IVR-Powered Collect Call Service from AT&T for Mobile Users in U.S.

Since the introduction of cell phones and VoIP calling systems, I’m not sure if collect calls are used regularly anymore. I do remember when collect calling became available and all I wanted to do was run to the pay-phone in my school just to call mom collect. I was in elementary school mind you. TMCnet contributor Jayashree Adkoli has reported that now AT&T U.S. customers can now make collect calls to mobile phones by dialing 1-800-225-5288 through a new service called “AT&T (News - Alert) Collect to Wireless.”

 

Claiming it’s the first telecommunications provider to expand its collect calling services to reach wireless customers in the United States., AT&T said it launched the new service with 3Cinteractive’s "Text Collect.”

 

A collect call is a telephone call where the caller wants to place a call at the called party’s expense. Earlier, collect calls were only possible as an operator-assisted call, but with the introduction of computer-based telephone dialing equipments, it is now possible to place a collect call without using an operator – popularly known as International free phone service, or “IFS.”

 

As a part of 1-800-CALL-ATT product suite, AT&T’s Collect to Wireless service is said to save nearly 13 percent of the called party’s money, while still capable of making calls from any phone to mobile phone.

 

When using the service, a computerized voice prompts the calling person to say a name, then wait for the called person to receive the call. In case, if the called person does not pick-up the phone, then the user can leave a collect message at the number – by pressing one.

 

However, for utilizing AT&T Collect to Wireless service, the user will have to first dial 1-800-Call-ATT, and then wait for a prompt to choose AT&T Collect to Wireless service. The user will have to now enter 10 digit mobile phone number and then speak his or her name. Upon establishing the call, both the parties can speak for up to 20 minutes at for $9.99. However, wireless customer or the called party has the option to not receive the collect calls.

 

AT&T said that currently AT&T Collect to Wireless service is not available from coin phones.

 

“We are thrilled to offer wireless subscribers the opportunity to receive collect calls,” said Susan A. Johnson, AT&T senior vice president of customer information services for AT&T Operations, Inc. “We hope that this affordable service offers consumers peace of mind and the ability to connect with their loved ones, wherever they are.”