MIAMI-Prepaid wireless provider TracFone Wireless Inc. launched its NET10 service offering providing a flat-rate 10-cent per minute calling rate for all calls.
The service is available with select Nokia Corp. and Motorola Inc. GSM handsets with airtime card expiration dates available in $30, $60, $180 and $300 denominations. The $30 card expires in 30 days, the $60 card in 60 days, the $180 card in 180 days and the $300 card is good for one year.
NET10 also offers text messaging at 5 cents per message sent or received.
The 10-cent-per-minute charge for prepaid service is similar to recent launches by a number of other wireless carriers, though many also charge per-day usage fees. Verizon Wireless’ Inpulse service charges customers a $1 per day usage fee regardless of whether a customer uses the service; Cingular Wireless L.L.C. charges $1 per day, but only on days when the customer uses the service; Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. charges a 35-cent per day usage fee regardless of usage. T-Mobile USA Inc. is the only major wireless operator to match NET10’s 10-cent per minute charge without a usage fee.
“Many wireless providers claim to charge only 10 cents per minute, but there are usually many hidden costs, contracts or daily access fees,” said Derek Hewitt, senior vice president of marketing for NET10. “This is simply not the case with NET10-it’s a hassle-free and honest service that is without rival in the industry.”
TracFone’s legacy prepaid offering serves more than 4.8 million customers.
