Staying knowledgeable about local and long distance carrier information will help you speak authoritatively with your phone representative. If you are aware of what is going on in the industry, with your current provider and its competitors, you can easily work what is going on with the economy and their competition to your advantage. For example, if you follow the trends and see that rates are dropping across the board because of stiff competition between carriers, don't hesitate to contact your provider and hint that you are planning go elsewhere. See what they can do renegotiate your contract.

Local and long distance information resources can include watching news items brought to light by the media, catching press releases put out by local and long distance carriers as well and signing up for information from your current carrier.

To find out the latest information on local and long distance information resources:

1. Keep current on national and international long distance information.

2. Use metasites to stay up-to-date on national long distance information, including comparative pricing.

3. Watch for the latest in local telephone information resources to stay on top of the latest information as well as to help keep your rates low.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Stay up-to-date on national and international long distance information

Keep current on the latest news from national and international long distance information providers. Watch press release items as well as stories broke by the press.

I recommend: Find out the latest news on long distance telephone reference materials and carriers from Yahoo! Finance. Newsvine offers up-to-date national long distance information for businesses and individuals.

Take advantage of metasites for national long distance information

Use metasites for national long distance information. Use their news features to stay abreast of the news items, and take advantage of their comparative pricing guides to get the best rates.

I recommend: LongDistanceUS.com gives you the latest in telecom news. They also can help you with residential home long distance and small business long distance services by ranking the lowest cost and best quality long distance phone carrier information and plans available on the market. Find additional international long distance information and news information from PhoneDog. They can also help you compare long distance phone service resources and plans.

Look to local telephone information resources

Find out the most current local telephone information resources to stay on top of the topic and help keep your rates low.

I recommend: Find local telephone information resources at CNET. There you can find a string of the latest stories on local phone services. When working with a specific company in your area, for example Qwest, sign up for their company newsletter to keep current on their latest local and long distance telephone information news, product tips and special online offers that can benefit your business.

Local and long distance information resources help you make smart decisions about your telephone needs. They can also help you to locate the phone numbers of the businesses you want to call.

Telephone needs are changing and more companies are working to serve those needs. While you often have just one choice of phone for a traditional landline, you can search for long distance calling information to decide which carrier offers the best rate plan for you.

When searching through local and long distance carrier information:

1. Think about how you will use your phone before you decide on a carrier. Long distance phone service resources will help you choose the carrier that's right for you.

2. Make sure you have easy access to a phone number directory. Many phone companies provide a phone book for your local area. You can look online for national long distance information.

3. Stay up-to-date with local and long distance information resources to make sure that you are getting the best deal based on your telephone usage.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use local and long distance phone service information from the government

The government offers some of the best resources to understanding telephone use. This should be your first stop when you need to find information.

I recommend: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) offers a convenient explanation of the charges on your phone bill. Use this resource to understand unexpected charges on your bill. They also offer international long distance information from the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, including how to call and how to choose a carrier.

Use long distance and local telephone information resources to look up phone numbers

There are many times that you want to call a particular business but you don't have the number. Or perhaps you are looking for a particular type of business in a city. You can easily find the phone numbers of businesses and individuals through phone directories.

I recommend: The White Pages and Yellow Pages are popular resources for finding phone numbers. White Pages focuses on residential phone numbers while the Yellow Pages lists business numbers. You may have a copy of these books for your local area, but the online version comes in handy when you need to look at another city.

Find long distance telephone reference materials to help you make calls

Calling becomes more complicated once you start calling outside of your local area. You need access to all the codes you may need to use when calling.

I recommend: Each state (and many cities) has its own area code. You need to know this number if you want to call someone. You can easily look up the area codes for a given area through the NANPA website. CountryCodes.com allows you to search for the country code you need when you call internationally.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You can also get local and long distance telephone information by calling 411. The operators at this number can help you locate the phone number of an individual or company, no matter what city. This is convenient when you are not near a computer or phone book.

The days when all local and long distance information resources could be found in the front of the local telephone directory are long gone. Now, there are a variety of companies offering a variety of services for hard wired, wireless, business, and residential telephone lines. You can use a variety of long distance and local telephone information resources to get local and long distance telephone information.

