GTE marks one-year anniversary in long-distance business with onemillion customers in service and introduction of new international calling plan for residential customers.
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IRVING, Texas -- On March 4, 1996, GTE became the first of its peers to enter
the long-distance business. Today, on the first anniversary of its market
entry, GTE announced it had its one millionth long-distance customer in service.
"It's been an incredible first year," said Rob McCoy, president of GTE Long
Distance. "We knew we were facing a great opportunity going in; it was a matter
of execution. We've gone from zero to a million customers in less than a year,
and we're very pleased."
Timothy and Judy Sexton from Virginia Beach, Va., were the one millionth GTE
Long Distance customers in service. To commemorate the occasion, GTE awarded
Timothy Sexton, an apprentice plumber, and Judy Sexton, a nail technician, one
million free airline miles.
"We're thrilled," said Timothy Sexton. "We chose GTE because they offered
us great prices and the ability to get all of our services, local and long
distance, on one monthly bill, from a company we've known for years. The honor
of being the one millionth customer, and winning a million airline miles, was
quite a pleasant surprise."
GTE Introduces New International Calling Plan for Residential Customers
The company also unveiled its newest service for residential customers, the
GTE International Calling Plan, which offers competitive prices on direct-dialed
international calls.
The plan has simple rates for each country called. Rates are based on the
time of day the call is placed. Peak period is from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. All calls
made from the United States between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. weekdays, and all day
Saturday, Sunday and holidays, receive the lowest rates. As a special bonus for
customers, GTE is waiving calling periods for calls to countries in Asia, Africa
and Europe, applying one low rate for each country to all calls -- no matter
what time of the day or night the call is placed.
"Many calling plans are based on the time of day in the country called. The
beauty of this plan," McCoy pointed out, "is that consumers can stop worrying
about placing calls during high-cost times that vary by country. GTE's plan is
based on our customer's clock."
The plan has no enrollment fee and carries a $3 monthly charge. Consumers
interested in the GTE International Calling Plan should call 1-800-GTE-3737 for
details. GTE also offers flat-rate plans for domestic calling.
One of the largest publicly held telecommunications companies in the world,
GTE is also the largest U.S.-based local telephone company and a leading
cellular-service provider in the United States -- with wireline and wireless
operations that form a market area covering about one-third of the U.S.
population.
The following chart compares the GTE International Calling Plan to other international calling plans: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Time of Day (U.S.) | GTE International Calling Plan | Sprint Sense II | AT&T; One Rate International | MCI One International |
| Japan | 8 a.m. | $.47 per minute | $1.40 per minute | $.47 per minute | $.48 per minute |
| France | 11 a.m. | $.35 per minute | $1.10 per minute | $.35 per minute | $.35 per minute |
| Mexico (Mexico City) | 6 p.m. | $.60 per minute | $1.25 per minute | $.65 per minute | $.65 per minute |
| Jamaica | 9 p.m. | $.65 per minute | $.80 per minute | $.73 per minute | $.74 per minute |
* Information current as of February 26, 1997.
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