Continued from page 1
1800 min. months: $50.00 + ((1800 ? 1200) x $.07) = $92.00
Her total bill for
year: (6 x $50.00) + (6 x $92.00) = $852.00
Total cost per minute: $852.00 / 14,400 = $.059/minute
Plan C
600 minute month: 600 x $.09 = $54.00
1800 minute month: 1800 x $.09 = $162.00
Her total bill for
year: (6 x $54.00) + 6 x $162.00) = $1,296.00
Total cost per minute: $1,296.00 / 14,400 = $.090/minute
Joe
Joe also used 14,400 minutes of long distance service in
last 12 months, an average of 1200 minutes each month. Joe used 1200 minutes each and every month. For Joe
costs of
plans would be:
Plan A
Each month: ($.04 x 1200) + 5.95 = $53.95
His total bill for
year: 12 x $53.95 = $647.40
Total cost per minute: $647.00 / 14,400 = $.045/minute
Plan B
Each month: $50.00
His total bill for
year: 12 x $50.00 = $600.00
Total cost per minute: $600.00 / 14,400 = $.042/minute
Plan C
Each month: 1200 x $.09 = $108.00
His total bill for
year: 12 x $108.00 = $1,296.00
Total cost per minute: $1,296.00 / 14,400 = $.090/minute
Mike
Mike only used 1,200 minutes of long distance service in
last 12 months, an average of 100 minutes per month. Mike used 100 minutes each and every month. For Mike
cost of
plans would be:
Plan A
Each month: ($.04 x 100) + $5.95 = $9.95
His total bill for
year: 12 x $9.95 = $119.40
Total cost per minute: $119.40 / 1200 = $.099/minute
Plan B
Each month: $50.00
His total bill for
year: 12 x $50.00 = $600.00
Total cost per minute: $600.00 / 1200 = $.50/minute
Plan C
Each month: 100 x $.09 = $90.00
His total bill for
year: 12 x $9.00 = $108.00
Total cost per minute: $108.00 / 1,200 = $.090/minute
So Mary should use Plan A (4.5 cents/minute), Joe should use Plan B (4.2 cents/minute), and Mike should use plan C (9.0 cents/minute). Three different people, looking at
same 3 plans, with 3 different results. The lessons: know your usage, and figure your cost per minute.

Wilson Dennis is a writer specializing in business technology articles. He is the creator of the website http://www.home-office-phone-tips.com which covers articles on Home Office Phone topics.