. Verizon said I had this «timeless» long-distance plan for a while. Before there had been no monthly fee and no charge if I didn’t make any long-distance calls. Now Verizon says I have to pay $2 a month not to make long-distance calls and if I don’t want to pay the fee, I have to pay Verizon $5 to take the charge off. What’s going on?

CHUCK BERTRAM
Plum

A. Verizon is doing what AT&T did a while back, surprising old customers with a new charge. In fact, that may be how many of you became Verizon «timeless» customers. Back when AT&T started charging customers a monthly fee for a long-distance service few people realized they had, you might have switched to Verizon’s no-monthly-fee plan.

The people most likely to be surprised by this charge are those who rarely, if ever, make long-distance telephone calls. If you were on this «timeless plan» and didn’t make long-distance calls, you wouldn’t see any sign of the timeless program on your bill.

As of Aug. 1, that changed. Customers listed under Verizon’s «timeless plan» will now be charged a $2 monthly fee that will allow them to make in-state long-distance and state-to-state, direct-dialed long-distance calls for 10 cents a minute.

If you don’t want to pay that $2 charge, you can change to a different Verizon long-distance plan and pay 35 cents per minute with no monthly fees. You can say you want to drop long-distance plans altogether or you can switch long-distance carriers.

Verizon’s Lee Gierczynski said there is no fee for switching plans or dropping long-distance. There is a $5 fee for switching from one long-distance company to another.

SUSAN TOMPOR: Use easy filing method for phone tax refund

stabuev - tabuev@mail.ru — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:06:02 GMT

My husband does an amazing job filing old bills. So I had no doubt he could dig up more than three years’ worth of MCI bills if we ever wanted to actually calculate a refund on our 2006 federal income tax return for a now-defunct, long-distance phone tax.

My husband found those bills -- or most of them. We quickly concluded that we’re not going to make big money by trying to file yet another tax form.

I doubt whether you would, either. So maybe we don’t need to feel guilty if we opt for the easy out on this one.

Refund based on excise tax

Recently, the Internal Revenue Service announced guidelines for a onetime tax refund based on the old excise tax on long-distance phone service. The refund is available to anyone who paid long-distance taxes on landline, cell phone or Voice over Internet Protocol service.

The federal government lost a series of cases in which courts held that the 108-year-old tax didn’t apply to long-distance service as it’s billed today. The government stopped collecting the excise tax on long-distance service as of July 31.

The IRS refund applies to the excise taxes paid after Feb. 28, 2003, and before Aug. 1, 2006.

To get the easy money, taxpayers only have to fill out one additional line on their 2006 income tax return. You don’t need your old bills. You won’t have to itemize deductions to get this refund.

And if you don’t typically file a tax return because you don’t owe taxes, you’d want to file what’s called a Form 1040EZ-T to get the phone refund.

The standard refunds are:

� A maximum refund of $60 for a family of four or more.
� A $50 refund for a family of three.
� A $40 refund for two.
� A $30 refund for a single filer.

«It’s going to be based on the number of exemptions you’re claiming on your 2006 tax return,» said E. H. Rubinsky, tax analyst for RIA, a provider of tax information and software to tax professionals.

«They’re trying to simplify this.»

The IRS said the standard amount is based on telephone usage data and reflects the tax paid by similar-size households.

The most recent rate for the excise tax was 3%.

Then again, individuals who think they’re being shortchanged also have the option of calculating the tax by finding their old bills and filling out the new Form 8913.

But because the IRS refund applies to the excise taxes paid dating back more than three years, filers would potentially need to dig up 41 months of old phone records.

Many tax experts suggest that consumers simply take the refund money on the table and skip the scavenger hunt for old bills.

«Leave that garbage bag at home, where it belongs. Don’t bring it to my office,» joked James Jenkins, president of Jenkins & Co., a tax firm in Southfield.

Paperwork hunt

To check this out, I looked at our old bills.

My husband and I have our long-distance service through one carrier. Our local service is through another carrier. So we needed only the long-distance bills from MCI.

But it helps to eyeball a few bills to see what kind of taxes you’ve been paying.

At our house, we’d get $50 without digging up any bills. That’s the standard refund for two parents and one child.

The actual excise tax?

A random look at our bills showed that we paid anywhere from 35 cents to 55 cents a month from 2003 through the time the tax expired.

For example, we paid 55 cents for the tax on our long-distance bill in June 2006. That bill totaled $21.17.

Say we even paid 60 cents a month each month for 41 months, we’d still be talking about only $24.60 in excise taxes.

The standard refunds start looking more reasonable.

Yes, the tax refund includes some interest. But we’re also talking about extra work digging up bills -- and filling out forms.

Certainly, there are exceptions.

If you’re single and someone who uses long-distance a lot, you might come up with a bigger refund on your own.

Or if you have more than one phone service, say, long-distance service for a landline and cell phone service, you might be able to get a bigger refund by finding your old bills, said Maggie Doedtman, tax advice manager for H&R Block in Kansas City, Miss.

But in most cases, don’t waste your time digging.

