Best Buy To Sell AT&T CallVantage

AT&T today announced that Best Buy will be among the first national retailers to offer AT&T's residential Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service, AT&T CallVantage.

AT&T today announced that Best Buy will be among the first national retailers to offer AT&T’s residential Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service, AT&T CallVantage Service, in its 628 stores nationwide and online at http://www.bestbuy.com/.

AT&T CallVantage Service will be available in Best Buy stores nationwide beginning this fall.   Under terms of the agreement, Best Buy and AT&T will promote AT&T CallVantage Service through in-store marketing as well as print, broadcast and online advertising.

“We’re delighted to launch our retail strategy for AT&T CallVantage Service with Best Buy, a well-known and respected brand name and the nation’s leading specialty retailer of technology and entertainment products and services,” said Cathy Martine, AT&T senior vice president for Internet Telephony, Consumer Marketing and Sales.  “This is one of a series of retail agreements we intend to announce that will make AT&T CallVantage Service more widely and conveniently available to as many consumers as possible.”

“Voice-over IP is an exciting technology and service offering for consumers and small businesses alike,” said David Sprosty, vice president of subscription services at Best Buy. “The consumer value proposition of VoIP service is clear.  People can save money utilizing this feature-rich service.  We’re excited to add AT&T CallVantage to our assortment of VoIP, telephony and networking products and services and provide our consumers with more options in our stores and on our website.”

AT&T CallVantage Service is different from traditional phone services because, through the use of IP-based networks, it offers customers a complete calling solution that delivers unlimited local and long-distance domestic calling, typical features such as call waiting, three-way calling, and call forwarding, and many more as well. Indeed, consumers will get unprecedented convenience, cost savings and control with innovative features including:

• “Call Logs,” to track incoming and outgoing;
• “Do Not Disturb,” to receive calls only when wanted;
• “Locate Me,” which rings up to five phones, all at once, or sequentially;
• “Voicemail with eFeatures,” to listen to messages from any phone or PC and forward them to anyone on the Web; and
• “Personal Conferencing,” to set up meetings with up to nine additional callers.

All that is required for service is the easy-to-connect Telephone Adaptor (TA) included in the Welcome Package, a broadband Internet connection and regular telephone supplied by the customer. It is simple to use and easy for consumers to install–typically in 10 minutes.

AT&T CallVantage Service works with most cable modem or digital subscriber line (DSL) broadband connections. The TA is compatible with most home computer networks and may be used in conjunction with various home network routers. The adapter can be used from almost any location where there is a telephone and a broadband connection. Traveling with the TA and AT&T CallVantage Service gives customers the ability to stay connected by taking this service with them as they travel.

The nationwide service is generally available to consumers wanting local area codes and numbers in 39 states and Washington, D.C.