MCI Wireless Services — Taking Back Seat to MCI Residential, Long Distance Solutions

Once a telecom giant that offered cell phone and cell phone plans, MCI WorldCom exited from bankruptcy in the Summer of 2004, finally closing a 21-month process that ended with the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history. The company has since emerged as MCI, with a stronger focus on residential and long distance telephone services, and less attention paid to its once seemingly popular cellular phone business.

Prior to this latest development, MCI Wireless relied on Verizon (formerly Bell Atlantic) and AT&T to provide much of its cellular products and services, actually purchasing these from Verizon and AT&T and selling it to the end user (consumer) at a premium, wither through independent dealers or through one of the company’s few retail locations.

During this time, the MCI Wireless cell phones and MCI cell phone plans closely mirrored those offered by Verizon and AT&T, with the names of the plans changed ever so slightly. As a cell phone provider, MCI Wireless struggled greatly with customer service problems, billing problems, roaming problems (that seemed to occur when subscribers were not roaming, with long distance charges incurred while dialing from local area), and more.

Perhaps this is why the newly emerged MCI has placed a stronger focus on its residential long distance plans and seems to be phasing out its cellular services, at least for now. But talks and merger rumors with strong cellular service providers such as Sprint may prompt changes in this very soon.

For now, however, there isn’t even cellular phone information or cellular plan information available on the MCI website. And, about the only information one can find about MCI as it pertains to wireless service is negative feedback on its previous attempts to provide these services, or information on its wireless computer services.

Currently, MCI offers wireless services in conjunction with SkyTel, which include 2-way messaging, wireless e-mail, and one-way paging (text and numeric).

In summary, if you’re looking for MCI Wireless to again join the cell phone providers of the world, you may have to wait a bit longer. In the meantime, you may want to take a look at MCI’s comprehensive long distance plans for residential and business clients.

Also, with MCI international calling cards allowing callers to call anywhere from 130 countries, and calling plans/calling cards that are specifically for calls made from U.S. military bases to other U.S military bases (for less than $.06 a minute), it appears that MCI is making a strong comeback and because of such, will undoubtedly step back into the cellular phone/cellular plan arena very soon.

About the Author

Kellie Fowler is an award-winning freelance writer who spends her winters in the U.S. and her summers in Canada, where she enjoys her 6 rescue pets, kayaking, fly-fishing, reading and writing. She is the owner of Write Solutions, a full-service writing company. Kellie currently freelances for several international groups and Fortune 500 companies, as well as well-known national magazines and newspapers.