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> Telephones
> Emergency
Numbers
> Long
Distance Telephone Calls
> Calls
to Foreign Countries
> Cellular
or Mobile Phones
> Public
("Pay") Phones
> Internet
and E-mail Services
> Telegraph
Telephones
For convenience and privacy, most students will want to have
their own telephones. Almost all dormitories have at least
a dorm or a "floor" telephone, which students share.
Other dormitories have telephones already installed in the
rooms. If there is no room phone, it is permissible to have
one installed. Remember that you will be responsible for the
telephone bills. If you decide to have a telephone installed
in your room, ask the residence adviser of your dormitory
for advice. If you live off-campus, you will need a telephone
not only for convenience but also for safety. Ask your international
student adviser for advice on how to get a phone installed
in your home or apartment.
When you get a phone line installed, you will have to buy
your own phone and pay for installation charges and perhaps
a deposit (to ensure that you will pay your telephone bills).
You will be billed monthly for use of the telephone, usually
a flat fee for local service (depending on the kind of service
you have) plus extra charges for long distance calls. These
costs vary from area to area in the United States.
Every telephone customer receives a copy of the telephone
directory for the area and a new copy each time the directory
is revised and updated. There are usually three parts to the
telephone directory, named after the color of their pages:
- The white pages are in front of the telephone book. Listed
here, alphabetically by last name, are the names, addresses,
and telephone numbers of all subscribers, both individuals
and businesses, in the immediate telephone area, except
for those subscribers who do not wish to have such information
listed. Some large cities divide the white pages in two
sections, one for residence listings and one for business
listings.
- The yellow pages are in the back part of the phone book
or, in large cities, in a separate book. The yellow pages
list companies, organizations, and services, alphabetically
and by category. There is an index of categories in the
yellow pages. Under each category are listings of firms
that provide that service. The yellow pages can be very
useful if you are looking for a particular business or service.
- Some larger cities also have blue pages for city, county,
state, and federal government listings.
Telephone numbers in the United States have 10 digits, including
a seven-digit set of numbers that is the prime telephone number.
Preceding the seven-digit number is the three-digit "area
code." The area code serves a wide region, often a large
part of a state. Usually you need to dial the area code only
if the number is in an area with a code different than your
own. However, some more populated areas now have more than
one area code and require you to dial both the area code and
prime telephone number even if you live in the same city.
If you need a telephone number and you cannot find it in
the telephone book, you can call "directory assistance"
by dialing the number given in the front part of the phone
book. In most areas, the number is "411." If the
number you want is an "unlisted" number, the directory
assistance operator is not allowed to give it to you. Most
telephone companies allow each customer to make a certain
number of free directory assistance calls per month. After
that number is reached, you will be charged a fee for each
additional call.
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Emergency Numbers
It is very important to write down emergency numbers (fire,
police, doctors, paramedics, campus emergency numbers, and
so on) and to keep them near your telephone. Emergency numbers
are given in the front part of the telephone book, though
sometimes there are several districts for fire, police, and
paramedic services (often called the rescue squad). Be sure
that you have the correct emergency numbers to serve you if
you need help, and keep these numbers posted near or taped
to your telephone.
In many communities in the United States, when you need police,
the fire department, or paramedics in an emergency situation,
you simply dial "911." Once you have dialed 911,
the operator will ask you what the emergency is, ask for your
address, and then summon the appropriate help. Most of the
time, the operator will stay on the line and give you support
or advice until help arrives. It is very important to call
911 only in an emergency situation, and it is illegal to use
it otherwise.
Some people believe that if you dial "0" in an
emergency, the operator will call for help. This is not true.
Often the telephone operator who processes your calls is kilometers
— perhaps several hundred kilometers — away. In an emergency,
you need local help and should contact 911 for help as quickly
as possible.
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Long Distance Telephone Calls
There are several types of long distance telephone calls.
Generally, when you call someone long distance in the United
States, you dial "1," the area code, and then the
seven-digit telephone number. Various rates are charged for
long distance calls, depending on the time of day, length
of call, the type of call, and the long distance company you
use. Be sure to note when rates are lowest, usually weekends,
holidays, and at night. You can find information on long distance
costs and procedures in the front part of the telephone book.
Long distance service is a big business in the United States.
When you connect with the local telephone company, you will
be automatically connected to their long distance service
or you may be given a choice of companies. You will likely
also get calls from representatives of private long distance
companies offering you all types of deals, rebates, or special
packages. Depending on your needs, sometimes these private
long distance companies can save you considerable amounts
of money. Take into consideration what these companies offer
you, compare it to what your local phone company offers, and
take your long distance calling needs into consideration.
