Bell Atlantic Name, Logo Debut In Northeast

Bell Atlantic Name, Logo Debut In Northeast

Customers to Start Seeing Name Change From NYNEX to Bell Atlantic on Bills, Buildings

September 8, 1997

NEW YORK -- The Bell Atlantic name and logo soon will begin appearing

throughout the Northeast, as the company replaces the NYNEX name on

everything from buildings to trucks to telephone bills.

Bell Atlantic and NYNEX last month completed a $25.6 billion merger,

creating the nation's second-largest communications company. To tell

customers in New York and New England about the change, Bell Atlantic

kicks off an advertising campaign in prime time tonight, Sept. 8.

[Note: See accompanying release on the ad campaign.]

"Bell Atlantic is a powerful communications company built on the

strengths of the two companies that created it," said Janet Keeler,

Bell Atlantic vice president for Brand Management and Marketing

Communications. "Our new logo reflects the new Bell Atlantic -- a

company built on a common heritage and vision of the future in

telecommunications."

This month, the company will start replacing the NYNEX name with the

Bell Atlantic name and redesigned logo on company buildings, pay

phones, vehicles, White and Yellow Pages directories, employee

identification badges and customer bills. Callers to the company's

directory assistance or customer service centers already hear a

greeting welcoming them to Bell Atlantic.

In the Mid-Atlantic states, a redesigned Bell Atlantic logo will

replace the current logo.

"We wanted a visually strong logo that would stand out an

differentiate us in the highly competitive marketplace for

telecommunications services," said Keeler. "People throughout our

service area will associate the name Bell Atlantic with a commitment

to superior customer care, and we want them to choose Bell Atlantic

to provide their communications and information services."

Bell Atlantic expects to complete the name and logo change in all

major locations in its local telephone companies' service area of 13

states and Washington, D.C., by the end of 1998. In addition, Bell

Atlantic Mobile will begin changing its name from Bell Atlantic NYNEX

Mobile on facilities throughout its service area of 19 states and

Washington, D.C.

The new Bell Atlantic logo was designed by the San Francisco office of

Landor Associates. The DeSola Group of New York worked with Bell

Atlantic to develop and implement a new, comprehensive corporate

identity program.

The new Bell Atlantic -- formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic

and NYNEX -- is at the forefront of the new communications,

information and entertainment industry. With 40 million telephone

access lines and 5.5 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 21

countries.

Note to photo desks: Bell Atlantic company buildings and vehicles --

with the new logo -- will be available for photographs and filming.

Please call your local Bell Atlantic public relations representative

for specific locations and times.

BUILDINGS

Building signs will be changed at major company locations in

Manhattan, Boston, Albany and Middleton, Mass., on Monday, Sept 8.

VEHICLES

The first of the rebranded Bell Atlantic company vehicles with the new

logo will be available at various Bell Atlantic locations around the

Northeast on Tuesday, Sept. 9, in the following cities and areas:

Manhattan Boston

Long Island Portland, ME

Westchester Manchester, NH

Albany S. Burlington, VT

Buffalo Providence, RI

Syracuse Springfield, MA