Sprint introduced its “Sprint Simply 0” service to customers in North Carolina on Aug. 6. When customers dial “0,” they have access to a menu that instantly connects them at no additional cost to services they often request from operators, including call-completion options for collect, credit-card or bill-to-third-party calls, repair, directory assistance and services from the Sprint business office.

“More than 40 percent of the calls to ‘0’ for operator service are calls that can be handled without operator assistance,” said Laura Mortick, Sprint product manager. “Sprint Simply 0 makes it much faster and easier for customer to get the services they need by automatically directing their call to the right place.”

When customers call Sprint Simply 0, they’ll receive a standard greeting followed by five single-digit choices. Customers can press 0 at any time after the greeting to bypass the menu and speak directly to an operator.

“Sprint Simply 0 provides customers a fast connection to automated call completion or to the right person who is ready to help,” Mortick said. “And by directing calls to the right person or service, our operators can devote their time and expertise to customers who need more assistance.”

Sprint’s Local Telecommunications Division serves more than 8 million customers in 18 states.