I received a card from Verizon recently, they appear to be matching or come closer to the VOIP price for long distance. Based on the offer ID (included below) it may be targeted towards MA customers only. Please note they would nickel and dime you for all the extras beginning with Caller ID, Voice mail etc... Here's how the offer reads -

GET THE MOST
Unlimited calling for only $14.99 a month (plus taxes and fees)
with Verizon Freedom Value

Limited-time offer: Call today, 1-866-313-0765 (Mon.-Fri.; 8 am - 9 pm; Sat. 9 am - 5 pm) to find out how you can qualify for an American Express - branded Reward Card.

Advertised price includes local and long distance service discounts avaialable for 12 months to residential customers who change their existing local and long distance services from another service provider to Verizon Freedom Value.. Cannot be combined with other offers or promotions. At the end of the promotional period, standard retail rates will apply. Additional charges, taxes and terms apply. Service availibility varies. Plan includes residential direct-dialed calls onl. Offer expires 12/22/2007.

ID# - W0090716097MA

Is there a contract for this? From what you wrote there doesn't seem to be any.

"Taxes and Fees". Verizon has always hammered their customers with "Taxes and Fees." I have a phone from my cable company. It's $14.99 a month and there are no additional "Taxes and Fees". This is no Hot Deal.

I'm happy to say I have Vonage's unlimited home deal and a virtual Canadian # for a mere $19.99/mo.

The service has been great (after I figured out the my unsecured network was being leeched upon by the neighbors and reducing my bandwidth and killing my call quality--SECURE your networks, gang). Everytime Vonage makes a boo boo, I threaten to leave and they keep spiffing me.

Telling the telephone monopolies to kiss off was one of the happiest days of my life.

I've also been reading that we'll be using a Google system in the future that has "cell" phones that work strictly on wifi...no fees...

Now...to cable Internet service and ISPs...

I wonder if satellite will ever do it to make them obsolete?

Sweet,

I just called in and mentioned the promo. I have a loaded up plan with call waiting etc called the essentials, and they said I can have that plan for $24.95. I am currently paying $44.95, so saved $20/mo in 20 minutes. Thanks OP for making me call up Verizon!

FYI
Called Verizon CSR in NY asking about the Ma. rate for Freedom Essentials - unlimited us calling, call waiting, call forward, voice mail -- billed now at 42 dollars here. Very nice, she told me that the Ma. price was not available in NY but could give me 17 dollar/mo. discount for 12 months. You can do the arithmetic and recognize that YMMV.

dave316 said:i got the same card recently also, only difference was that mine said 19.99(ny area). i wouldnt mind going for this deal however would like to know how much are verizon fees nowadays. few years ago with verizon, fees were over $15. is there any verizon customer with the freedom value plan that would like share how much are fees.

I have Freedom Essentials as part of the $59.99 20/5 FIOS Double Freedom package. The taxes and fees are $12.69/month!!!!

FCC Access Fees, Local Fees and taxes kill any deal regular line deal compared to VOIP. However, I will give the edge in voice quality and reliability to a traditional telephone line. I went VOIP to avoid all those mandated fees. for what is basically emergency only service for me. I have internet (Cox), unlimited VOIP telephone (Teleblend), Cell (Sprint) for approximately $80/month including taxes. That doesn't include cable TV which I do not subscribe to