MADISON, Wis.-Cellular One of Wisconsin and Northern Illinois recently introduced Cellular ONE-4-U, a prepaid wireless service that allows consumers to purchase airtime without a credit check, contract, deposit or monthly bill.
All prepaid calls are considered local and billed at one flat rate. Customers are given a personal mobile number to receive incoming calls.
The Cellular ONE-4-U system provides an account balance on all incoming and outgoing calls, sending the owner warning signals when the account is down to three-, two- and one-minute balances.
Cellular phone owners can purchase a 50-minute voucher for $37.50, and first time wireless users can purchase a starter kit that includes a cellular phone, desktop charger, AC adapter and 20 minutes of airtime for $160.
Cellular ONE-4-U can be purchased at Cellular One retail and Wal-Mart stores.
“It is estimated that cellular providers turn away between 20 and 30 percent of potential subscribers due to issues of credit, contracts and monthly expenses,” said Faith Morledge, a Cellular One product manager.
Morledge said the Yankee Group research firm, Boston, expects prepaid wireless will be a $2.2 billion industry with more than 2.7 million subscribers by 2002.
Cellular One is part of United States Cellular Corp., which owns interests representing about 25.9 million pops. Locally, Madison, Wis.-based Cellular One serves citizens in a 31-county area, according to the company.
