Qwest Communications International Inc. unveiled nationwide wireless voice services to residential and small-business customers in eight Oregon cities as part of its mobile virtual network operator agreement signed last year with Sprint PCS. The agreement allows Qwest to offer wireless service in markets where it also provides wireline-based services.
Qwest will roll out the MVNO services in Bend, Grants Pass, Hermiston, Klamath Falls, Medford, Pendleton, Roseburg and St. Helens, Ore.
The new plans begin at $35 per month for 500 anytime calling minutes when customers bundle their wireless services with any other Qwest service on one bill. In addition, Qwest said it would offer free long-distance on select plans, one-number service for both wireline and wireless phones, a voicemail link integrating both wireless and wireline voicemail boxes, and data services including Sprint PCS Vision service.
“Offering wireless in these additional cities is part of our plan to provide more customers with greater choice flexibility when it comes to selecting communications services,” said Judy Peppler, Qwest president for Oregon.
Qwest has said it plans to have all of its wireless customers transitioned to Sprint PCS’ wireless network by the end of this year and recently announced a $414 million deal to sell its soon-to-be vacated network and spectrum to Verizon Wireless.
