Alltel Launches 'My Circle,' a One-of-a-Kind Program That Gives Customers Free Calls to Any Network or Number They Choose LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 20, 2006--Alltel (NYSE: AT): -- Customers choose who they call for free -- Customers select any number, on any network in the U.S. -- Customers identify as many as 10 numbers that matter most to them -- Customers update their Circle as often as they want online Alltel (NYSE: AT), owner and operator of America's largest wireless network, today announced the launch of "My Circle," an exclusive feature offered by no other national wireless carrier. "My Circle" empowers customers to choose who they call for free regardless of their carrier. "My Circle" enables Alltel customers to make and receive unlimited free calls to and from the 10 phone numbers that matter most to them at any time of the day. Customers on select rate plans can choose any combination of wireless, home and office numbers located anywhere in the U.S., regardless of local phone company or wireless carrier. "With 'My Circle,' Alltel customers can choose who they call for free - any number, any network," said Kevin Beebe, group president of operations for Alltel. "It's all about providing more value for our customers and keeping them in touch with the people they know and love. "'My Circle' is further proof that Alltel will continue to provide our customers with the best, most innovative wireless service in the industry," Beebe said. "Features like Anytime Plan Changes and now 'My Circle' help us deliver that superior level of service by empowering consumers to customize their wireless experience in ways that are unique in our industry." "My Circle" joins an existing set of unique promises that Alltel has made to its customers, including the flexibility to change rate plans without contract extensions and a network that's so reliable that customers stay connected or Alltel pays them back. Alltel customers on select rate plans of $59.95 or higher can sign up for "My Circle" online at alltel.com/myaccount. Once they have registered, customers can change their numbers online as often as they like - for free. New and existing customers can find out more about Alltel's exclusive "My Circle" feature by visiting their local Alltel retail store or by logging onto www.alltelcircle.com. Alltel is owner and operator of the nation's largest wireless network and has more than 10 million wireless customers. http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060420006087&newsLang=en
Dan, Dan, Dan... when are you going to learn that you're always twenty-six minutes behind me? Alltel Forum Link I imagine this press release is in response to the fact that MyCircle was leaked on the web last week. I also imagine that My Circle is the last time information of this nature will be given to any non-executive before the official launch again. Some Alltel employees need to reread their non-disclosure agreements. pro·pri·e·tar·y ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pr-pr-tr) adj. 1. Of, relating to, or suggestive of a proprietor or to proprietors as a group: had proprietary rights; behaved with a proprietary air in his friend's house. 2. Exclusively owned; private: a proprietary hospital. 3. Owned by a private individual or corporation under a trademark or patent: a proprietary drug.
This "leak" as you call it has garnered Alltel some very positive free advertising. I doubt that the execs are very upset. Good money couldn't have purchased this kind of free press. Check out the April 14 article. http://www.mountainwireless.com/news/
The leak, no quotation marks required, because it actually was a leak, could be viewed as generating good press... or it could be viewed as what it actually is: an Alltel employee violating their ethics agreement, leaking proprietary information and giving the competition advanced notice of what Alltel is planning. Not to mention that this pretty much takes the wind out of the big announcement at the NASCAR race this weekend. So no, I don't think the execs are very upset, I think the execs are pi$$ed.
We knew about this deal a week ago. Do you think that everyone in Alltel Land knows about this yet? I doubt it. Most people are not WA people.So I believe this will be a big suprise to most regular folks this weekend.
The competition knew about this long ago due to the trials being run in a couple of markets. They may not have known the specifics but they have had time to cook up a counter-strategy if they had been so inclined. The leak of the official thing a little over a week ago has generated a lot of positive talk for Alltel--probably much more than the NASCAR event ever would have. I am not trying to excuse the employee or employees who violated their ethics agreement. However, if you are correct about the execs, they are wasting their anger.
I would love to have an option like this, I wonder if any of the big 4 would do something similar? Maybe 1 would but wouldn't allow it on a family plan (like the new Sprint 7PM N&W) If Alltel were a National carrier, I think it would cause other carriers to look into doing something similar, maybe people in the area's Alltel serves will get a shot at something similar by the other carriers. I wish Cingular would do something new either the Early N&W for free like Sprint, This concept by Alltel or the new $9.99 Unlimited messaging by T-Mobile, instead of trying to be just like Verizon in a lot of ways.
Wirelessly posted (Samsung A900 Blade: Samsung-SPHA900 AU-MIC-A900/2.0 MMP/2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1) I am with Fire. I wish every carrier offered this. I would sign up for this in a heartbeat.
Sprint now has a deal. UNLIMITED MINUTES. Either 70 or 80 dollars a months for each of the first two lines. then each additonal line is 20 dollars. That commerical is on the radio today.
I think this is what mobile phone service will eventually turn into. Flat fees. Remember when AOL charged by the hour for Internet access? As efficiency increases and technology grows and access to networks and bandwidth gets cheaper, the days of paying for a limited numbers of minutes may end. Also, the absolutely outrageous charges for laptop connect bandwidth through companies like Cingular and VZW will also have to come down.
I was watching the Nextel Cup race last night and noticed the #12 Ryan Newman car had the paint scheme setup with "My Circle" on the hood and at different parts of the car. Guess a few Million Nascar fans now know about this program.
I looked for it. I can't find it on their website. I know I heard it on the radio. Heard it many times over the weekend.
I love the picture in the upper right corner of the page, showing the Verizon guy, Sprint Guy, Cingular Jack & Catherine :lmao:
I actually saw this commercial on TV yesterday. It included all the spokespeople of the top 5 providers. I was like WTF!!! How's Alltel getting away w/ including all the other Companies spokespeople!!!:O
I saw the tv ad for the first time last night. Brilliant. I love when the Verizon guy impersonator asked if he would get unlimited calls to the fake Catherine Zeta-Jones.
hey wiggy, cingy wont let me have a circle of 10, so i made a deal with stan, he gave me a circle of 55 millian, but he picked them, :browani: but really thats a great idea, now if i had 10 friends.:loony:
Alltel is a copycat company. They are not the first in wireless to offer the MyCircle format. A smaller company called SunCom started offering their Mobile-to-Anyone back at the begining of 2006. SunCom is in the NC,SC Eastern TN and Northern GA markets. I wonder why Alltel isn't using thier spokesperson in the ads????
SunCom doesn't offer 'mobile-to-anyone' for free, Alltel's 'My Circle' is free. Suncom: less than 1 million customers. Alltel: over 10 million customers. No one cares about SunCom in the grand scheme of things because they have, I think, coverage in about 20 counties, while Alltel has the largest physical coverage area of any carrier in the US and is on the verge of becomming a national carrier. Verizon, Sprint, Cingular and T-Mobile didn't have to pay attention to SunCom, really but, in areas where Alltel has service, they're going to have to pay attention now. Alltel is the largest Tier 2 carrier in the US and they keep buying small carriers. SunCom is a small carrier who is probably going to get bought out. Obviously, SunCom's 'mobile-to-anyone' came out first but the impact of Alltel's program is much greater as it could mean other, larger carriers will adopt a similar policy.
