Plugging financial holes of telephone expenses

Most Nigerians can hardly imagine their lives without telephones, either line phones or mobile, even for two hours! That is the reality of what the 21st Century Information Technology revolution has infused in us. In fact, many still wonder how people coped with all business and general life's challenges some decades ago, without the obtrusive presence of telephone. With all its numerous benefits and Nigerians having successfully hooked on to the global trend, hardly do we pause to think about how its prowling influence has been tearing our pockets into shreds.

Wale, a fellow journalist, emerged the butt of this satirical illustration last Wednesday at the Eko Le Meridian Hotel Banquet Hall. He had just put a call through to somebody when his second cell phone began to ring intermittently. Tunde, another journalist, was trying to help him retrieve the handset from his pocket when the third mobile line blared on stridently. The clumsy attempts by Wale to ensure a coordinated handling of the situation only helped to produce a hilarious response from nearby observers. Tunde's funny but quizzical statement: "only God knows how much you spend on phone services in a month", perhaps, typifies the lot of many Nigerians, courtesy of the GSM rave!

For the rich, perhaps, it might mean nothing. But to the swarming millions of Nigerians in the working class bracket, telephone bills, both line and mobile, can substantially add up to huge budget's expenses, and can sometimes be really onerous. Though communication is essential in today's global world, cutting down on the costs of communication does not necessarily imply cutting down on the actual communication. As much as telephone calls are important, meeting day-to-day financial obligations remains a crucial duty for every family. Perhaps, of more importance are the savings ploughed in ahead of the raining day.

Financial experts say the problem of effecting a balance between prudent resource management and telephone luxury is a global phenomenon. In their opinions, some attitudinal dispositions are necessary on the part of telephone users in order to save money on needless telephone calls.

Nigeria-born international loan

A Nigeria-born international loan and personal finance advisor, Lara Sawyer, first identified the negative impact of the 'new telephone craze' in her 2005 article, "Technocrat Favourites". She says much money is wasted on needless calls, especially using mobile phones, whereas less time or line phone could prove able alternatives.

Her observation is as valid today as what obtained then. According to the United States-based expert, considering the enormous amounts spent on frivolous and needless telephone calls, "it may be a good idea for users to avoid unnecessary calls."

Plugging the loopholes of unnecessary expenses on telephone calls would require the adoption of some cost-effective strategies, according to experts.

Comparison of the different long distance

Sawyer also advises that a comparison of the different long distance and international calls plans is a key step to plugging the hole of needless telephone expenses. There are many companies offering long distance and international calls in Nigeria today. Aided by the information collected from the previous reviews, a telephone user can compare his communication needs with the different plans offered by the companies in order to find the ones that best adjust to his necessities and provide the cheapest telephone communications solution for you.

Fola Adelegan, Chief Executive Officer, Primal Consult Limited, a Lagos-based investment consultancy outfit, identifies extraneous services on phones as a leading cause of needless telephone expenses. Describing them as unnecessary items, he says services like caller ID, line maintenance and automatic answering services, among others offered by telephone companies should be avoided. Although the services may not seem too costly, "altogether and pondered yearly, will certainly add up to your overall communications costs. They can be easily avoided.

Cable manufacturing firm to come

"Since you don't need a cable manufacturing firm to come and replace cables and plugs in your house as these items and the attendant services are simple and seldom needed, you can always purchase an answering machine elsewhere to avoid purchasing the service from the phone company."

Roberts Akinyeye, a communications expert believes that much of the needless expenses on calls could be curtailed through the use of Voice over Internet Provider (VoIP) services. VoIP services provide you low cost communication on the Internet by establishing local calls and connecting the two parties through the Internet, even if there is a great distance between the two persons. He says VoIP services have revolutionised the industry and as more and more people hire VoIP services, the prices will keep dropping. "The only drawback is that you need a computer and the quality may not be the same (though it keeps improving)."