Bell Atlantic Launches 'National 411' Service in Delaware

Bell Atlantic Launches 'National 411' Service in Delaware

No-Nonsense Directory Assistance Service Offers Separate Prices
for Local and National Listings

March 30, 1999

WILMINGTON -- Bell Atlantic is coming to the rescue of Delaware
telephone customers who are confused over where to call for accurate
directory assistance information or unwilling to pay inflated prices for
local listings.

"We're declaring an end to the distressing customer concern over where to
get accurate listings for any phone number in the country at a fair price,"
said Joshua W. Martin III, president and CEO of Bell Atlantic - Delaware.
"Starting today, callers in Delaware can simply dial 4-1-1 for directory
assistance anywhere in the United States.

"Bell Atlantic's systems will automatically bill for local listings at our
regular low price of 35 cents, after a residential customer has made two
free local directory assistance calls in a month. All requests for national
listings will be billed at a competitive 95 cents," Martin said.

Competing directory assistance services charge up to $1.40 for all
lookups, local and national. "Consumers often don't know they are likely
to pay more than they have to when they ask for a local listing from these
services," he said.

"Delaware consumers will benefit from more choices in national directory
assistance," Martin said. "We commend the Delaware Public Service
Commission for its prompt action to foster competition in this
marketplace."

A Bell Atlantic advertising campaign targeted to customers in Delaware
will promote the new National 411 Directory Assistance service. With
National 411, customers simply dial the familiar "411" code for directory
assistance, say the city, state and name or business whose number they
want and the operator will provide it.

"Our mission is simple -- to give excellent service at fair prices and to
keep directory assistance as hassle-free as it has always been," said Kitty
Linder, vice president of Operator Services for Bell Atlantic.

Linder noted the new service makes life easier for callers as well.
"Customers no longer need to know the area code for the listing they want
- just the city and state. With the proliferation of new area codes, this will
make finding a number easier for our customers," she said.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With more than 42 million telephone access lines
and 8.6 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.