[AlpineRose]

Does anyone have a good idea on how to save on Internet access? My current annual internet + phone cost is the same as my gas + electricity, which I think is too high. Several tools I found through googling measure my download speed at 8 Mpbs. Don't know how accurate these measurements are. With only one computer used only for basic stuff - e-mail and web browsing, I could probably get by with less.

[Joey]

If comcast is available where you live, then you might want to investigate the cost of phone plus internet from them. We are doing this. The phone is local + unlimited long distance. We get about 27.5 Mpbs down and 5.8 up.

[NacMacFeegle]

Centurylink has a monopoly in my area- 10mbps, 60 bucks a month when bundled with a land line.

[mike]

[Randito]

Why do you have "phone" service ? With Skype and/or Google voice you only need internet service. Skype also offers a phone number service so that you can have a "phone number" that people can call you using "land lines" or "cell phones" cost is $5 per month. Google voice also supports a phone number service at no cost (except a $10 fee to change the number -- initial setup no cost)

[mike]

[NacMacFeegle]

[AlpineRose]

btw, a rep at one of internet provider services claims FCC says providers are supposed to guarantee within 20% of the published internet speed. A gentle reminder, dear readers, I am only asking about ideas for reducing internet cost, not the merits or demerits of a landline.

[mike]

Well the bottom line was that a bundle with internet and phone is the cheapest deal I've found as NMF says. Your situation probably is different...

[gb]

Yes, I've got the Century Link combo as well in Seattle. At the time I joined (not now) Century Link guaranteed 5 years at a price of 64.95 but that worked out to 85 dollars after taxes. Prior to initiating internet service the phone alone w/o long distance was 46+/mo., so the internet costs nearly 40. I do find the service reliably good. I think the land line is superior to modem based phone service - but I don't have anything but a cheap emergency cellphone that can be activated for 25 for 3 mos. from AT&T. I don't see myself getting a regular cellphone as i don't think I need it. Before going with the 5 year plan (which I am not contractually required to endure) I tried Comcast. They had a one year 19.95 deal which ended up being about 26/mo. After one year the 19.95 went to 32 for another six months, then they wanted about 50. I went to their office and stood in line for about an hour and they made me a feeble 6 mo. offer that was nearer the 32 (don't recall). However, after quitting Comcast, I was told I could have gotten 24.95. I felt like Comcast was trying to set the hook and dealing with them every six months was a pain in the a#$. Century Link service is much better although the price is nearly as much.

[marzsit]

i've also got centurylink service, the dsl and landline runs $75 a month here in kent. it would probably be more than that, but since i had the same service in my last apartment they moved the service to my new home and didn't charge me disconnect/reconnect fees either. as far as the speed goes, it's usually 8-10 mbps except on the weekends.. sometimes it's slow but, the connection is always up so i really can't complain. one of my neighbors has comcast and it's frequently down, so he sometimes calls me and begs to use my wifi..

[Randito]

FWIW: I'm in Zipcode 98008 and currently on Comcast for $30+taxes / month For a while I would switchback and forth between CenturyLink and Comcast internet only service to get six-months of "introductory pricing" That got tedious after a few years and when Comcast was about to bump me out of their "introductory pricing" I called them up and was able to convince them to indefinitely extend the "introductory pricing" period. I have good cell signal at my house -- so calling *911 wouldn't be a problem at home. If I was in an area without cell signal -- I guess I would just need to call the fire station and/or police via their direct numbers instead of dialing 911 -- like we did in the old days.

[Magellan]

Some people have their cable, internet, and phone through the same company. What if it's down? Then you have nothing. I still have a landline. I hate paying the (recently raised to) $28/month, but I want that 911 service. I have kids, so that is a big influence.

[treeswarper]

How do you check the speed? I have Centurylink. I don't know whether it is a slow connection or my computer, but when I watch shows on line, there are a lot of pixel/blurry images that pop up a lot and I can't see. Otherwise, I'd disconnect the satellite TV.

[Joey]