Cingular Wireless and its parents BellSouth and SBC Communications Inc. are definitely pulling out the stops when it comes to introducing new services that marry the firms' wireless and wireline networks and services.

The most recent innovation is FastForward, a device that doubles as a wireless phone charger and call-forwarding machine. When a user places their Cingular Wireless handset in FastForward's cradle and plugs the device into an electrical outlet, calls are automatically forwarded to a designated landline phone (within the local calling area), allowing the subscriber to save on wireless airtime minutes because those calls are then counted as landline calls. 

Available Oct. 1, the FastForward device will retail for $39.99 with a monthly service fee of $2.99. The device will be available at Cingular Wireless retail stores and authorized dealers as well as through SBC call centers.

While the service likely will appeal to the small office/home office market, Cingular says it also will work with private branch exchange phone systems such Centrex, which is found in many corporate offices.

But FastForward isn't for everyone, at least not at first. The device initially is only compatible with select Nokia and Motorola wireless phone models. However, the company says that by Nov. 1, there will be FastForward devices that accommodate Sony Ericsson and Siemens phones as well.

Cingular executives expect Fast Forward will be a perfect accompaniment to the firm's Rollover feature, which allows subscribers to keep their leftover minutes in one month and use them the next month. By combining the two, subscribers will be able to make their wireless airtime minutes stretch even further.

Company officials say that more of these types of wireless/wireline packages are in the works, as Cingular continues to take advantage of its affiliation with BellSouth and SBC.

In June, the companies launched MinuteShare, a plan that bundles wireless and wireline minutes and also allows users with large buckets of minutes on their wireless plan to use those minutes on their landline.