Alltel Joins with AOL and MSN to Offer Wireless Instant Messaging.LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Alltel (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : AT) wireless customers now can send and receive text messages using the AOL (A division of Time Warner, Inc., New York, NY, www.aol.com) The world's largest online information service with access to the Internet, e-mail, chat rooms and a variety of databases and services. (R) Instant Messenger AOL's instant messaging service. See AIM and instant messaging. (TM) (AIM(R)) and MSN Messenger Microsoft's instant messaging (IM) service, which provides text messaging and voice calling. Part of the MSN Network, MSN Messenger clients are available for non-XP versions of Windows, Mac, Pocket PC and MSN TV. For Windows XP, the IM client is Windows Messenger. services by signing up for Alltel's Axcess Instant Messaging Exchanging text messages in real time between two or more people logged into a particular instant messaging (IM) service. Instant messaging is more interactive than e-mail because messages are sent immediately, whereas e-mail messages can be queued up in a mail server for seconds or service plan. "We are excited to be working with AOL and MSN (1) (MicroSoft Network) A family of Internet-based services from Microsoft, which includes a search engine, e-mail (Hotmail), instant messaging (Windows Live Messaging) and a general-purpose portal with news, information and shopping (MSN Directory). to bring these services to our customers," said Wade McGill, vice president of wireless marketing for Alltel. "Our new Axcess Instant Messaging service enables Alltel wireless customers with text-messaging capable handsets to send and receive instant messages via SMS (1) (Storage Management System) Software used to routinely back up and archive files. See HSM. (2) (Systems Management Server) Systems management software from Microsoft that runs on Windows NT Server. as if they were still at their desktop computers. Customers can use Axcess Instant Messaging with any text messaging, messaging pack or pay per use text messaging plan, at no additional cost." Axcess Instant Messaging usage will appear on customers' bills as text messages. Alltel's text messaging plans start as low as $5.99 for any combination of 300 incoming or outgoing messages per month. Customers who have not signed up for a messaging plan receive 5 free incoming messages and then will be charged 5 cents for each incoming or outgoing message. Axcess Instant Messaging customers will be able to stay connected with friends and family or quickly touch base with the office no matter where they go. AIM(R) desktop users can also send instant messages to mobile phones via conventional text messaging by simply addressing the instant message to a mobile phone number. Additionally, the "Forward to Mobile" feature from the AIM service automatically forwards incoming instant messages to user's mobile device. Alltel customers can easily become AIM or MSN users by visiting AIM.com, or MSN.com, and following the directions for IM forwarding or PC to Mobile respectively. Alltel is a customer-focused communications company with more than 13 million customers and $8 billion in annual revenues. Alltel provides wireless, local telephone, long-distance, Internet and broadband services to residential and business customers in 27 states. Alltel, NYSE: AT www.alltel.com |
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