Despite the fact that this isn't the keyaspect in order to identify a reliable shared hosting provider from a bad one and a reseller from an actual supplier, being able to call and communicate with a live person is an indicator that you are not dealing with a one-person service provider and that you'll be able to reach someone when you need support. The telephone support for hosting services may range from general to professional, thus the problems that can be resolved with a phone call vary depending on the specific company. Generally, these matters are simpler and feature billing or 1st level tech issues because more complex tasks usually require a support ticket where both you and the system administrators can track what is going on with a particular situation. Still, having the option to phone call your provider can save you considerable time and efforts for the multitude of tiny problems that may eventually appear when you manage your hosting account.