Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for placing a toll telephone call using a lowest cost long distance carrier includes a telephone input for operatively connecting to a telephone or other dialing equipment at a user's location, and a line output for operatively connecting to a public telephone network. The apparatus further includes an arrangement for capturing preferably each number dialed through the user's telephone dialing equipment. Rate storage within the apparatus stores long distance rate information for a plurality of carriers and clock produces a time input representing the time of day and day of week. The apparatus further includes a rate comparison arrangement connected to the rate storage, clock, and input number capture mechanism for determining from the stored long distance rate information the identity of the long distance carrier having the lowest long distance rate for the telephone call represented by the captured telephone number. The device further includes a dialing mechanism for dialing the captured telephone number and specifying for the dialed number the long distance carrier to be used for the particular call. A cut-through mechanism connects the telephone to the telephone network once the device dials the toll number. The apparatus further includes a rate update arrangement which communicates with a database at a remote location over the public telephone network to which the device is connected. The update arrangement receives from the remote location current long distance rate information and causes the information to be stored in the long distance rate storage.

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First Claim