Deskphone.com Delivers 3.9 Cents Long Distance Via The Web - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Oct 4, 1999

Are you tired of trying to remember which calling plan offers the lowest rate -- at a certain time of day, for calls over a specific amount of time, and only on a predetermined day of the week? Does it seem like your calling card always runs out at the most inconvenient time? Is your wallet stuffed full of plastic cards to carry around?

A new company is using the web to take the hassle out of buying long distance. Deskphone.com launched its Internet site this month delivering fast, easy and inexpensive -- 3.9 cents per minute -- electronic prepaid phone time straight to your computer.

"Deskphone.com is the newest, fastest and cheapest way to purchase prepaid long distance," Deskphone Principal Bill Elmore said. "The site provides prepaid phone time online, at the most competitive rate available. Plus, it's accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from your home or office."

Elmore claims there's no need to wait until a certain day or time to make all your phone calls. And, he says, you don't have to go searching for a card at convenience stores or vending machines or waiting for it to arrive in the mail.

"With Deskphone, all you need is Internet access," he said. "If you can get e-mail, you can get inexpensive prepaid long distance."

When you log on to deskphone.com, it takes only a few minutes to order, pay and collect the phone time directly from your desktop. You can buy it for yourself, e-mail it to someone else, or someone else can buy it and e-mail it to you.

Elmore explained that prepaid long distance is just a series of numbers: a toll-free number to access the long-distance provider, your specific access number and a long-distance PIN (personal identification number) to activate the allotted time.

"Traditionally, these numbers have appeared on plastic cards. Thus the name 'prepaid phone card'. But, frankly, the card is a waste of plastic. You don't need them," he said.

Deskphone eliminates the card. You simply access the deskphone.com site, select the amount of time you wish to purchase and where you'd like it sent, enter your credit card number into their secured site and you're done. Within minutes, Deskphone sends the recipient an e-mail notifying them their time is ready and giving them a PIN number. As a matter of additional security, a password is assigned by the purchaser, which is known only by the purchaser and user of the time.

"Purchasing things on the Internet should use all the benefits of the Internet; namely, not having to wait for your purchase," Elmore said. "Deskphone does this -- easily and at a great price. And based on the positive response we've seen so far, it appears people like it that way."