800 Service for Cellular Phones Introduced; AT&T, U S WEST NewVector Sign-On For Free Cellular Calling.SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 13, 1995--Seeking to tap into a market that could generate revenues ranging between $3-4 billion, locally based Toll Free Cellular has signed agreements with two of the nation's top wireless communications wireless communications System using radio-frequency, infrared, microwave, or other types of electromagnetic or acoustic waves in place of wires, cables, or fibre optics to transmit signals or data. providers to commercially launch the first-ever toll- and airtime-free service for cellular telephones. Currently, all cellular calls incur airtime air·time n. 1. The time during which a radio or television station is broadcasting. Also called airspace. 2. The time at which a radio or television program is broadcast. charges, whether the call is local, long distance or to an 800 number. As a result, many cellular subscribers often forego the convenience offered by their wireless telephones, instead delaying calls to businesses until they reach a landline telephone where they make the call for free. This not only postpones valuable calls to businesses, but increases the chance that the call will be forgotten all together. In response, Toll-Free Cellular is making it possible for businesses to offer free cellular calling. To reach participating businesses toll and airtime free, the caller dials a four or seven digit number with the prefix The beginning or to add to the beginning. To prefix a header onto a packet means to place the header characters in front of the packet. "To prefix" at the beginning is the opposite of "to append" characters at the end. See prepend. 1. pound symbol 800. Companies with an existing 1-800 number can pair the same seven digits with the pound symbol 800 prefix and offer free cellular calling. Toll Free Cellular is initiating its service with AT&T Wireless Services and U S WEST NewVector Group Sept. 5 in the Puget Sound Puget Sound (py  `jĕt), arm of the Pacific Ocean, NW Wash., connected with the Pacific by Juan de Fuca Strait, entered through the Admiralty Inlet and extending in two arms c. market. The launch here is the first step in a plan to provide the service cooperatively with cellular carriers in the nation's top markets. "Because people have come to expect 800 service from businesses, we believe the response of cellular telephone users will be universal," said Toll Free Cellular's CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Mark Lazar. "They'll simply wonder, `what took you guys so long.'" TWO EXPLOSIVE GROWTH MARKETS Combining toll-free 800 service with the cellular telephone makes sense. The 800 industry, which logs 25 billion calls a year in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , generates revenue totaling $9 billion a year; the industry enjoys a 15 percent annual growth rate. The cellular industry has experienced explosive growth averaging roughly 50 percent a year. Though the service was widely introduced just a decade ago, today more than 25 million users place 14 billion wireless calls a year, generating $14 billion in annual revenue for cellular service providers. "But despite the fact that millions of people now rely on their cellular telephone as an important communications device Typically refers to a terminal used to send voice, video or text. Mobile phones, wireless PDAs and personal computers equipped with microphones, speakers and cameras are all considered communications devices. See modem. , they still can't place a call without paying airtime charges," said John Clark John Clark is the name of:
2. The indorsement of a note or bill overdue, is equivalent to drawing a new bill payable at sight. 2 Conn. 419; 18 Pick. ." DISCUSSIONS UNDERWAY IN OTHER MARKETS Toll Free Cellular's launch in the Puget Sound region mirrors how the company is undertaking its national expansion. The company signed agreements with both of the market's "duopoly Duopoly A situation in which two companies own all or nearly all of the market for a given type of product or service. Notes: This is very similar to a monopoly, where only one company dominates the market. " service providers -- AT&T Wireless Services and U S WEST NewVector -- securing the ability to provide businesses with a single (pound symbol) 800 number to receive calls from all subscribers in the market. U S WEST NewVector has signed an agreement to roll-out Toll Free Cellular services in all of its 35 markets, which include Seattle, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Phoenix, Denver and Salt Lake City. AT&T Wireless Services has signed an agreement with Toll Free Cellular for its western Washington
Western Washington is a region of the United States defined as that part of Washington west of the Cascade Mountains. operations. The company, formerly known as McCaw Cellular Communications' Cellular One, is now discussing with Toll Free Cellular a timeline for introducing the service to its other markets. Those discussions coincide with negotiations now underway with every major cellular carrier in the country. "The cellular carriers are always seeking ways to add value to their services, and it is gratifying grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. that every cellular carrier we've met with sees free cellular calling as a value-added service A value-added service (VAS) is a telecommunications industry term for non-core services or, in short, all services beyond standard voice calls and fax transmissions. ," Clark said. "To achieve the goal of nationwide service, we'll work with providers in every market; based on our discussions with the carriers we're well on our way." TOLL FREE SIGNING UP CUSTOMERS In the greater Seattle market, Toll Free Cellular is busy signing up customers interested in offering free cellular calls to their customers. Research conducted by Toll Free Cellular indicates that -- if the call is free -- cellular telephone users are most likely to use their cellular phone to call pizza and other fast-food delivery restaurants, financial service providers, automobile service companies, travel-related services, construction supply companies and retail outlets retail outlet n → punto de venta retail outlet n → point m de vente retail outlet retail n → . Lazar said the company's sales efforts are benefiting greatly from the proven value of existing wireline 800 service. "The beauty of 800 is that it enables consumers to respond readily to an impulse, and consumers appreciate that convenience," Lazar said. "In fact, our research finds that 80 percent of cellular telephone users say that the availability of a (pound symbol) 800 number will influence their brand choice when purchasing a product or service." Lazar also cited research that found subscribers speculating they would make an additional 20 calls each month from their cellular telephone with widely available free cellular calling. "The demand for wireless 800 service has existed since the first cellular phones were introduced," Lazar said. "Finally, someone is doing something about it." CONTACT: Mike Brennan, 206/340-6138 |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion