I read your article answering a phone-dialing question in a recent technology section. The gentleman wanted to know whether he was connecting to the Internet when using the computer dialer and whether that might save him money on long-distance charges. As your answer explained, the dialer in the computer has nothing to do with the Internet, but it is a convenient way to rapidly dial often-used numbers.

With regards to saving on phone charges, I recommend that phone users consider dialing 10-10-811 before making any long-distance call. The charge for this service is 5 cents a minute. The service charges 50 cents for calls up to 10 minutes and 5 cents a minute after the first 10 minutes. There is no subscription fee for this service.

This prefix can be entered into the computer's phone dialer so that it is added to all long distance phone calls automatically.

Paul Bernhardt

Cocoa, Fla.

Mr. Bernhardt's suggestion to dial 10-10-811 before placing long-distance calls describes a method for dialing alternative long-distance telephone providers that advertise lower rates. Regardless of which long-distance company you currently use, you can access alternative services by keying 10-10 and then a 3-digit number that refers to a long-distance provider. For example, dialing 10-10-811 before a number places long-distance calls through FiveLine, a service from Var-Tec, while dialing 10-10-288 sends calls through AT&T Long Distance.

Dozens of 10-10 rate plans are available. Go to the site www.10-10phonerates.com to find a rate plan that might save you money. The site includes lots of valuable information, including consumer alerts, international rate plans and frequently asked questions.

— Leonard Fischer | GNS