Nextel Communications Inc. said its Nationwide Direct Connect service is now available in the northern region of Baja California, Mexico, including Tijuana, Ensenada, Rosarito, Mexicali and Tecate.
The quasi-international coverage, which was launched with Nextel’s international partner NII Holdings Inc.’s Nextel Mexico subsidiary, allows Nextel customers to place and receive Direct Connect calls as well as access wireless data services as part of their Nationwide Direct Connect service. Customers can also place traditional cellular calls to Baja California for 20 cents per minute and back into the United States for 69 cents per minute.
Tom Kelly, Nextel executive vice president and chief operating officer, noted the service will target the more than 800 U.S. companies with manufacturing facilities on the Mexican border near San Diego, as well as its Hispanic customers who often travel to northern Baja.
The cross-border service is also available through Nextel’s Boost Mobile L.L.C. youth-oriented prepaid service, which is currently available in California and Nevada and operates on Nextel’s iDEN-based network.
Nextel added that it has the ability to expand its service to the rest of Mexico, and it is technically possible to expand to other markets where NII Holdings offers service, including Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Peru.
