Will You Accept the Charges?

As of March 31, 2009, AT&T rolled out a call feature, “AT&T Collect to Wireless” for their cell phone service. It is quite transparent that AT&T is offering features to appeal to customers who have abandon their landline services. The collect call feature works like this:

1) A person calls a toll free number (1-800-Call-ATT) to place a call
2) The customer dials in the wireless subscriber and records his or her name.
3) The phone call is connected when the wireless subscriber accepts the call.

In an “Always On” culture, do I really want to accept calls from people that can’t even afford to call me? Most friends and family have cell phones or some sort of landline service and call me on their dime. On the surface it sounds like a great idea but under further scrutiny it left me some questions. With this feature, Can I set my preferences to allow collect calls from specific numbers? What about blocking telephone scammers like prisoners who are incarcerated and use collect call to conduct scams?

Here are some additional barriers to entry:
• Customers who use this feature have to remember the 1800 number
• International customers may find the process cumbersome
• Kids now have yet another way to connect to friends and run up MOM and DAD's cell phone bill (without Mom & Dad knowing)
• This service does not bind non AT&T customers to the cell phone service.
• Business customers have no need for such a feature

I would love to hear your opinion; Do you think this is a great idea? If a collect call was placed, “WILL YOU ACCEPT THE CHARGES?” As always, I appreciate your feedback.

Keep Achieving
NaShawn