These are Cable & Wireless and TeleBermuda.

The customer can chose either of these companies with which to set up an account to make long distance calls, after which they can simply pick up their telephone and dial the long distance code and the number to gain access.

The cost of these calls varies between residential and corporate users and depends on the time of day.

At peak time it can be as much as $1.40 or at the cheapest special rate on selected days, 32 cents a minute.

CALLS VIA THE INTERNET Calls Via The Internet Computer Internet link through a telephone line is required on your end, a certain type of microphone and a speaker. Customers of Voice Over Internet Protocol can link up with anywhere in the world for the cost of using the Internet -- which in Bermuda is the cost of a local call. There is usually a slight delay in transmission and quality isn't as high as traditional methods such as the telephone. The cost of this service isn't yet known, but LogicPhone advertised last year for rates to the US, UK and Canada at 44 cents a minute before it was deemed illegal.

ILLEGAL CALL BACK Illegal Call Back This is a system where a person calls a phone number, usually in the United States, and a computer calls back allowing a call on a cheaper line, usually from the United States. There are currently three of these companies believed to be operating in Bermuda and they offer calls for about 40 cents a minute.

Call back is illegal in Bermuda and the Government is looking at ways of shutting these popular businesses down. This is proving difficult as the operators usually work from the United States and not Bermuda.