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AT&T, Cingular trialing unlimited wireline-to-wireless calling option

ATLANTA-Cingular Wireless L.L.C. reportedly is testing a rate plan in select markets that allows customers to place unlimited calls to AT&T Inc. wireline customers for a flat monthly fee. AT&T, which recently changed its name from SBC Communications Inc. following SBC’s $16 billion acquisition of AT&T Corp., owns 60 percent of Cingular.

The plan, dubbed Mobile2Home, is being tested in Connecticut through Feb. 25 and requires local AT&T subscribers to bundle their Cingular service on a single bill. The unlimited calling feature costs $6 per month.

A number of regional Bell operating companies offer a similar service, include Qwest Communications International Inc., which offers wireless service through a mobile virtual network operator model using Sprint Nextel Corp.’s CDMA network.

Analysts note these bundled offerings are designed to reduce customer churn and are another step in the convergence between wireline and wireless services.

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