Talk Is Cheap

When it comes to long-distance phone rates, people will jump through hoops to get the best deal. Indeed, some entrepreneurs switch phone carriers nearly every month to tap into the latest savings plan. Although there are subscription services that allow small-business owners to automatically get the lowest long-distance rate available from several providers, the subscription fees often negate the savings.

Now a new type of phone from Uniden America Corp. (http://www.uniden.com) offers low-rate phone service every time you call. Simply buy one of Uniden's 900 MHz Long Distance Manager cordless phones, either the EXL 8900 ($49.95 street) or the EXLI 8962 ($89.95 street), press a button on the handset and then dial the long-distance number you want to reach. The phone will access a database of many long-distance carriers and automatically assign your call one of the lowest rates available. If you make a lot of long-distance calls, Uniden's phones could save you a lot of money in the long run.