Ask your international student adviser for advice on private
long distance companies if you are not sure which would be
best for you.
Below are some of the types of long distance calls you can
make in the United States.
Direct-Dialed Call: A call dialed
directly, without operator assistance. It is the least expensive
and most common type of long distance call.
Person-to-Person Call: An operator-assisted
call in which the operator connects you directly with the
person with whom you wish to speak. Charges are per minute
and begin when the operator puts the person you want to speak
with on the line. This service is more expensive than a direct-dialed
call, but it might be necessary if you need to contact people
who are difficult to reach or if you are calling a country
where telephone service is sporadic. The extent to which some
countries accept person-to-person calls from the United States
may depend on the availability of telephone services, on the
telecommunications technology, or on the governmental regime
in place.
Collect Call: An operator-assisted
call for which the charges are billed to the person you are
calling. If you place a collect call, the operator will ask
you your name and then ask the person you are calling whether
he or she will "accept the charges," that is, allow
the cost of the call to be put on his or her telephone bill.
Third-Party Call: A call made
from a telephone other than your own for which the operator
transfers the charges from the telephone you are using to
your own phone number. If, however, the telephone you are
using is a pay telephone rather than a personal phone, the
operator must verbally verify the charges, so someone must
be at your home to answer the telephone. The operator will
call your phone number and someone will have to answer your
phone and verbally accept the charges for the third-party
call to be completed. The charges will then be billed to your
home phone number. Most telephone companies now issue "calling
cards" for their users. With a special identification
number, you can have all long distance calls you make from
telephones other than your own charged automatically to your
bill, without having the operator call home for confirmation.
"800" or "888" Calls:
These are calls made to toll-free numbers. When you call a
number that begins with either of these area codes, the charges
are paid by the business you are calling as a courtesy to
its customers.
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Calls to Foreign Countries
It is possible to dial direct to almost all foreign countries
from the United States, and direct dialing is less expensive
than placing calls through the operator. To get an international
line, you must first dial "011," then the country
code, city code, and telephone number you wish to reach. International
country and city codes, rates to some countries, time differences,
and further directions for placing international calls are
given in the front part of the telephone book. You can also
make operator-assisted calls, person-to-person calls, and
collect calls to foreign countries by dialing "0"
for the operator. Dial the operator if you:
- need a country or city code not listed in the telephone
book under "international direct dialing";
- need help in completing an international call;
- have reached a wrong number or have a poor connection
in the country you are trying to contact and do not want
to be charged for that call.
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Cellular or Mobile Phones
Cellular phones are widely available in the United States,
and most mobile phones purchased in other countries will not
work in the United States. If you wish to have a cellular
phone, it is best to get one after you arrive. Many types
of phones and a number of service providers are available
in most places, so investigate to find those that best suit
your needs.
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Public ("Pay") Phones
These telephones can be found in many locations in commercial
areas. Directions for making calls are printed on the telephone.
You usually need to insert 35 to 50 cents to make a local
call. Most telephone companies now sell debit cards. When
you buy the card, you pay a certain amount that is recorded
into the card's computer chip or magnetic strip. Afterwards,
you can use this card in public telephones until the balance
is depleted.
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Internet and E-mail Services
At most U.S. colleges and universities, you will be assigned,
upon request, a free e-mail address. In some cases, Internet
services are also free. Generally, U.S. colleges and universities
have several computer rooms where you can check your e-mail,
use the Internet, or use various software programs. Because
of the popularity of these services, you might have to stand
in line to get access to a computer terminal. Usually, it
is easier to have access to public computer terminals early
in the morning or late in the evening.
If you want Internet and e-mail services to be connected
to your home computer, there are many possible alternatives.
As a student, you can get a dial-up connection from your home
computer to your university's server at a discount or, possibly,
for free. Some universities even have network connections
available in all dorm rooms. Contact your university's Information
Technology (IT) Services Office for more information. Private
computer service companies, local telephone companies, and
some television cable companies also offer home Internet connections.
These private Internet suppliers can be more expensive to
use, but their services and connection quality might be better.
If you are unsure what to do, ask your international student
adviser for advice on home Internet connections.
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Telegraph
With the Internet and the ever-increasing computerization
of telecommunications, older methods of communication such
as telegraph and telegram are less and less accessible in
the United States. If you do want to send a telegram or a
telex message, look in the yellow pages of the phone book
for "Telegraph Service." Once you select a company,
call and tell the operator the name and address (including
the country) of the person to whom you are sending the telegram;
then, dictate the message. The number of words in the message
and the distance it must be sent will determine the charges.
Telegrams or telexes can be charged to your telephone number
or you can ask the operator to send you a bill.
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