HispanicBusiness

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment -- Cingular Wireless today announced a more concise, easier-to-read design of its industry-leading Cingular Service Summary -- a major customer service initiative designed to provide customers with a clear, personalized summary of their service plan within minutes of signing up for service.

The new Cingular Service Summary consolidates the format from four to two pages, and features a better flow of information customers want to know, including: easy-to-understand details about their service plan; a simulated first bill with expected charges; an explanation of standard charges; tips on managing their account; and important Cingular policies.

"Our goal is to make the customer experience as easy as possible and clearly communicate all the information our customers need to know. The Cingular Service Summary is an important part of that experience," said Larry Carter, senior vice president of sales operations, Cingular Wireless. "We approached this redesign by listening to our customers and our employees and giving them the kind of information they want."

Each Cingular Service Summary contains customer-specific information, including:

- An easier-to-read "Plan Details" section that highlights features and feature descriptions - A more upfront "Using My Voicemail" section - A "Using My Phone" area referring to http://www.cingular.com/ for product model details - A more user-friendly "*Services" section - An enhanced "Understanding My First/Next Bill" section - A listing of "Standard Charges" - "Our Policies" listing information on returns, refunds, etc.

Additionally, the Cingular Service Summary includes general information, such as costs/fees associated with 411 calls, text messaging use and early termination; explanations of Rollover(TM) Minutes, Caller ID, and detailed billing; description of services such as Auto Pay; instructions for setting up voice mail; and a "first bill estimator" so customers will know what to expect when their actual first bill arrives.

"An informed customer leads to a more satisfied customer," said Jeff Kagan, telecom industry analyst. "By doing a good job of disclosure at the point of sale and providing customers with useful information, Cingular will head off a lot of problems from the start. The company's consumer-friendly policies are a positive step for the industry overall."

Each Cingular Service Summary contains the contact information of the Cingular sales associates who assisted them, as well as Cingular's toll-free customer service number (1-800-331-0500) and web address (http://www.cingular.com/), so customers can receive additional information about their account, 24 hours a day. Subscribers also can dial 611 from their Cingular phone to be connected with a customer service representative.

The service is now available at any Cingular store or agent location after joining Cingular, upgrading or making a rate plan and/or feature change. Later this year, customers calling into a Cingular call center will receive an e-mail with a link to an updated Customer Service Summary on http://www.cingular.com/ within 48 hours of a rate plan and/or feature change.

The Cingular Service Summary is just one of many consumer-friendly policies implemented by the company. Other initiatives include:

- Welcome Kit Brochure - If a customer signs up over the phone or via the web, Cingular will mail the Cingular Service Summary and other important information in a personalized all-inclusive brochure. - Personalized Coverage Maps - The interactive mapping tool, available at all Cingular retail stores or by calling 1-800-331-0500, answers specific coverage questions based on address, street intersection, zip code, state or landmark. It depicts coverage down to the neighborhood street level as well as the likelihood of coverage inside a building, inside a vehicle, and standing outside. - * (Star) Services - Provides customers with a quick, simple and free way to check minutes, outstanding balance, and even to pay their wireless bill by using text messaging. - 30-Day Guarantee - Cingular has the industry-leading "no questions asked" return policy - 30 days on both service and equipment. - Rollover Minutes - Cingular is the only wireless carrier that allows subscribers to roll over unused anytime minutes month to month - the fairest deal for customers. - Online Services - Allows customers to check their minutes, balance, pay their bill, add features and ask questions via e-mail. - Simplified Bill Format - New design based on customer feedback. ABOUT CINGULAR WIRELESS

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 51.6 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corporation , has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation - the ALLOVER network - and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover, the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/. Cingular Wireless

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