Cingular Wireless recently launched new international calling packages that make it more simple and affordable for globetrotting consumers to stay connected to family and friends around the world. Cingular's new international roaming package, Cingular World Traveler, allows customers to pack up their Cingular service and phone as they travel the world in over 175 countries and enjoy new discounted roaming rates in over 80 of those countries. Additionally, the new Cingular World Connect package provides affordable rates to over 200 countries when making international calls from the United States. Cingular also introduced new international roaming and long distance packages for Canada and Mexico.

"Our new Cingular World packages are designed to offer our customers cost-effective wireless calling solutions whether they are traveling abroad or calling people outside of the U.S.," said David Christopher, Vice President of Product Management, Cingular Wireless. "These packages, together with our global GSM network - the most commonly used wireless technology worldwide - allow our customers to take their Cingular service and compatible wireless devices with them as they explore the world."

International Roaming Package: Cingular World Traveler

Gone are the days when travelers were forced to make expensive calls from their hotel or seek out a pay phone in an unfamiliar city. Cingular customers can use the same wireless world phone and mobile number they use in the U.S. when roaming in over 175 countries. And now, with the new Cingular World Traveler package for just $5.99 a month, customers can enjoy discounted roaming rates in over 80 of those countries. And for those who like to travel by sea, Cingular customers can now make and receive calls on their own cell phones while in international waters on 14 cruise ships traveling the Caribbean.

A few examples of these new discounted international roaming rates (per minute) include:

Country - Cingular Standard Rates - Cingular World Traveler Rates

- Canada - 79 cents - 59 cents
- Mexico - 99 cents - 59 cents
- France / Germany / Italy / U.K. - $1.29 - 99 cents
- Australia - $1.69 - $1.29
- Bermuda/Jamaica - $1.99 - $1.69
- Japan (3G phone required) - $2.29 - $1.69
- Bahamas - $2.29 - $1.99
- Brazil / China / Hong Kong - $2.29 - $1.99

Cingular makes it just as easy and affordable to communicate via email, text and/or photo messaging. For example, a Cingular customer traveling in Paris can snap a picture of the Eiffel Tower on their wireless camera phone and easily and inexpensively send the photo, complete with a text message, to loved ones back home in the United States. Text messages are 50 cents to send and 10 cents to receive. Multimedia messages are $1.30 to send and 25 cents to receive.

For international travelers who need to stay connected to their email and critical files, Cingular offers a BlackBerry International package that provides unlimited email in the U.S. and around the world in over 95 countries for just $69.99 a month. When added to a Cingular Wireless voice plan, customers receive a $5 monthly discount, making it $64.99 a month.

International Long Distance Package: Cingular World Connect

Cingular also makes it easy and affordable for customers to use their wireless phone to keep in touch with people outside of the U.S. For just $3.99 a month, Cingular's international long distance package, Cingular World Connect, lets you dial internationally to over 200 countries from the U.S. at discounted rates. Cingular World Connect offers convenient and easy- to-use benefits such as direct dialing, eliminating the need to remember PIN or routing numbers; one-minute billing; premier call quality; no maintenance fees, connection fees or expiration dates; and no need to purchase a long distance card or prepay for usage.

International Roaming & Long Distance Packages: Cingular Canada and Cingular Mexico

Canada and Mexico are two of the most popular countries dialed and visited by customers. For this reason, Cingular has also introduced two new great calling packages: Cingular Canada and Cingular Mexico. With the Cingular Canada package for $3.99 a month, customers pay just 59 cents per minute to roam in Canada and just 19 cents per minute to call Canada from the U.S. With the Cingular Mexico package for $4.99 a month, customers pay just 59 cents per minute to roam in Mexico and just 9 cents per minute to call Mexico from the U.S.

For more information on all of the Cingular World packages including dialing instructions, country lists, standard and discounted rates and more, visit http://www.cingular.com/cingularworld . (Note: Rates subject to change.)