Bell Atlantic Mobile Opens Middletown, NY Store

Bell Atlantic Mobile Opens Middletown, NY Store

Donates Confidential Voice Mail to Victims of Domestic Violence

July 17, 1998

MIDDLETOWN, NY -- In an effort to meet the growing demand for
wireless communications, Bell Atlantic Mobile has opened its'
newest communications store in Middletown, located in The Galleria at
Crystal Run.

As part of today's ribbon-cutting ceremony, Bell Atlantic Mobile® donated
HopeLine, a confidential voice mail service, to Safe Homes, Orange
County's domestic violence agency. HopeLine will provide victims of
domestic violence with the opportunity to secure employment and housing,
resolve health care issues and stay in contact with family and friends.

"Our focus is keeping victims and their children free from the fear and
consequences of domestic violence, but we also encourage community
involvement to this social problem," said Ursula Forem, Safe Homes
domestic violence specialist. "In addition to domestic violence agencies and
law enforcement outlets, we must rely on other resources. Bell Atlantic
Mobile's HopeLine initiative exemplifies leadership and when a local
business takes a stand on an issue like this, everyone in the community
notices."

A recognized leader in deterring domestic violence, Bell Atlantic Mobile
has worked closely with state agencies throughout the Northeast, including
the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence providing
wireless communications to victims as well as law enforcement officials.

Bell Atlantic's newest retail outlet is a full service store, providing
customers with a showroom, a customer service station and an installation
and repair bay. The store will be staffed by a team of wireless
communications consultants specially trained to customize Bell Atlantic
Mobile's wireless services and applications for all lifestyles. Store hours are
Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and on Sunday, 11 a.m.
to 6 p.m. The store's phone number is (914) 695-1342.

Bell Atlantic Mobile owns and operates the largest wireless network in the
East, covering 112,000 square miles, and the largest chain of retail outlets
devoted exclusively to wireless voice, data and paging. Based in
Bedminster, NJ, Bell Atlantic Mobile has 5.5 million customers and 7,000
employees from Maine to Georgia and, through a separate subsidiary, in
the Southwest. Through its "Wireless at Work..." community relations
program, the company uses its technology to help individuals and
communities improve security and emergency communications. Bell
Atlantic is one of the world's largest wireless communications companies,
with domestic operations in 25 states and international investments
spanning Latin America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. For more
information on Bell Atlantic Mobile visit: www.bam.com; on global
operations visit: www.bellatlantic.com/worldwide.