For the last two years, Mickelson is the GM of iCONNECT which provides a combination of Cellular and “Push-
To-Talk” to customers on its network. He reflects on his time with iCONNECT and the NEW! Value Plans recently introduced.
MV: The new Value Plans you’ve introduced look grate. How many minutes in the plans?
HM: The Value $25 has 600 local cellular minutes along with 400 Push-To-Talk minutes. The Value $35 Plan gives the user 1200 minutes and 800 Push-To-Talk minutes and our Value $45 Plan offers 2400 cellular minutes and UNLIMITED Push-To-Talk.
Do people really talk that much?
You’d be surprised. Not only do people use the cellular minutes — they really love the convenience and economy of our “Push-To-Talk” feature. We have all kinds of individuals that talk to each other via PTT.
That’s a lot of minutes and the price seems pretty reasonable.
They’re the best plans in the CNMI. With the flexibility of the local talk minutes mixed in with the economical feature of the PTT minutes any of the 3 plans will fit anyone’s budget.
And the plans come with a FREE! Phone — how does that work?
When you sign up for any of our Value plans, you automatically receive a FREE! Motorola i425. For customers that sign-up for any of our $50 or higher plans they’ll receive a FREE! Motorola i335.
iCONNECT is unique in that you offer BOTh cellular talk and “Push-To-Talk” minutes. How has that benefited users in the CNMI?
It’s the perfect match for communications, whether you’re a business person or an individual user. You can ‘short-burst’ directives or instructions to staff in the field using the “Push-To-Talk” feature or make cellular calls for more detailed instructions and private conversations.
I understand you have a feature called “Group Talk.” How does that work?
Our phones can be activated so all phones under an account can receive calls from one phone source. So, if a manager wants to give instructions about a job site or making a delivery all they do is dial the “Group Talk” number and it is instantly connected to the staff activated for “Group Talk.”
What other features do the Value Plans offer?
They also offer UNLIMITED local SMS, UNLIMITED Nights and Weekends and iCONNECT’s exclusive Rollover minutes — where users can rollover their unused minutes to the next month’s calling.
How has the economy affected iCONNECT?
The same as everyone else —it’s tough out there! Every day is a challenge and you have to be totally focused on your business. This includes not only having competitive airtime plans and a good selection of phones but reliable customer service. You really have to take care of the customer. Otherwise for sure they will go to another carrier.
How is iCONNECT different than the other telecommunications company you’ve worked for?
Having the distinct service (combination of cellular and push-to-talk) definitely sets us apart from the other carriers and gives us an edge the other carriers don’t have that business people and individuals alike are looking for.
You’ve been on Saipan a long time. What’s the biggest change you’ve seen on the island?
That’s a whole other interview! However, if I have to pick it would be the industry I’m in. Telecommunications has explored over the past decade with so many new products. Cell phones are replacing landlines. You can use computers for talking. It goes on and on. Saipan and the region are fortunate to have as many carriers as we have offering an abundance of specialty services.
Thank you for your time.
My pleasure and I’d like to invite your readers into our Middle Road, Chalan Laulau office to check out our “Push-To-Talk” and Cellular services and phones. I’m sure they’ll find them beneficial.
