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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A cell phone provider is giving free phones and talk time to low-income residents across South Carolina.

Assurance Wireless, a cell phone service from Virgin Mobile, is giving a free wireless phone and 250 minutes of monthly wireless voice service to eligible customers across South Carolina.

The company says more than 100,000 South Carolina residents who participate in Medicaid, food stamps and other programs are eligible for the free phones.

Assurance hopes saving on phone service will help people afford rent, medicine, food and other essential costs. The company says its service can help customers get jobs by giving them a contact number to give potential employers.

Assurance Wireless is also available in 19 other states and Washington, D.C.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)