AT&T Inc. Challenges T-Mobile US with Unlimited International Messaging

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) strengthened its competition against T-Mobile US, Inc (NYSE:TMUS) with its unlimited international text messaging and cheaper rates for international calls. According to the second largest wireless carrier in the United States, its customers under the Mobile Share and Mobile Share Value Plans will be able to send unlimited text, picture and video messages from the United States to any country around the world starting February 28.

AT&T Inc (NYSE:T) also reduced its rates for international calling to any number in 35 countries including Canada, Mexico, other Latin American and Caribbean countries for only $0.01 per minute in a $5 monthly plan. The wireless carrier previously charged $10 a month for international texting and its rates for international calling are more expensive.

In a statement, David Christopher, chief marketing officer of Mobility at AT&T Inc (NYSE:T) said, “Two weeks ago, we introduced our best-ever value plans for families and small businesses, and now we’re delivering some of our best offers for international. When you combine these phenomenal new offers, our leading device portfolio available at $0 down with AT&T Next, the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network and our award winning customer service — there is no comparison — our customers get incredible value.”

The latest offering of AT&T, Inc (NYSE:T) is targeted at T-Mobile US, Inc (NYSE:TMUS), which trying to attract customers with its free international text messaging and un-carrier program, which offers as much as $650 incentives per line for customers who will switch service. Recently, T-Mobile improved its Jump program with unlimited device upgrade to lure more customers from its competitors. The fourth largest wireless carrier reported that it added 1.6 million new customers in the fourth quarter.

Ralph Dela Vega, CEO of AT&T, Inc (NYSE:T) said, “We are always looking for ways to keep our customers happy. The offer we have is better than T-Mobile’s…” during an interview at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain yesterday.

AT&T, Inc (NYSE:T) improved its offers after experiencing slowdown in user growth. The company reported that it gained 566,000 new contract wireless customers in the fourth quarter, lower than its 780,000 new customers added in the same quarter a year earlier.

Over the past 52-week range, the stock price of AT&T, Inc (NYSE:T) declined from its highest level at $39 to $31.74 per share. The stock closed at $32.17 per share, down by almost 1% on Tuesday.

Smartstops.net, a stock market risk management firm shows that the shares of AT&T (NYSE:T) are current at an elevated risk level. Investors who received alerts and pulled back their investments from the company when it entered its current risk state saved $2.90 per share.

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