MCI cuts evening rates in long-distance price war

NEW YORK A price battle in long-distance calling heated up todaywhen MCI WorldCom launched a nickel-a-minute plan for weeknights andweekends - similar to a new Sprint promotion.

MCI WorldCom is offering the new consumer rate, which comes with amonthly fee, on state-to-state calls between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. onweekdays and all weekend.

Daytime calling rates on weekdays are 25 cents per minute forcustomers paying a monthly fee of $1.95, or 10 cents per minute witha monthly fee of $4.95.

The promotion, an …