LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Alltel Corp. launched an all-inclusive, flat-rate messaging offering, allowing users to send and receive text, picture and video messaging at one monthly price.
The carrier said the plans are unique in allowing users to send and receive any combination of messages in any of the three formats. The carrier is offering a high-end messaging plan at $15 a month that includes 1,500 incoming and outgoing messages of any type. A $10 per-month plan includes any mix of 750 messages; $6 buys 300 monthly messages.
All three plans charge 5 cents per message in excess of the allotted number.
Video messaging of 15-second video clips is offered to Alltel customers using the Motorola V710, which the carrier sells for $250 with a two-year contract.
While flat-rate wireless data plans have become popular in some markets, U.S. carriers have been slow to embrace such services, which can weigh down infrastructures with data-heavy applications. But insiders expect more carriers to offer such plans as more third-generation networks come online in U.S. markets this year, which could result in a surge in multimedia messaging service use.
“Alltel is setting the industry standard in wireless messaging by offering customers simple and affordable plans for text, picture or video messaging,” said Kevin Beebe, Alltel’s group president of operations. “Customers want easy-to-understand rate plans and convenient, reliable service.”
