American Express, BellSouth Join in Cellular Phone Marketing
American Express Travel Related Services Co. is teaming up with a cellular phone company in Atlanta to attract business from customers who use mobile telephones.
In a new twist to competition among credit and charge card companies for slices of the telephone calling-card business, the American Express unit and BellSouth Mobility are offering discounts as well as direct billing to current American Express cardholders.
A spokesman for New York-based American Express Co., which already has promotions with several long-distance telephone companies through its Connect Plus program, said it was looking to offer more tie-ins with other cellular companies.
American Express cardholders in the seven states served by BellSouth will start receiving direct-mail promotions this week.