PlatinumTel announces more deals in pay-as-you-go market

PlatinumTel, a no-strings nationwide wireless provider, has been in business since 2001. But in recent weeks, it's unveiled more plans to compete in the growing pay-as-you-go market.

Last week, it announced that you could add $10 a month to its $50 basic monthly call package to get unlimited wireless Web.

"It's like an all-you-can-eat wireless plan for those on a budget," said Firas Naji, PlatinumTel's director of national sales.

Next, the company is offering international rates of 2 cents a minute, with no fees, to about 40 countries.

The wireless provider is based in South Suburban Justice and has branded stores in Aurora and elsewhere. About 600 retail outlets also carry its phones and service products nationwide.

It uses the 3G Sprint network in the Chicago area and other networks nationwide.

PlatinumTel offers consumers a chance to buy minutes as needed. For example, users could purchase 1,500 minutes for the whole year for $100 or pay a minimum of $10 for two months of service. The company does not require contracts. It also doesn't ask for deposits, termination fees or credit checks.

While PlatinumTel has been in this market for a while, it has stiffer competition from other wireless carriers, including MetroPCs as well as Cricket Communications Inc., which entered the Chicago and suburban market last March.

Besides various user packages, Cricket offers its own branded phone made by Cal-Comp. PlatinumTel offers various phones for its service, including some refurbished models from Motorola and LG.

"Our plans work for old and young alike but especially if they're budget conscience," Naji said.

Surfing: R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. (www.rrdonnelley.com) and HP said they plan to collaborate on the development of digital printing solutions for inkjet-based digital presses. Donnelley's Research and Development Center is expected to collaborate with the Inkjet High-speed Production Solutions unit of HP to develop new digital printing technologies. Products will then be sold under the HP brand. R.R. Donnelley has operations in Schaumburg.

•Lombard-based Computhink Inc., a prover of document and content management software, has been recognized for its document management software, ViewWise, as a Best Channel Product Award in the September issue of Business Solutions magazine.