Bell Atlantic Mobile Expands Digital Coverage To Six Counties In Southwest North Carolina

GREENVILLE, SC — Leading wireless service provider Bell Atlantic Mobile announced today its advanced digital cellular service is now available in six counties in southwest North Carolina, including Henderson, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell, Rutherford and Polk - - a large expanse covering just west of Hendersonville, east to Shelby, and

Bell Atlantic Mobile's DigitalChoice® wireless service delivers to customers increased reliability, greater voice clarity, and an array of advanced features. Through a multi-million dollar investment to upgrade analog cell sites to digital, the company has brought CDMA, the most advanced digital technology, to cities such as Shelby, Rutherfordton, Marion and Lincolnton.

"With this significant digital expansion into southwest North Carolina, Bell Atlantic Mobile has positioned itself as the wireless carrier with the largest digital coverage in the area," said Jerry Fountain, Bell Atlantic Mobile's vice president -- Southeast region. "The combination of our high-quality digital network and attractive pricing options means customers can enjoy the many benefits of digital wireless service in more places than offered by any other wireless provider."

In addition to coast-to-coast coverage and digital-analog (dual-mode) capability, customers who subscribe to DigitalChoice will receive a feature-rich package that includes Caller ID service; voice mail with message notification; three-way Calling, Call Waiting and Call Forwarding; built-in fraud protection; and, the first incoming minute free on local calls.

Customers also can take advantage of Bell Atlantic Mobile's popular DigitalChoice SingleRate^SM all-inclusive pricing plans with no roaming and no long distance charges that offer the benefits of reliable, high quality digital service at an affordable and predictable price.

Bell Atlantic Mobile's digital customers can expect superior call quality, greater battery life, enhanced privacy, and flexible, economical calling plans throughout the company's extensive digital network. This includes all of southwest North Carolina, Asheville, Charlotte, Hickory, Spartanburg, Greenville, Columbia, plus all major interstates connecting those areas.

"And, customers also can use their phones virtually anywhere in the U.S., because Bell Atlantic Mobile's service can switch seamlessly to the analog network in geographic areas where a compatible digital network is not available," said Fountain.

Other DigitalChoice options include:

• a $2 per month digital phone rental plan;

• an Unlimited Weekend Airtime Plan for $5 per month;

• a $10 per month Unlimited Nights and Weekends Local Airtime Plan;

• three versions of text messaging/e-mail to your handset;

• TalkDial®, Bell Atlantic Mobile's exclusive voice- activated dialing service, for a $3.95 monthly fee; and,

• an all-you-can-use mobile-to-mobile pricing plan for an additional $10 monthly access.

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Editor's Note: Bell Atlantic Mobile owns and operates the largest wireless network in the East, covering 120,000 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 6.4 million customers and 8,000 employees from Maine to Georgia and, through a separate subsidiary, in the Southwest. Through its "Wireless at Work..." community service program, the company uses its technology to help individuals and communities improve security and emergency communications. Bell Atlantic Mobile's parent, Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE:BEL) is one of the world's largest wireless communications companies, with domestic operations in 25 states and international investments in Mexico, Europe and the Pacific Rim. For more information on Bell Atlantic Mobile visit: www.bam.com; on global operations visit: www.bellatlantic.com/worldwide.

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