AT&T (NYSE: T), which recently said it would no longer recruit residential long-distance customers, has introduced an unlimited local version of its residential broadband phone service called AT&T CallVantage Local Plan. Among the retailers working with AT&T are Miami-based TigerDirect.com.

The Bedminster, N.J.-based telecom giant said for $19.99 a month, customers receive unlimited local calling and access to the entire AT&T CallVantage Service advanced feature set, which includes voice mail, plus local toll and long-distance calling in the United States and to Canada for 4 cents a minute.

AT&T did not give a specific rate for international calls, but said it will bill them at rates on average 50 percent less than the company’s leading offers.

The new calling plan is to become available Oct. 17.

«The AT&T CallVantage Local Plan was designed to serve the needs of those customers who make relatively few long-distance calls, but who are looking for an economical, feature-rich, local service alternative,» said Cathy Martine, AT&T senior vice president for Internet telephony.

Once customers sign up for the plan, though, they need to use a telephone adapter available from AT&T or certain retailers, plus a broadband connection so they can talk over high-speed Internet connections.

Also, customers will need to connect or hire someone to connect the service to multiple home phones. AT&T gives its customers a «Home Wiring Do-It-Yourself Guide» with each self-install kit.

To buy the VoIP starter kit from TigerDirect, the online retailing unit of Systemax (NYSE: SYX), customers may search the retailer’s Web site for «VoIP» or «AT&T CallVantage Service.»

«We’re delighted to offer our customers AT&T’s broadband phone service,» said Gilbert Fiorentino, TigerDirect chief executive officer."

Martine said TigerDirect considers helping customers understand how technology can help them its first priority.

«Like TigerDirect.com, our goal is to make the ease and convenience of AT&T CallVantage Service widely available to as many consumers as possible,» she said.

Sometime next week, TigerDirect and AT&T predicted the TigerDirect retail outlet stores will have the CallVantage starter kits. The stores are at the Mall of the Americas at 7795 W. Flagler St., and 14951 S. Dixie Highway, both in Miami.

 — Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Classic Chastain series serves as backdrop for successful customer relationship building and community involvement. —

ATLANTA, /PRNewswire/ When Hank Hynson, director of operations for Agility Recovery Solutions, accepted BellSouth’s offer to attend the BellSouth-sponsored Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Classic Chastain event, he expected an amazing performance by George Benson. What he did not anticipate was the growing relationship he would foster at the concert with BellSouth, his communications provider. As a disaster recovery and business continuity organization serving many Fortune 100 companies across the nation, Agility Recovery Solutions relies on BellSouth as the backbone of its business proposition -- to be there for customers when their own systems are not.

«It wasn’t about BellSouth trying to sell me additional communications services. It was about spending quality time to learn more about my business and how to provide me with better service,» Hynson said. «In today’s fast-paced business environment, spending quality time with customers is difficult to do. BellSouth did it. That’s a big deal in my book.»

BellSouth, a corporate sponsor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for nearly 20 years, has contributed more than $2.7 million through sponsorships, endowment and employee contributions to improve musical programs in the Atlanta community. This year, BellSouth’s sponsorship enabled it to introduce small business customers to the Classic Chastain series and to spend quality time learning about its customers’ telecommunications needs.

«In this historic Atlanta venue, we had the opportunity to interact face-to-face with our customers, thus understanding their individual needs and developing strategies to deliver on our promises,» said David Scobey — president, BellSouth Small Business Services. "In our business, it’s the details that make the difference -- one customer at a time. "

Over the span of four weekday evenings at Chastain Park Amphitheatre, more than 50 customers and their guests were treated to a light dinner and the music of The Four Tops & The Temptations, The Beach Boys, Amy Grant and George Benson. Customers were paired with account executives and members of the BellSouth Small Business team. Through this qualitative approach, BellSouth was able to pinpoint specific customer needs and identify future opportunities for service.

About BellSouth Corporation

BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and a parent company of Cingular Wireless, the nation’s second largest wireless voice and data provider.

Backed by award winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth Answers®, residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial up and high speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular® Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers online and directory advertising through BellSouth® RealPages.com® and The Real Yellow Pages®.

More information about BellSouth can be found at [ >>> ] .