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From: covert@covert.enet.dec.com (John R. Covert  26-Sep-1989 1349)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Phone Rates, U.S. to Australia
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Date: 26 Sep 89 18:01:33 GMT
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X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 410, message 5 of 9

>we can now ring the USA for A$1.19 off peak [how does this compare with US
>to Aust costs?].

With the Australian dollar currently selling for A$1.26 to US$1, your rate
is equivalent to 94 cents per minute.  AT&T's economy rate is high ($2.16)
for the first minute, and then .81 per minute after that.  Thus a call of
13 minutes or less is cheaper if originated at the Australian end.

Using Sprint, at $1.84/.78 the crossover occurs after six minutes.

AT&T hasn't lowered rates to the Pacific for a long time; I think a
lowering of at least the initial minute is long overdue.

Add 3% tax to our rates (and in a few states, additional local tax).

Full info on AT&T and Sprint's rates:

3A-2P Econ $2.16  .81	 1.84  .78
8P-3A Disc $2.66 1.03    2.52  .96
2P-8P Std  $3.32 1.35    3.25 1.28

Back to the U.S., on an AT&T calling card: 8.87 for the first 3, 1.35 after
that, with no discount based on time period.

/john