Bell Atlantic's New 'Online Store' Open 24 Hours a Day

Bell Atlantic's New 'Online Store' Open 24 Hours a Day

Consumers Now Can Order Phone Service, View Bills
at www.bellatlantic.com

October 13, 1998

NEW YORK -- Consumers now can shop for Bell Atlantic phone services
24 hours a day, seven days a week over the Internet. By visiting the
company's Web site at www.bellatlantic.com/residential, residential
customers can order new phone service, an additional line or many Bell
Atlantic products and services.

"Online ordering gives our customers a new choice that provides a
convenient and easy way to do business with us," said Amy McIntosh, vice
president -- consumer marketing. "Day or night, whenever they're on a
computer, customers can place an order for phone service and also check
their phone bills. With Internet traffic doubling every 100 days, we expect
electronic commerce to play an increasingly important role in how we serve
our customers."

Customers who log on to Bell Atlantic's Web site can look over
information about optional phone services, such as Caller ID or home voice
mail, and check to see what special offers are available in their area. When
they place an order, they will receive an email confirmation.

Residential customers also can make a reservation for Bell Atlantic
Infospeedsm DSL (digital subscriber line) service, a high-speed Internet
connection introduced this month. Customers can check to see if the
service is available in their area, if their line is DSL-capable and which DSL
speeds are available on their line.

The Bell Atlantic Web site also enables residential customers to view their
current phone bill and bills for the previous two months. That capability is
available now to customers in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and
Washington, D.C. Bill viewing will be available throughout the Bell
Atlantic service area by the end of the year.

Customers who sign up for the bill viewing option will receive an email
message each month telling them when their bill is available online. The bill
they view online will provide the same information shown on the bill that
comes by mail, which customers will continue to receive.
Based upon customer response to online ordering, Bell Atlantic may add
other electronic features to the Web site in the future.

Security Measures

To use the online ordering capability or to look at their phone bill,
customers must first register at the site by providing their 10-digit
telephone number and the customer code shown on their phone bill. They
also will create a personal password known only to them.

The registration process ensures that customers are the only ones who can
access their own account or change their phone services.

"All the information customers provide is secure and will be used only by
Bell Atlantic to create an account," said McIntosh. "After they register on
their first visit, customers must use their private password each time they
log on the site."

Customers should use a Netscape 3.0 or higher browser, or an Internet
Explorer 3.0 or higher browser with JavaScript.

Bell Atlantic will continue to provide personalized customer service
through its local business offices. Customers who need to disconnect their
service, move their phone services to another location or discuss billing
issues should call their local Bell Atlantic business office. And, customer
representatives will continue to take orders for service, answer questions
and provide other customer care.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With more than 41 million telephone access lines and more than
seven million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are
premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market
leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory
information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest
investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations
and investments in 23 countries.