SBC to Drop Fees for Long-Distance Wireless

SBC Communications Inc., the largest U.S. local-telephone company, said it will offer new price plans for nationwide wireless phone service, dropping extra fees for long-distance and calls outside a user’s home market. The six new Digital Edge USA plans range from $25 for 75 minutes of talk time to $150 for 1,500 minutes. Rates had varied by market and only a few had national pricing plans. SBC sells wireless service under the Southwestern Bell, Pacific Bell, Nevada Bell, SNET, Ameritech, Cellular One and Radiofone brands. While SBC has simplified rates, they aren’t low. The company’s lowest-priced plan charges customers 33 cents a minute. Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Bell Atlantic Corp. and Vodafone AirTouch, offers national plans ranging from $35 for 150 minutes--or 23 cents a minute--to $150 for 1,500 minutes, a dime a minute. Shares in San Antonio-based SBC rose $1.13 to close at $48.13 on the NYSE.