LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Alltel Corp. has launched a new service offering that allows customers to select up to 10 phone numbers—wireless, landline, home or office—that they can call for free at any time of day.
The My Circle program is available to Alltel subscribers on rate plans of $60 per month or more. They can sign up for My Circle online starting Sunday. Once registered, subscribers can change their chosen numbers online as often as they want without additional charges. The numbers must be shared among all lines on an account, can have service with any domestic wireless carrier and cannot be international numbers, 900 numbers, voice mail or directory assistance.
Subscribers can make and receive calls from their selected numbers without being charged so long as the calls are placed or received while customers are within their plan’s service area.
The My Circle service builds on an offering by Alltel’s recently revamped prepaid service, U Prepaid. With U, customers can chose an option (for free or an extra 25 cents per day, depending on which other options they select) that allows unlimited calling to one wireless or wireline number. Alltel’s prepaid customers are not eligible for the My Circle program.
Other wireless providers also offer similar programs. Virgin Mobile has its Inner Circle offer for 70 cents per day, which allows customers to choose up to three numbers for unlimited night and weekend calling. Wireless numbers on the Inner Circle list can be on any wireless network. Two changes each month are allowed free of charge, and further number changes are $3 each. The Inner Circle promotion runs through April 30.
Sprint Nextel Corp. recently introduced its Sprint to Home and Sprint Mobile to Office plans, which allows Sprint Nextel wireless users to designate a single landline number for placing and receiving unlimited calls. Consumers must choose a residential landline and business customers must choose a business phone number. The fees range from $5 per month for consumers to $8 per month for business customers with a monthly wireless plan of at least $50. The offer is available regardless of the customer’s wireline carrier.
