Wireless Carrier To Open 200 Stores, Offer Digital GSM Service In Metro Area

NEW YORK, JULY 11, 2002 - Cingular Wireless, the second largest wireless carrier in the nation, today literally rolled out the orange carpet in Manhattan to introduce itself to New Yorkers.

Cingular's entry into New York means the wireless carrier is now in all top 10 markets and 43 of the top 50, covering 217 million people in the U.S.

"Nobody knows self-expression like New Yorkers, and Cingular is empowering citizens of the Big Apple with world-class wireless voice and data service to express themselves like never before," said Stephen Carter, President and CEO of Cingular. "New Yorkers now have a better choice in wireless, with Cingular's national, competitive rate plans, and access to the hottest new devices like the Motorola v70."

In conjunction with Cingular's New York City launch, the company presented a Self-Expression Award and a check for $500,000 to Art Start, an award-winning, non-profit organization that provides art and music programs for under-served children and teenagers. Acclaimed actor Kevin Bacon, the star of such memorable films as "Footloose," "A Few Good Men," "JFK," "Murder in the First," and the upcoming "Trapped," attended the launch at Cingular's flagship store at 575 5th Avenue. Bacon is a friend and supporter of Art Start and assisted in the presentation of the Art Start donation.

"Cingular's support of Art Start means that thousands of young New Yorkers will have the opportunity to transform their lives through art," said Bacon.

New York Expansion
Cingular plans to open more than 200 stores in the five boroughs, Long Island, Westchester and New Jersey in the next two years. Cingular's award-winning retail stores redefine the wireless buying experience for its customers. Rather than the typical wireless "hardware store," Cingular customers find a welcoming, café style area with a Live Bar that enables them to "try before you buy" new services and devices and choose a plan, special features and accessories that best express their needs and personality.

Customers will also be able to buy Cingular service through national retailers in the area like Best Buy and Staples.

Hot New Wireless Devices
The company's nationwide network and technology innovation make Cingular the wireless service provider of choice for the hottest new wireless devices. Exclusively at Cingular, New Yorkers will be able to obtain the sleek and ultra-hip Motorola v70, the "phone of the stars." Cingular and Motorola supplied the v70 to nominees at the Academy Awards® this year.

Great Rate Plans
Cingular will be featuring introductory local and national rate plans with prices starting at $29.99. With the new Cingular Preferred Network rate plans, customers:
· Have access to all-digital GSM coverage nationwide,
· Never have to worry about long distance charges,
· Have hundreds of additional package minutes and
· Have up to 3,500 national nights and weekend minutes for added flexibility.

The new Cingular Preferred Network rate plans are the simplest and most compelling pricing solutions in the industry. For example, the $39.99 national plan includes 350 package minutes, 3,500 Nights and Weekend package bonus minutes, long distance and roaming. Customers can use these minutes anywhere in the U.S. on the GSM networks of Cingular and preferred wireless carriers.

In addition to these nationwide plans, Cingular will be offering its "Metro" rate plans, specifically designed for the greater New York City and Northern New Jersey area. With 3,500 night and weekend minutes included, these introductory plans feature rates as low at two cents a minute.

Cingular will also continue to expand its share of the business segment with special business-to-business rates and discounts. Cingular currently does business with more than half of the Fortune 1000 companies.

World-Class Wireless Service and Applications
Along with Cingular's voice service, the company launched GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), a "2.5G" wireless technology, which provides consumers and business users with an improved wireless Internet experience with access to information. It gives consumers the flexibility to toggle between an Internet session - such as wireless access to email - and a phone call or text message without having to abandon their connection. Customers can also access Cingular's My Wireless Window Internet portal, which provides a calendar, address book, e-mail, shopping and instant messaging capabilities. Companies can also provide employees with the ability to manage their Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes corporate e-mail securely and in real-time from their mobile phones through Cingular Xpress MailSM.

With GSM service comes hot new handsets and the convenience of the Cingular Smart ChipTM, which stores all the names and phone numbers a user collects. So when the time comes to swap phones, the Smart Chip and its contents follow the user to the new device.

ABOUT CINGULAR WIRELESS
Cingular Wireless is the second largest wireless carrier in the U.S, and a joint venture between SBC Communications (NYSE - SBC) and BellSouth (NYSE - BLS). As a leader in mobile voice and data communications, Cingular serves more than 22 million voice and data customers across the United States. Cingular provides cellular/PCS service in 43 of the top 50 markets nationwide. Cingular's Mobitex-based wireless packet data service operates throughout the United States, covering more than 93 percent of the urban business population located in 492 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs with a total population of 200 million people. Cingular offers customers advanced technologies in simple, cost-effective ways that permit them to tap the creative potential of wireless through their own self-expression. Details of the company are available at www.cingular.com.