Bell Atlantic, Microsoft Promote ISDN Solutions

January 30, 1996

BELL ATLANTIC, MICROSOFT TO PROMOTE ISDN SOLUTIONS
TO WINDOWS CUSTOMERS

Microsoft, Bell Atlantic Collaboration to Supercharge
ISDN Demand, Acquisition

Arlington, VA - Bell Atlantic and Microsoft Corp. announced today
they will work together to accelerate and simplify the acquisition of
ISDN (integrated services digital network) telephone service by users of
the Microsoft* Windows* operating system.

The two companies will collaborate in a marketing effort to enhance
awareness of ISDN and streamline the ordering, provisioning and
configuration process for users of Windows 95* and Windows NT* operating
systems. ISDN integrates voice, data and video signals on a single
high-speed, digital phone line.

"Windows 95 and Windows NT support for ISDN will make it convenient
and easy for PC users to get connected with ISDN," said Curt
Koeppen, Bell Atlantic vice president for ISDN. "We believe Windows
will give a tremendous boost to the use of ISDN by computer users,
whether they are telecommuting or surfing the Web. ISDN makes browsing
graphics and rich multimedia content on the World Wide Web faster,
smoother and much more pleasurable."

Software facilitating ISDN use with Windows 95 will be available later
this quarter, with support for a variety of ISDN hardware adapters,
including the Bell Atlantic/U.S. Robotics Sportster** ISDN 128K.

Current users of Windows 95 will be able to download the software through
Microsoft sites on the World Wide Web, MSN* (The Microsoft Network) and
other Microsoft online sites at no charge. Bell Atlantic also may
provide this software to customers. The current version of Windows NT
already supports ISDN.

"ISDN is the most broadly available, higher bandwidth solution for
access to the Internet and commercial on-line services, such as The
Microsoft Network, as well as for remote access to corporate LANs used by
telecommuters," said Cameron Myhrvold, vice president of public
networks at Microsoft. "With Windows 95 support for ISDN, Bell
Atlantic customers can supercharge their access to the Internet or a
corporate LAN."

ISDN lines transmit data up to nine times faster than most personal
computers can communicate over an analog modem, allowing customers to get
high-speed access to the Internet as well as remote access to information
to improve their use of resources.

Bell Atlantic already is the ISDN market leader with more than 145,000
ISDN lines installed in its mid-Atlantic service area. Bell Atlantic is
adding about 6,000 ISDN lines per month and is forecasting that it will
install more than one million ISDN lines by the year 2000.

The Bell Atlantic InfoSpeed® Center serves Bell Atlantic's
residential customers, providing them with a single point of contact for
their ISDN needs. The center handles customer orders for ISDN and makes
optional installation and equipment arrangements for inside wiring and
ISDN adapters.

"We are providing one-stop shopping for ISDN service. When we leave
the premises, the customer is ready to work from home or go into
cyberspace," said Koeppen.

Bell Atlantic's ISDN pricing is among the lowest offered by a regional
Bell operating company, he said. Later this year, the company plans to
introduce a variety of attractive optional pricing packages to
residential customers, similar to current usage plans available from
on-line service and Internet providers, he said.

Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, the company is the premier provider of local
telecommunications and advanced services. Globally, it is one of the
largest investors in the high-growth wireless communication marketplace.
Bell Atlantic also owns a substantial interest in Telecom Corporation of
New Zealand and is actively developing high-growth national and
international business opportunities in all phases of the industry.

####

* Trademark of Microsoft Corp.
**Trademark of U.S. Robotics

To order or get more information about business ISDN, contact:

Bell Atlantic ISDN Sales and Technology Center,
1-800-570-ISDN(4736)
business.isdn@bell-atl.com

To order or get more information about residential ISDN, contact:

Bell Atlantic® InfoSpeed(tm), 1-800-204-7332
isdncin@bell-atl.com

For media, contact:

Bell Atlantic: Joan Rasmussen, 703-974-8815
joan.m.rasmussen@bell-atl.com

Microsoft: Kelly Stremel, 503-245-0905
kellys@wagged.com