SouthernLINC Wireless Launches Budget Manager Wireless Plan

SouthernLINC Wireless, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO), launched its new Budget Manager postpaid wireless plan Oct. 20. Budget Manager helps new and existing SouthernLINC Wireless customers control their wireless bill by giving them a limited amount of cellular airtime they can use each month.

Budget Manager is different from other wireless service plans in that it suspends the ability to make cellular calls after its allotted Anytime Cellular Minutes are used; however, customers can continue communicating via Push To Talk two-way radio until the start of their next billing period, when the cellular minutes are refreshed.

Budget Manager provides 500 Anytime Cellular Minutes, including Nationwide Long Distance, and unlimited Push To Talk two-way radio throughout the SouthernLINC Wireless Regional Calling Area for $45 per month. Other features included with the plan are caller ID, call forwarding, call waiting, call hold and three-way calling.

"With soaring gas and food prices, individuals, families and small businesses are struggling to stay within their monthly budgets,” said Julie Pigott, vice president of marketing and customer support for SouthernLINC Wireless. "To help our customers manage their cellular usage and limit their charges, SouthernLINC Wireless created Budget Manager, which combines a set amount of cellular minutes with unlimited Push To Talk two-way radio and an optional unlimited text messaging package.”

For an additional $10 per month, customers can add unlimited text messaging, voice mail and balance notification via text message to the Budget Manager plan. To help customers manage their minutes, text message balance notifications are sent when 250, 400 and 500 anytime cellular minutes have been used.

Budget Manager is not only an effective expense management tool for adults, but it is an ideal plan for families with school-aged children. "Before the availability of Budget Manager, the only way parents could prevent their children from running up large bills was through prepaid plans that have higher rates per minute than postpaid plans,” explained Pigott. "Now parents have the option of a convenient, affordable wireless service that limits their kids to 500 minutes of talk time, but still allows them to use Push To Talk two-way radio and, optionally, text messaging.”

A one-year contract and participation in the SouthernLINC Wireless Automatic Payment Program is required. A maximum of three lines of service with the Budget Manager plan can be added to the same master account. Full terms of the wireless service plan are listed at www.southernlinc.com/budgetmanager. Permissible usage allowance information can be found at www.southernlinc.com/promodetails.

Budget Manager is available through Dec. 31. The plan can be purchased at SouthernLINC Wireless company-owned retail stores, through authorized SouthernLINC Wireless dealers or online at www.southernlinc.com/onlinestore.

About SouthernLINC Wireless

SouthernLINC Wireless, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is an Atlanta-based regional wireless carrier covering the major metro and rural areas in Alabama, Georgia, southeast Mississippi and northwest Florida. SouthernLINC Wireless bundles multiple communication options into one phone including Push To Talk two-way radio, cellular service, text messaging, wireless Internet access and wireless data. More information about SouthernLINC Wireless can be obtained by calling 1-800-818-LINC (5462) or visiting the SouthernLINC Wireless Web site at www.southernlinc.com.

About Southern Company

With nearly 4.4 million customers and more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast, one of America's fastest-growing regions. A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are significantly below the national average. Southern Company has been listed the top ranking U.S. electric service provider in customer satisfaction for nine consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Visit our Web site at www.southerncompany.com.