SAN ANTONIO -- A first for the convenience-store industry, Valero Energy Corp. has partnered with Incomm to introduce Leap's Jump Mobile prepaid wireless service in 188 of its Valero and Diamond Shamrock Corner Stores, the company said.
The Jump Mobile program, which was test marketed in stores located in Arizona, California and Colorado last November, has exceeded the company's expectations, it added, with sales increasing each week.
Targeted to the mobile-dependent, urban youth market, Jump Mobile is a prepaid wireless service [image-nocss] that offers customers free unlimited incoming calls from anywhere in the world, unlimited inbound and outbound text messaging and only 10 cents per minute for local and domestic long-distance outgoing calls.
With the addition of the Jump Mobile program, our prepaid wireless sales have already doubled, and it's expected that this category will continue to grow throughout the year, said Gary Arthur, Valero's senior vice president of retail and specialty products marketing.
Customers can choose from four Jump Mobile plans, ranging from $15 for 150 anytime minutes of outbound local and domestic long-distance calls to $50 for 500 anytime minutes of outbound local and domestic long-distance calls. All plans include free incoming calls from anywhere in the world and free inbound and outbound text messaging. Expiration dates vary depending on the plan. Funds can also be added for additional outbound calls, as well as games, ringtones and wallpapers.
As part of the Jump Mobile program, a Motorola c341 handset is available for $69.99 with a one-year factory warranty. Additional handsets will be offered soon.
Jump Mobile customers also have access to international long-distance calling and to Travel Time, a roaming feature that enables customers to use the Jump Mobile service outside the Jump service area. Both international long-distance and Travel Time are offered on a prepaid basis and are deducted from the user's account on a per-minute basis.
San Antonio-based Valero has more than 5,000 retail and branded wholesale outlets in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean under brand names including Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar and Beacon.
Leap, San Diego, provides mobile wireless services targeted to meet the needs of customers underserved by traditional communications companies.
Atlanta-based InComm is a provider of prepaid products and payments technology. Its product line includes a suite of retail prepaid services, subscriber services and payment solutions.
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