Long distance telephone reference materials are still available in the telephone directory, but that's just the beginning. More information is available online, and it varies from carrier to carrier and there are several different plans available at every carrier depending upon your circumstances. You can even find national long distance information and international long distance information in books, but that information is probably outdated by the time it is published.

1. Research the different carriers and plans that offer wired and wireless local and long distance phone service information and plans.

2. Evaluate local phone carrier information and long distance phone carrier information to select the best plan for you.

3. Ensure that all your wireless and wired needs are addressed as you review local and long distance information resources advice and ratings.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Review your various options for local toll and long distance information

You can obtain local toll and long distance information from the front of your telephone directory, from a mall phone store and from the Internet, among other options. It is important to make sure you understand which information applies to your situation, because there is a lot of local and long distance information resources advice and ratings available and it can be confusing.

I recommend: If your preference is to visit a local phone store for the info you need, Local.com can provide a comprehensive list of phone stores in your area. All you do is enter your zip code. For comprehensive information online you can visit ehow for advice on shopping for and purchasing long distance and local telephone service.

Use the Internet to rate local and long distance carrier information

The resources to evaluate and rate local and long distance telecommunications carriers tends to be consumer focused. There are many different plans and services, and reviewing them has become a bit of a cottage industry.

I recommend: Consumer Research has earned a strong reputation for unbiased reviews and ratings of a variety of products and services. Their views on local and long distance telephone services are available online. They can help you pick a carrier to meet your needs. The Consumer Affairs group describes the latest trend - Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and gives information on how to keep your local number as well as other options.

Understand the ratings of wireless local and long distance telephone information

Wireless phone service now dominates the industry. Instead of one residence phone number for a family of four, they often have a wireless handset for each family member past kindergarten age. Understanding local and long distance information resources advice and ratings is fundamental to understanding telephone service in general.

I recommend: The grand-daddy of consumer watchdog groups, Consumer Reports, rates wireless telephone carriers, phone sets and calling plans in one article. The Lifetips website devotes several pages to cellular phone ratings for local and long distance service.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Telephone service is no longer simple. Review information from several sources before making decisions or signing contracts.

Finding local and long distance information resources is key to your business to ensure you get the most bang for your buck. Local telephone service involves telephone calls that stay in your area; long distance calling involves calls to people who live in different areas. Resources to help you maximize these two types of calling are imperative. There are a variety of resources available, and it helps for you to know what they are. Consider these key terms to help you out.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB)

The Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) is a governmental organization that handles a variety of consumer issues, including many related to local and long distance calling. For example, the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau has resources available to help you choose a carrier.

I recommend: You can read about the different CGB Offices on the FCC website.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

All communications regulations in the United States is charged by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). While mostly dealing with television and radio, the Federal Communications Commission also regulates many aspects of telephone companies.

I recommend: NECA maintains an updated list of the FCC's regulations and how they relate to telephone companies.

White Pages, Yellow Pages

White Pages are the listings in your local phone book that are on the white pages. All residential and business phone listings are included in the White Pages at no charge. Yellow Pages list businesses that pay to advertise in that particular section of the phone book. Printed on yellow paper, the Yellow Pages includes business listings under categories so they're easier for customers to find.

I recommend: The Yellow Pages Association defines both White Pages and Yellow Pages in its glossary of terms.

Area codes

Area codes are three digit numbers used to route your phone call to its destination. For example, area codes in the north eastern parts of the United States are different from area codes in the south western parts of the country.

I recommend: NANPA allows you to click on the interactive map to find any area code that you need.

Country code, IDD prefix

A country code is the code you need to dial when you want to call someone in a different country. Sometimes you may also use an IDD prefix, which is a number you dial to call from that country.

I recommend: SMK Enterprises offers information about country codes and the IDD prefix on its international dialing codes page.

411 directory assistance

When you need to find a local or long distance telephone number, you can use 411 directory assistance. By dialing 411 on your phone, you can reach an operator who can help you find the number you need.

I recommend: Sprint explains how 411 directory assistance works with its wireless service.