Pocket pushes into Laredo

SAN ANTONIO-Local wireless carrier Pocket Communications Inc. is rolling out its budget-friendly unlimited calling service in a second market.
The company said it launched service in Laredo, Tex., after debuting in San Antonio earlier this year. Pocket will publicize the offering during official launch events at two store locations early next month. The company said it has begun hiring staff in Laredo, and plans to initially bring on 50 employees.
Pocket offers two flat-rate unlimited calling plans and has been marketing itself as a common-sense alternative to traditional national carriers.
The company’s Flat 28 plan includes unlimited regional voice minutes for $28 a month, with the first month free. Pocket’s Flat 37 plan, which costs $37 per month, includes unlimited regional and domestic U.S. calling, plus unlimited text and picture messaging. The company also has a 10-200 plan: for $10 a month, users get 200 minutes that include domestic long-distance, with free incoming text messages and additional minutes billed at 10 cents per minute. The company requires no contract, credit checks or activation fees.
Pocket, which operates a CDMA network, said it will be selling service through more than 30 third-party retailers and that it will have four Pocket stores in the Laredo area.
“I’m extremely excited about our rollout into the Laredo market,” said Paul Posner, chief executive officer and owner of Pocket Communications. “We’ve been met with great enthusiasm for our low-cost, high-quality service in the San Antonio market. We expect people in Laredo also are ready to break the chains of ‘big wireless’ and try out a sensible cell phone service.”
Pocket also indicated that it plans to begin offering service in the Rio Grande Valley by spring of next year. The Rio Grande Valley, located along the southern tip of Texas and the Mexican border, includes McAllen, Harlingen and Brownsville.
Pocket operates on much the same model as other unlimited, flat-rate carriers such as Leap Wireless International Inc. and MetroPCS Communications Inc., although its prices undercut the offerings of those operators.