Telna review
If you are paying high rates for long distance, then it's really time to change. The discount carriers that I review on these pages are high quality services with very cheap rates. Most have no monthly fee, and they will all treat you well. If you would rather skip this review, go to my long distance comparison to see the details of my four recommended carriers side-by-side.
Sign up for Telna online - click here
Overall impressions
Telna has the cheapest international long distance rates of all the carriers that I've compared and reviewed on this site. They also provide a well designed website that's upfront with information and easy to use. There is one rate plan. It's simple, cheap, and without any hidden costs. I love the 4.8¢ rate to so many countries, and Telna uses 1 second billing increments (which will save you even more). They also offer lots of extra features (toll free numbers, lower rates for your cell phone, etc). As they say at the top of their opening page: "We are different." I'm inclined to agree. What more can I say. Sign up!
Int'l Rate Examples
Australia 4.8¢
Brazil 4.8¢
Canada 4.8¢
Chile 4.8¢
China 4.8¢
France 4.8¢
Germany 4.8¢
Greece 4.8¢
India 4.8¢
Indo 5.9¢
Iran 16.9¢
Iraq 9.9¢
Israel 4.8¢
Italy 4.8¢
Japan 4.8¢
Malaysia 4.8¢
Mexico 4.8¢
Nigeria 12.9¢
Philipp 15.9¢
Poland 4.8¢
Russia 4.8¢
Sing 4.8¢
S Africa 7.9¢
S Korea 4.8¢
Spain 4.8¢
Taiwan 4.8¢
Thai 4.8¢
UK 4.8¢Rates as of 12/2008.
Bold rates are the best in my comparison.
Calling plans, rates and fees
4.8¢/min plan -
It's not the cheapest rate, but the 4.8¢/min rate is one part of a very attractive long distance plan. Consider that the international long distance rates are the cheapest of all the carriers reviewed here. Just look at all the countries you can call for 4.8¢/min. Even calls to Alaska and Hawaii are 4.8¢/min. And calls are billed in one second increments. That means you are paying for the actual length of each call, rather than the length of each call up to a larger unit.
You get all this with no monthly fee. For 99¢ per month you can request paper billing statements in the mail. Payment is by credit card or auto-debit from your bank account.
Business users -
Telna is a good choice for your business phone service, especially if you make lots of international calls. Customer support is excellent, and they provide you with a toll free number that you can forward to any phone or cell phone in the USA or worldwide (see below).
Customer support / user experience
Telna doesn't give customers the run around or keep you guessing. They provide a toll free phone number that you can call to speak with a live person, or send an email if you prefer.
Extra features
Toll free numbers
Telna offers incoming toll free number service with no setup fee and a 99¢ monthly charge. Toll free numbers are great for businesses, but many people use them for personal reasons, too.
Telna will forward you toll free number to any phone number you specify. You can have incoming calls directed to your cell phone, or use it as a cheap, convenient way to call home when your on the road (or give it to your kids while they are at college, etc.).
The rates for toll free calls to/from Alaska and Hawaii are the best among the carriers I've featured here.
Super cheap international calls using your cell phone!
Register your cell phone with Telna, then use it to place international calls at the same cheap rates available from your regular line. You will use an access number, so the minutes will still be counted as normal air time by your cell phone provider.
Conclusions
Depending on your needs, Telna could be be the best long distance carrier in my comparison. If you want the cheapest international rates, or cheap rates to Alaska and Hawaii, then this is the right choice. The extra features are another huge plus, and all this comes from a company that is refreshingly easy to understand. Sign up and don't look back. I'm pretty sure you'll be glad you did.
Rated: 5/5