• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

AT&T offering local phone service

Posted on: Tuesday, 14 October 2003, 06:00 CDT

People in Tucson now have an extra choice - and more opportunities to save money - when it comes to local telephone services for their homes.

AT&T has stepped into the market and is going head-to-head with Qwest Communications, the longtime dominant telephone services provider in Tucson.

AT&T announced its entry in the Arizona local phone service market Thursday, predicting a domino effect of lower prices in phone services and improved customer service by its competitors. The company offers local phone services in 13 states.

"Every single state that we've entered, customers have benefited," said Kevin Crull, an AT&T Consumer senior vice president.

Al Sterman, vice president of the Arizona Consumers Council, said AT&T has been contacting its long-distance customers in Tucson trying to get them to move into local service.

"I think it's good that they're in the market. I'm not so pleased about how they're handling their marketing," Sterman said. "They're not in the market to serve small customers."

AT&T's best deals on local service will go to customers who also buy long-distance services. For example, a basic phone line without long-distance is being sold for $19.95 a month. The cost drops to $14.95 if the customer also pays $3.95 for long-distance services.

The company needs the extra revenue from long-distance services to make money in Arizona, Crull said.

AT&T is providing local phone service on lines leased from Qwest Communications. The monthly rate is $15.82 per phone line.

How companies compare

Charges shown are monthly and do not include international long- distance.

AT&T, $14.95 plus taxes for basic local phone service. An additional $3.95 includes unlimited long-distance and local toll calls at 7 cents a minute. Without AT&T long-distance, local service is $19.95.

Cox Communications, $11.75 plus estimated $6.50 in taxes. Includes local phone service.

MCI Neighborhood Complete, $49.99 plus taxes. Includes local phone service, 200 minutes of long-distance and unlimited local toll calls.

Sprint Complete Sense 50, $34.99 plus estimated $12 in taxes. Includes local phone service, four calling features and 50 minutes of local toll and domestic long-distance. Additional domestic long- distance or local toll minutes are 7 cents a minute.

Qwest, $13.18 plus taxes. Includes local phone service. Value Choice + Preferred is the company's planned package upon approval to offer long-distance. Cost to be $44.99 plus taxes. Includes local phone service, four calling features and unlimited long-distance.

Contact reporter Mary Vandeveire at 573-4195 or mev@azstarnet.com.

More News in this Category