Wonder if Globalstar has anything to do with this? Using satellite to transport the calls to in-country rates. Timing seems very suspicious.
AirTouch Prepaid Offers Free Long Distance Calling to Mexico
Prepaid Service Furthers AirTouch's Outreach to Hispanic Communities
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 12, 1999-- AirTouch Cellular Tuesday announced that its prepaid wireless service will now include bundled long distance from Southern California to anywhere in Mexico at no extra cost.
Long distance service to Mexico previously cost prepaid customers $1 per minute, but now through the end of the year, it will be included in the standard airtime rate.
``AirTouch is committed to providing wireless products and services that best meet the needs of the people who live and work in Southern California.
This special offer reflects a growing demand for prepaid wireless service among Latinos, as well as an outstanding response to our current outreach efforts within the Hispanic community,`` said Nancy Hobbs, executive vice president and general manager, AirTouch Cellular.
Last August, AirTouch set a new industry standard for affordable prepaid service by announcing it would provide bundled long distance to anywhere in the United States at no extra cost. Offering free long distance to Mexico is just another one of the many benefits AirTouch provides to its prepaid customers in Southern California.
A recent survey by the Boston-based The Yankee Group cited AirTouch as one of the three lowest-priced carriers in the United States for prepaid service. AirTouch charges as little as $0.35 a minute for prepaid service, one of the best values in the industry.
``Prepaid service is tremendously popular within the Hispanic community,' said Jorge Corona, store manager of AirTouch Cellular's first Latino design retail store in Santa Ana. ``Many cellular phone users like the ability to monitor airtime and predict the amount of their wireless usage to the penny, which is why we are selling a growing number of prepaid service packages every week at this store.'
Although the free long distance calling to Mexico is designed as a short-term promotion, AirTouch will consider offering the service permanently if customer demand supports it.
AirTouch prepaid service is ideal for a wide range of consumers, including those who prefer to pay in advance and are uncomfortable with monthly service obligations; budget-minded customers such as students; and small business owners who use prepaid service to control spending.
AirTouch prepaid service cards can be purchased in more than 4,000 retail outlets in 17 states, including convenience stores, gas stations, drug stores and traditional cellular channels such as AirTouch stores.
AirTouch serves more than 9 million U.S. cellular and PCS customers on a proportionate basis. Its ventures operate in 25 states and 22 of the top 30 U.S. markets, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.
AirTouch is part of Vodafone AirTouch Plc, the world's largest wireless communications firm, based in the United Kingdom. It has mobile operations in 23 countries on five continents, with more than 31 million proportionate customers. For more information, visit the AirTouch Web site at www.airtouch.com. |
