AT&T is the first major wireless carrier in the United States to bill for collect calls made to wireless phones.

Consumers can now make collect calls to mobile phones by dialing 1-800-CALL-ATT (1-800-225-5288), to access a new service called AT&T Collect to Wireless. This opportunity is provided through a strategic relationship with Boca Raton, FL based mobile marketing and technology firm 3Cinteractive and its Text Collect service.

"Prior to the Text Collect service, it was impossible for collect calling operators to bill collect calls on mobile phone bills," said Mike FitzGibbon, president of 3Cinteractive. "Therefore, those calls would be blocked by collect calling operators such as AT&T. "

AT&T Collect to Wireless will be offered to those who dial 1-800-Call-ATT.

After choosing the AT&T Collect to Wireless prompt, the caller enters the 10 digit mobile phone number and then speaks his or her name.

The two parties can then talk for up to 20 minutes for $9.99. Wireless customers will have the ability to opt out from receiving collect calls.

This service is not available from coin phones at this time.

"We are thrilled to offer wireless subscribers the opportunity to receive collect calls," said Susan A. Johnson, AT&T senior vice president of customer information services for AT&T. "We hope that this affordable service offers consumers peace of mind and the ability to connect with their loved ones, wherever they are."

3Cinteractive built a patent pending application called Text Collect that allows for collect calls to be billed to wireless devices through premium SMS.

This means that consumers are able to receive, accept and be billed for collect calls to their wireless phones.

In addition to providing a valuable service to consumers, collect calling companies like AT&T benefit from a new revenue stream that did not exist prior to Text Collect.

"The strategic partnership was formed here to solve a business challenge that AT&T and other collect calling operators have," Mr. FitzgIbbon said. "This problem is their inability to bill for collect calls to wireless phones.

"With the increasing number of wireless handsets in the market coupled with the decreasing number of land lines, this is causing a business challenge for AT&T as well as the $2 billion collect calling market in general," he said.