CHAT FOR LESS.

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Author: Stern, Linda

MONEY

All that phone-company competition was nice while it lasted, but now long-distance rates are going up. Sprint Sense customers will see a new $3.95-a-month fee on their bill next month, while MCI is hiking several of its plans. Don't stop talking to the family, but do think about cutting your calling costs:

• Keep track of rate increases at the Telecommunications Research and Action Center's trac.org.
• Compare cell-phone plans to see if it's time to lose your land line.
• Find the right plan at LetsTalk.com and Phonedog.com.
• Vonage (vonage.com), an Internet-based service, offers unlimited local and long-distance calling for $29.99 a month. Now you're talking.

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By Linda Stern