Californians Ring in '03 With More Choice, Value & Convenience From New SBC Long Distance Service
California consumers and businesses can ring in the New Year with innovative new calling choices, unprecedented values and unparalleled convenience in shopping for and buying bundles of communications services - all from a brand they know and trust. SBC Long Distance just unveiled its much-awaited plan offerings for SBC customers in California, marking a historic turning point for telecommunications competition in the nation's single largest long distance market and most populous state.
Beginning today (Dec. 31st), California consumers can choose long distance calling options, ranging from a flat 7 cents-per-minute on local toll calls, and 10 cents on both in-state and state-to-state calls, without monthly fees; an introductory plan featuring unlimited calls for a limited time within California; and international calling plans featuring low-cost "buckets of minutes" to Asia and Mexico. In addition, customers who subscribe to the SBC Total Connections package of services can sign up to receive plans featuring unlimited nights and weekends and buckets of time starting at 200 minutes for just $5.
Businesses of all sizes can select from compelling long distance voice plans, as well as communications solutions and bundles of services combining local and long distance voice and data services. Additionally, SBC Long Distance's entry into the California market strengthens the brand's position as a premier provider of long distance data and IP services, offering California businesses a much-needed new choice for these services, in a state where 20 percent of the nation's Internet traffic originates or terminates.
"We're thrilled that we can finally bring to Californians the savings, convenience and no-nonsense approach of SBC Long Distance service, "said Chuck Smith, president and chief executive officer of SBC operations in the Western region, formerly known as SBC Pacific Telesis. "Now customers will realize the full benefits offered by the SBC family of companies, with the option to consolidate all their communications services with a reliable, trusted brand."
California Consumers Save Big on Long Distance Calls from Home
Responding to consumers' desire for hassle-free long distance service with compelling per-minute offerings, SBC Long Distance is unveiling its set of plans for California consumers. The plans are designed to match the unique calling needs of California's diverse population. Highlights include:
- SBC Total Connections: For customers who want to bundle their telecommunications services, featured plans include the Block of Time 200 minutes for $5, 500 minutes for $10, and the ability to add on unlimited nights and weekend minutes for $20 per month.
- SBC Long Distance II: For customers who occasionally make long distance calls, the company offers an attractive 7 cents-per-minute on local toll calls, and 10 cents per minute on in-state and state-to-state calls, with no monthly fees - or extra charges for one bill for local and long distance service.
- Domestic Saver: For customers who make frequent long distance calls and want a lower price, this plan offers a low, flat price of 5 cents-per-minute on local toll calls and 7 cents-per-minute on all in-state and state-to-state domestic direct-dialed long distance calls, any time, any day, for $4.95 per month.
- Value Saver: Available for packages with as few as three calling features, this plan offers a low 7 cents-per-minute price on all in-state and state-to-state calls with no monthly fees.
- SuperMexico 300: For customers who make high volumes of calls to Mexico Zone 2, this plan provides an offering of $60 a month - that's as low as 20 cents-per-minute if you use all five hours of calls per month. Other blocks of time to Mexico also are available.
- AsiaSaver 100: This option features a block-of-time plan for Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan that provides 100 minutes of calls to any or all six countries for $9.95 a month, with calls at 10 cents per minute thereafter.
Also, SBC Long Distance is offering an introductory California Saver Plan as a salute to consumers in the state, which features unlimited local toll and in-state calls for $45 per month for the first six months. After that period, the plan will offer 1,500 minutes of in-state calling for the same price - as low as 3 cents-per-minute if all 1,500 minutes are used in a month.
Businesses Have New, Reliable Choice for Long Distance Voice, Data Services
SBC California business customers may now choose from a comprehensive set of voice, data and IP (Internet protocol) services reaching across the United States and to 48 countries worldwide. SBC Long Distance business voice offerings include plans that will meet the needs of small businesses and high-volume plans targeted to medium and large businesses, and range in price depending on usage and bundle purchased. Examples include:
- For Small Businesses - The Business Domestic Saver 15 Plan provides domestic long distance prices of 5.9 cents-per-minute to anyone, anytime, anywhere for businesses that spend at least $15 a month on long distance service (additional plans available in separate fact sheet).
- For Small Business - SBC offers Business Solutions, a customizable, money-savings package complete with essential business features and services, plus a single bill and point-of-contact for all communications needs. SBC California customers can now add SBC Long Distance to Business Solutions.
- For Medium and Large Businesses - For businesses spending more than $50 a month on long distance service, a high-volume calling plan is available with state-to-state offerings as low as 4.7 cents-per-minute and 3.4 cents-per-minute for switched access and dedicated access accounts, respectively.
- For Any Business - Low cost SBC Long Distance plans also are available with international long distance service to more than 230 countries.
SBC Long Distance, in association with its affiliates, also offers business customers of all sizes Integrated Access Service (IAS), a fully customizable, bundled offering that allows companies to utilize a single communications access line to accommodate any combination of voice, data or Internet communications needs. California customers can now order SBC Long Distance as part of IAS. Additionally, California businesses will now be able to order enhanced national data transport services, including new SBC Frame Relay, ATM and Private Line, complementing existing SBC regional data and voice service offerings.
With California long distance approval, SBC Long Distance, in conjunction with its affiliates, can "turn up" data transport connections linking SBC California customers to the emerging SBC national data and OC-192 IP backbone networks. This enables SBC affiliates to deliver a powerful range of fully integrated transport, advanced data and IP networking, and managed services solutions, backed by service level agreements.
"Our mission is to follow our business customers wherever they do business, delivering a full range of integrated, end-to-end and fully managed packages of telecommunications services that meets businesses' regional and national data needs," said Smith. "For business customers, especially, the ability to provide national long distance voice, data and IP services gives them a compelling new, reliable and stable provider amidst a backdrop of unprecedented industry turmoil."
In addition to revenue opportunities, entry into the California market represents significant cost efficiencies for the SBC family of companies. The ability to carry IP traffic to and from California enhances SBC's status as a major provider of Internet backbone services, allowing the company to more cost-effectively carry traffic for all Internet service subscribers.
SBC Long Distance is launching its service for consumers and businesses following a decision on Dec. 19 by the Federal Communications Commission authorizing the company to enter the California long distance market and approval of service plans by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on Dec. 30.
"Today may be the first day of service for SBC Long Distance in California, but it's certainly not a new product for our sister company," said Smith. "Long distance already is offered in six states in our traditional service regions, and as of the third quarter 2002, our family of companies had more than 5.9 million lines, underscoring customer demand for a high-quality alternative communications provider."
To get more information on SBC Long Distance, Business customers can call: 1-800-750-2355, visit www.sbc.com or call their Liaison Manager on 1-800-552-5299. Consumers can call 1-800-528-5040.
Special SBC Long Distance Streaming Media Broadcast: You can sign up for a special SBC Long Distance Streaming Media Broadcast on Feb. 19th from 9-11:30am PST by calling your Liaison Manager (1-800-552-5299) or our Reservation Line (1-888-889-6010). Call either for further details. Thank You.