Being a consumer-focused Web site, we make it our goal to keep wireless customers informed so they can make educated decisions about wireless services. We make an effort to present information that isn’t included in commercials and press releases. What company is going to tout their shortcomings or legal issues? But just like any company—ok, except maybe Enron—wireless carriers have their good sides too. I figured I’d give AT&T a break today and shed a little bit of light on some things they’re doing that can provide benefit to a lot of people. AT&T just launched a new wireless plan for customers who frequently call Mexico, AT&T most popular international calling destination. It’s called, appropriately, AT&T Viva Mexico, and it’s a much more robust plan that the one currently available—just plain AT&T Mexico. Customers who add AT&T Mexico to their wireless plans pay just $4.99 per month for calls to or in Mexico. On top of the monthly fee, rates are $.09 per minute and $.25 per minute, depending on whether a landline or wireless device is called, respectively. Roaming costs $.59 per minute. For anyone spending time in Mexico on business or vacation, and especially those who have family in the country with whom they communicate frequently, this can add up quickly and become very expensive. AT&T Viva Mexico is more expensive on a monthly basis. It starts at $54.99 per month, but the plan provides more features. First, it eliminates long distance charges on wireless calls between the United States and Mexico. The least expensive plan offers anytime minutes starting at 450, going all the way up to 5,000, all with rollover. All tiers of the plan provide 1,000 night and weekend minutes. For now, separate rates for picture and video messaging, and texting still apply. There’s little chance that you haven’t heard of Amazon’s Kindle electronic reading device. It’s been a big part of the e-reader revolution, first with its original issue, then the second generation device, and now the Kindle DX, a 9.7-inch electronic reading device meant for better viewing of newspapers and magazines, while still delivering books. What you may not know is the Kindle runs on Sprint’s 3G network. Not to be outdone, especially not by the number three wireless company in the country, AT&T is working with a new company to provide a mobile broadband connection for its electronic reading device. Plastic Logic has developed a new electronic reader. The size of a regular piece of paper—slightly larger than the Kindle DX—the Plastic Logic Reader will run on AT&T’s 3G network. In addition to being a little bigger, it has another advantage over the Kindle—it will be able to access WiFi hotspots. The developers almost made the Reader flexible, but through market research found that, surprisingly, it wasn’t very popular with consumers. For now, it’s encased in hard, inflexible plastic, but that may change after the initial launch early next year. No word yet on how much the Reader will cost. After bringing another part of the world little closer, and facilitating document delivery in any location, AT&T is also turning its attention to education. Last week, the carrier announced plans to provide the University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus with WiFi. The school has outgrown its current Internet service, which only covers three small areas of the campus. AT&T has invested, although they won’t specify how much, in building a WiFi system that will blanket the campus with coverage. If the deal is successful, wireless coverage could extend to other USC campuses, and to other schools around the country. It’s a big step in the right direction to help improve how college students learn and access information. But let’s be honest, it’s also a step toward gaining future AT&T Wireless customers. And that’s ok. It’s all about trade-off. Sure, none of this is charity. It’s all still business. But part of business is creating opportunity and innovation. A company can make shrewd business decisions and be profitable, and still be doing good things.
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