<p>Does anyone know where the phone jack is located? This is for a phone (RJ32) not for the LAN (RJ45). Is it on or near the connecting block where the LAN jack is? (If it matters, he is in Birnkrant). </p>
<p>Also, is there a fee to turn on the phone?</p>
<p>I am certain that they (USC) does not provide free long distance. Students must have to use a credit card, cell phone, or contact the local phone company for long distance. </p>
<p>However, i am guessing that they might have Local service, and incoming calls, for no setup or monthly fees?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>My S has a cellphone which is what we have been using. We included a regular phone with the collection of things that he took to the dorms.</p>
<p>My phone jack is right above my ethernet port (LAN), but I guess the dorms could be different. You have to buy a calling card to use long distance I think.</p>
<p>every building I've seen, phone+ethernet on one wall plate.</p>
<p>I'm not sure if ITS allows it, but I would think the easiest way to get long distance (if you're going to use it a lot) is to use some service like Vonage over the high speed internet. Otherwise, cell phone works great for me :)</p>
<p>I have used Skype here in the past, and it works great on the fast connection. All you need is a microphone/speakers. </p>
<p>In fact, SkypeOut (using the computer to call conventional telephone numbers) is free for the rest of this year to all American and Canadian landlines/cellphones.</p>
<p>Thanks for your quick answers. This forum is great. It sure is reassuring to know that there are so many helpful people at USC. Fight On. Have a great weekend.</p>
<p>The phone line is indeed in the same "block" as the internet connection (look carefully & you'll find TWO places to plug cables into--one is for your internet & the other is for your phone). If you really have trouble locating them, ask your customer service center for your dorm or your neighbors in your dorm. Every person living in the dorm gets their own phone line & internet connection & there's no extra charge but it only works for local & 800 calls. We bought son a long distance phone card from Costco in case he wants to use it in addition to his cell phone. We still have no idea what his land-line dorm phone number is but reach him easily with his cell phone (free mobile to mobile on the cell phone anyway with our Tmobile & most other plans). We thought it was good for him to have a land-line, "just in case" & bought him a simple one without an answering machine or cordless option, in case the power goes out or something. I assume his phone works because a neighbor plugged his phone into the outlet & got a dial tone on move-in day, but have not heard an official report from my son about it.</p>
<p>The customer service folks for your dorm should also be able to tell you what your phone number is, based on your room & which side of the room is yours.</p>
<p>it's good to have a land-line there (even without long distance) because in case of emergency or natural disaster (like an earthquake) the cell lines are probably going to get jammed real fast.</p>
<p>When you turned in your room inventory form, you should have gotten a small envelope with your mailbox key. On that envelope is your landline number. It is listed as x-xxxx. If you're using a campus phone, all you have to do is dial those numbers, but if you're calling from outside, dial (213) 764-xxxx, xxxx being the last 4 numbers.</p>
<p>For a power outage (in case of rolling blackouts, etc.), you can't use a phone that requires power, which is why we bought our child the traditional corded phone that you just plug into the phone line (no power required).</p>