Verizon Vs. Time Warner Phone Service

Verizon offers a choice of digital phone service on their fiber-optic network (FiOS) or regular landline telephone service. Both services are available with the same selection of plans. Plans include per-minute rates or flat monthly rates for unlimited calls for local-only or nationwide calls. Additionally, customers have the option of Freedom plans that offer unlimited nationwide minutes with or without extra features. Time Warner offers a single calling plan that includes unlimited calling to numbers within the United States and U.S. territories.

Customers wishing to call other countries on Verizon can buy international minutes in blocks of 300 or 500. These minutes can be used to call any one of more than 100 countries around the world. Alternatively, country- or city-specific calling plans are available. Time Warner Cable's International OnePrice plan includes 1,000 minutes per month, which can be used to call friends and family in over 100 countries. Additionally, Time Warner Cable offers competitive rates to countries not included in the OnePrice plan.

Verizon's calling plans are available with several add-on features, including caller ID, anonymous call block and call intercept, which requires callers to identify themselves by voice before you will pick up. The Verizon Freedom Essentials plan comes with voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, 3-way calling and call assistant. Time Warner Cable's phone service includes a myriad of free features, including caller ID, 3-way calling, anonymous call rejection and call forwarding. Additionally, features such as voicemail, a private telephone number and a second phone line are available at an extra cost.

Verizon has three options when it comes to voicemail, all of which are accessible from telephones other than your home phone. The Basic plan is a standard voicemail that intercepts your missed calls. The Standard voicemail picks up your calls when you are on the phone and allows you to program wake up calls and reminder messages. The OnePoint voicemail allows you to access voicemail from up to five different Verizon telephone numbers at one mailbox. Time Warner Cable offers just one voicemail option, which picks up messages when you're on another call and is accessible from telephones other than your home phone. Additionally, Time Warner's VoiceZone allows you to check your messages from your computer and listen to them in any order you want. You can also have your voicemail messages automatically forwarded to your email as audio files.