Telephone tax refunds

� Businesses and nonprofits are required to base their telephone tax refund on the actual amount of the tax paid. The IRS last week said it is continuing to work on a reasonable method for estimating those
� Remember, the excise tax continues to apply to local service. The IRS does not refund taxes on local service.
� Individuals are expected to receive about $10 billion in telephone tax refunds next year, economists at the U. S. Department of Treasury say.

Company targets immigrants with prepaid phone cards

stabuev - tabuev@mail.ru — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:01:55 GMT

Maria Hernandez, the manager of Bodega Yakimex, re-stocks store shelves with long-distance phone cards last week in Yakima. The store stocks 70 different types of phone cards. All phone cards are not created equal, and some cards are not the good deal they seem.

Viscom International has targeted three areas for expansion this year.

Salt Lake City, Kansas City and Yakima.

That’s right, Yakima.

For the Atlanta-based company, the Valley is the perfect market for its sole product: a prepaid card to call Mexico.

The boom for domestic prepaid phone cards � which provide allotted minutes to call long distance � has passed with the rise of cell phones with free long distance.

But there’s still a huge market for international calling cards. And much of that is from new immigrants who want to call relatives back home, said Fedor Smith, vice president of Atlantic ACM, a telecommunications consulting company.

Immigrants helped Viscom bring in $14 million last year. But its still a small company in the phone card market. A competitor, IDT, reported revenues of $2.47 billion last year.

The Valley’s large Mexican farm-worker population attracted Viscom, said Christina Steiner, Viscom vice president of marketing. The company focuses on second- and third-tier cities with large Mexican populations, where advertising costs are less expensive.

«As a market, it’s great to have a focus,» she said. «It’s easier to really be able to understand the nuances of your market.»

GORDON KINGYakima Herald-Republic

Calling cards come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors with each carrying different plans and costs.
Many residents find phone cards a cheaper way to keep up with friends and family.

«On my cell phone it’s really expensive,» said Pamela Ramirez, a Yakima resident who began using cards five years ago when she moved here from Mexico.

With a $5 phone card, Ramirez said she can talk for about 6 hours. It would cost her $72 to talk that long on her cell phone.

The Bodega Yakimex on North First Street sells about 3,000 cards a week, said store manager Maria Hernandez.

Phone cards are also popular at Fiesta Foods, a chain with a heavy focus on Mexican products. Customers at its Sunnyside and Pasco stores receive a 5 percent discount on phone cards, said owner Craig Gaylord.

Gaylord uses them himself to call friends in Mexico.

«The difference between (phone cards) and long distance (charges) is unbelievable,» he said.

There are so many competitors for the market that prices have reached rock bottom in an attempt to attract consumers.

«It’s very much a price-centric market,» Smith, of Atlantic ACM, said.

The front wall at the Bodega Yakimex’s customer service counter is covered with posters for different phone cards. Some have quirky names and pictures and bold advertisements promising hundreds of minutes � one even promises a 1,000 minutes for $5.

But it’s questionable whether every one of the cards can keep their bold promises.

Some cards don’t mention that many minutes are lost paying for a variety of fees, said Joe Ridout, a spokesman for Consumer Action, a nationwide nonprofit consumer education and advocacy group.

There can be fees to connect calls, for card maintenance, for taxes or for using them at a pay phone. Once those fees are tacked on, consumers may end up only getting fraction of the minutes they’ve been promised, Ridout said.

One Spanish-speaking customer reported that he was only able to speak for 25 minutes on a card that promised 90 minutes, he said.

Other cards may route calls via the Internet or second-rate phone carriers that can reduce call quality.

«The quality can vary, from very clear phone calls to ones that are very poor,» Ridout said.

Consumers should buy one card and try it out, he said. They should also search for a customer service number. If there’s one, they should call and ask for a full description of fees.

«There’s a lot of solid and reputable companies,» he said. «You just have to go there with your eyes wide open.»

Since entering the Yakima market in January, Viscom has sold 25,000 of its Best Mexico cards. It’s only a small part of the market. The company is focused on developing a solid reputation to lure a larger part of the market in the long run, Steiner said.

The cards don’t offer as many minutes as some other cards, but the company tries to keep fees to a minimum and connect the calls through well-known carriers, such as Sprint, to ensure quality.

«Once the consumer uses the card and experiences that quality, then word of mouth is the best advertising tool,» she said. «And in that community, word spreads quickly.»

<25A0> Mai Hoang can be reached at 577–7685 or mhoang@yakimaherald.

Looking for a phone card.

* Read the fine print: Advertising signs promise lots of minutes. But check the fine print about fees or other catches.

* Note all the possible fees: Often cards promise «no connection fees.» But there are still plenty of other fees, such as those for using cards on pay phones. Sometimes fees are imposed simply for keeping the card over a certain period of time. The fees can reduce dramatically the amount minutes available on the card.

* Look for a customer service number: At times, the fine print won’t disclose all relevant information. Call and ask about all possible fees. If there isn’t a customer service number, or there isn’t a person at that number, it’s a sign the company is not legitimate.

* Determine your usage: For making short calls abroad, a phone card that charges a high connection fee per call will cost more. For cards used to make a few long phone calls, look for the lowest rate.