Bell Atlantic Mobile Introduces Singlerate Plans to Upstate New York

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Bell Atlantic Mobile today introduced four DigitalChoice SingleRate(sm) East plans in its Upstate New York Region. The new digital rate plans include roaming and long distance charges, as well as monthly airtime allowances, for calls made from within the wireless carrier's SingleRate East calling area. The calling area covers 116,000 square miles from Maine to South Carolina.

Bell Atlantic Mobile offers four digital SingleRate plans for consumer and business users, starting at $39.99 per month. All SingleRate plans include long distance charges for calls made within the SingleRate East area to anywhere in the continental U.S., as well as all roaming charges for calls made within the SingleRate East area.

"These plans were designed to offer our customers the simplicity and convenience of a single, fixed rate whether they're travelling or calling from their home area," said Tracy Nolan, president of Bell Atlantic Mobile's Upstate New York Region. "Cost-saver plans typically have catered to the high-end user, but these plans offer the average wireless user significant advantages, too." Nolan added that Bell Atlantic Mobile has already found SingleRate pricing to be popular with consumers in other markets where Bell Atlantic Mobile has introduced the plans.

"Since the launch of SingleRate in other regions, we have seen a dramatic increase in digital subscribers." Nolan said. Another advantage of DigitalChoice Single Rate is that current DigitalChoice customers can switch to the new plans at any time without waiting for their current contracts to end.

SingleRate East Plans

· SingleRate East 200 $39.99 per month, includes 200 free minutes;
· SingleRate East 400 $59.99 per month, includes 400 free minutes;
· SingleRate East 800 $99.99 per month, includes 800 free minutes;
· SingleRate East 1200 $139.99 per month, includes 1200 free minutes.

Bell Atlantic Mobile owns and operates the largest wireless network in the East and systems in the Southwest, covering 154,000 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 7.3 million customers and 8,800 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; for global operations visit: www.bellatlantic.com/worldwide.

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