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You came to Seattle for a new and different experience. Be sure to share it with your family and friends. They will probably also have plenty of news to report. As technology gets better, you have faster and less expensive forms of communication to choose from: e-mail, Internet phone such as Skype, cell phone, regular telephone, and postal services. Most communications services in the United States (with the partial exception of the U.S.Postal Service) are privately owned and operated; they compete for customers and offer many different choices for a wide range of prices.
Local telephone companies provide local or regional telecommunication services. If you live on campus, local telephone service will be provided. If you live off campus, you must arrange your own local telephone service. Check with the UW Student Housing Affairs office for the most current information. You should have a few options for local service; compare and contrast services and price.
Once your telephone service has been connected your phone company will deliver a telephone directory. The “White Pages” list phone numbers and addresses for individuals and businesses alphabetically. The “Yellow Pages” list business services categorically. Both directories—also available online—have useful information about phone services, and local area info including government and school listings, social services, and maps. Do not forget to have your telephone service disconnected or transferred to your new address when you move. There is no charge for disconnecting telephone service.
Instructions for using pay phones (or public telephones) can usually be found on the phone. Most pay phones still require coins for local calls (50 cents per call), but some allow you to make local and long-distance calls without coins using a credit card or “calling card.” Phone numbers with a prefix of (800), (866), and (888) are toll-free. Beware of 900-numbers, which charge a few dollars per minute for their services and thus are extremely expensive. Phone cards with special international rates are available at many stores on The Ave. and throughout Seattle. You can make long-distance calls from any pay phone in the U.S.; long distance service is not confined to certain locales as it is in many countries.
Long-distance companies provide national and international services and calling cards, and offer different calling plans and savings options. Regardless of whether you live on or off campus, you will choose a long-distance company or calling card based on your own needs. If you share long-distance service with roommates or housemates, make sure everyone understands how the bill is to be paid. Some companies permit each member of the household to enter a personal code when making a long-distance call, which simplifies the monthly process of dividing the charges.
If you would rather be mobile and have your phone at your fingertips, a cell phone is a reasonable alternative. Again, companies charge different rates, and offer different contracts and services. Research your options. Plans can range from 200 to several thousand minutes per month. Most companies bill customers for airtime in one-minute increments. Pre-paid phones are an alternative to plans, because no contract is required, but they are much more expensive if used in high volume. To set up service you will need:
-Social Security # (except for prepaid or “to go” phones)
-State-issued ID
-Debit or Credit Card with a Visa or Mastercard symbol
If you do not have a social security number or debit card, you may need to pay a hefty deposit of a couple hundred dollars. A sample of companies include:
Cingular Wireless
Sprint
T-Mobile
Qwest
AT&T Wireless
Verizon
Useful Vocabulary when Buying a Cell Phone
Activation fee:
Carriers often charge a one-time activation fee to begin your service. This fee typically appears on your first month’s bill.
Calling area:
Refers to where you can use your included minutes and features without roaming charges.
Early termination fee:
The maximum you will be required to pay if you wish to cancel your service before the end of the contract term.
Night and/or weekend minutes:
Sometimes these are included with a plan or available for purchase with a plan. Usually these are unlimited.
Roaming charges:
If you call outside your calling area you will be billed for roaming.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) provides the primary mail service in the U.S. Other companies compete with the USPS for express mail and package delivery services—some examples are the United Parcel Service (UPS), Federal Express (FedEx), and DHL Worldwide Express (DHL). Unlike postal services in many countries, the USPS does not offer long-distance telephone service or savings accounts.
Mail is delivered Monday through Saturday to individual addresses and to boxes available for rent at most post offices. The UW has a campus mail system that distributes regular mail as well as “campus mail,” materials sent from one department to another. If you live on campus, your mail will be delivered to the residence halls by the USPS and then distributed by campus mail to your personal box.
You should not send cash through the mail. For additional protection, you may insure a package at the post office. For information regarding postal rates, services, and locations go to the USPS website at http://www.usps.com.
The U-District’s Post Office is located at:
4244 University Way NE
(206) 632-4737
Regular Business Hours:
Week Days 07:30AM - 06:00PM
Saturday 08:30AM - 03:00PM
For express mail and package delivery, the following is a list of a few companies. Also, along The Ave., you may find a few stores that offer shipping services.
Mail Boxes Etc.
4603 NE University Village
(206) 524-2558
http://www.mbe.com
UPS http://www.usps.com 1-800-PICK-UPS (1-800-742-5877)
FedEx http://www.fedex.com 1-800-Go-FedEx (1-800-463-3339)
DHl http://www.dhl.com 1-800-225-5345
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