SafeLink Wireless® Raises Lifeline Offering - Up to 250 Minutes of Free Talk Time For New York's Eligible Low-Income Families

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- America's number one prepaid cell phone provider, TracFone Wireless, Inc., announced that its federal Lifeline offering, SafeLink, will now offer participants of the program in New York the choice of three monthly plans, including up to 250 minutes of free monthly talk time – nearly an hour more per month than is offered by any other competitor.

The new choices made possible by TracFone give low-income families up to 250 minutes of free monthly talk time and additional, flexible plan options give families the freedom to choose which plan is best suited for their needs to stay connected, stay safe.  Also, SafeLink is currently the only plan that gives eligible applicants the freedom to use their minutes for either texting or to make a phone call.

Recognizing that Americans are still struggling through the worst economic recession in decades, SafeLink is renewing and further strengthening its commitment to low-income families by affording them the ability to stay connected with current or potential employers, children at home alone while their parents are at work, health care specialists, vital emergency responders, or relatives in time of personal emergencies, such as roadside vehicle breakdowns.

In addition to the free wireless cell phone customers receive at TracFone's expense, beginning August 16th, participants of the SafeLink Wireless program will have the choice of the following plans:

• New 250 free monthly non-carryover minutes, one text per each minute and a free cellular handset.
• New 125 free monthly carryover minutes, one text per each minute and a free cellular handset.
• Original 68 free monthly carryover minutes, 3 texts per each minute, International Long Distance to over 100 destinations and a free cellular handset.

In addition to the free monthly airtime minutes for one year, SafeLink offers superior coverage area throughout the United States; quality LG, Motorola, and Samsung cell phones; 411 at no additional cost; unlimited access to 911; and in-demand features: voicemail, call waiting, and caller ID.

Jeannette Collado of Brooklyn, a Tracfone SafeLink customer, currently suffers from cancer.  She has a brain tumor that made her wheelchair-bound and causes epileptic seizures.

"My SafeLink phone saves me every time I have a seizure because after each attack I do not remember who I am at all," said Collado. "Luckily, the phone allows me to dial the last person I've called so they can come out and find me."  Being in a wheelchair, Collado has difficulty finding proper transportation in New York, especially when she travels to Manhattan.

"One time I was stuck in Manhattan without a way home.  Using my phone, I was able to call on a friend to come pick me up.  The extra minutes will be a blessing to me.  I won't have to worry about being stuck without any help, which is crucial with my conditions."

In August 2008, TracFone was the first to modernize Lifeline for the way people communicate today with the creation of SafeLink.  SafeLink is offered in 24 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, with more than 1.8 million households eligible for the service in New York.

The prepaid feature gives customers the freedom to control the cost of their monthly telephone expense without any surprises.  SafeLink customers wishing to use additional minutes beyond their free allotment can add minutes by purchasing TracFone airtime cards at local retailers.  As an exclusive benefit for SafeLink customers, SafeLink phones will automatically add bonus minutes to TracFone's 60, 90 and 120-minute airtime cards.  However, there is no requirement to purchase additional minutes and no pressure applied to applicants to do so at any time.

Program Eligibility

To qualify for Lifeline in the state of New York, a household must participate in one of the following:

• Family Assistance
• Food Stamps
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
• Medicaid
• Safety Net Assistance
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Veteran's Disability Pension
• Veteran's Surviving Spouse Pension
• Household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG)

http://www.safelink.com

SOURCE TracFone Wireless, Inc.