Arizona and Minnesota consumers have a new local phone provider: AT&T Corp.
AT&T, the No. 1 long-distance phone company, now offers any-distance calling services to consumers in 15 states across the country.
Arizona and Minnesota are the first states where Bedminster, N.J.-based AT&T is competing directly with Qwest Communications International Inc., the dominant local phone company in 14 states mostly concentrated in the West.
AT&T previously announced plans to expand local residential phone service to 35 states by the end of the year.
