Qwest Communications Expands Wireless Services to Boise, Spokane; Western Montana Next Month, Eight Other Cities by End of Year
Qwest Wireless' Launch of New Markets Coincides With New, Three-State Home Calling Areas
DENVER, July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q - news), the broadband Internet communications company, today announced the launch of its all-digital wireless voice and data service in two new markets: Boise, including Ada and Canyon counties, and Spokane and several surrounding communities in eastern Washington. The company also plans to launch its wireless service in western Montana, including Butte, Helena, Great Falls and Missoula in early August and in eight more markets by the end of this year. Qwest Wireless currently has more than 650,000 subscribers, and with the addition of Idaho and Montana, will serve a total of eight western and mid-western states.
Qwest Wireless is the only wireless company able to seamlessly integrate wireless voice and data functionality with wireline office or home telephone service, paging, and Internet browsing, email and information streaming services previously accessible only by office or home PC.
``Previously, contacts in these markets needed multiple phone numbers -- office, home, wireless, and pager numbers -- and accessing email or information from the Web or company Intranet was difficult if you weren't at your desk,'' said Peter Mannetti, president of Qwest Wireless. ``Now, whether you're a businessperson who can't afford to miss a call, a parent who needs to be accessible to your children, or a mobile professional who needs access to your company Intranet, email or the Web while away from the office, Qwest Wireless makes it simple to stay in touch with the people and information you need.''
Qwest Wireless offers airtime packages, Caller ID and Three-Way Calling,
and the following:
-- Fully-Integrated Wireless and Wireline Service - Qwest's One Number
Service makes it possible for office or home calls to ring on a
customer's wireless phone. To turn the feature on or off, customers
simply press a few numbers on the wireless handset. Qwest's Voice
Messaging Link offers a single voice mailbox for office or home and
wireless phones. Subscribers only need to dial one number to get all
of their voice messages.
-- Simplified Wireless Data Access -
-- Qwest's enhanced BrowseNow service makes it easy to access the
Internet from a wireless phone. BrowseNow subscribers can have a
single email address for both their computer and their wireless
phone, one set of passwords and one set of bookmarks.
-- Qwest's MessagePak sends word messages, numeric messages and a
personalized selection of Internet news and information directly to
a Qwest wireless phone.
-- Qwest's Dial-Up Access enables subscribers to link their PC, Palm
Pilot or other PDA to their wireless phone. Subscribers can connect
to their company Intranet, office or personal ISP, or use their
phone for fax connections whenever and wherever they want.
-- Unique Three-State Home Calling Areas - Beginning immediately, Qwest
Wireless customers in Idaho, Oregon and Washington will enjoy a
three-state home calling area that provides toll-free calling to any
point in those states from within a Qwest Wireless service area.
Beginning in August, Qwest Wireless customers in Montana, Colorado and
Wyoming will be able to make toll-free calls to any point in those
states from within a Qwest Wireless service area.
Qwest Wireless' network is based on an open, multi-vendor architecture that costs less to deploy than single-vendor systems and enables the company to quickly expand its portfolio of Internet-based products and services. The network was built in partnership with Alcatel, Ericsson, Nortel Networks, Tekelec and Touch America.
Pricing and Availability
Qwest Wireless is now available in the Boise and Spokane regions. Service in Montana will be available in early August 2000. Qwest Wireless offers a variety of price plans that allow customers to tailor the service to meet their individual needs. Plan highlights include:
-- Business 500 - a $39.99 monthly rate includes 500 local weekday
minutes, 1,000 local weekend minutes and long distance at no additional
charge for all calls placed within the three-state home calling area.
-- Summer 400 - a $39.99 plan for residential customers that includes
500 local weekday minutes, 1,000 local weekend minutes and long
distance at no additional charge for all calls placed within the
three-state home calling area, plus a 25 percent discount on a
hands-free headset.
These plans, as well as many others, are available throughout Qwest Wireless' coverage area. |
