7-Eleven Introduces new Start Talkin'(SM) Prepaid Cellular Service and Calling Cards from Southwestern Bell

Stores to Offer Affordable, Convenient, Pay-As-You-Go Service Throughout Metroplex

Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, April 8, 1997

7-Eleven, known for around-the-clock convenience, just made getting cellular phone service a whole lot easier. The convenience store company has teamed up with Southwestern Bell Wireless to offer Start Talkin' SM Prepaid Cellular Service and Prepaid Cellular Calling Cards for on-the-go customers in the Metroplex.

"Basically, 7-Eleven is in the business of removing hassles from peoples lives. Joining forces with Southwestern Bell Wireless to provide cellular service without a contract, a deposit or a monthly bill is exactly the kind of convenient service customers look to us to provide," said Chip Sones, category manager, phone card services. "We're already the nation's largest retailer of prepaid long distance phone cards, and that makes Start Talkin' Prepaid Cellular Calling Cards a perfect product fit."

7-Eleven and Southwestern Bell Wireless have made it easy to obtain Start Talkin' prepaid cellular service. There are no contracts, no credit checks and no monthly bills for customers to worry about with the pay-as-you-go service. All a customer needs to activate Start Talkin' Prepaid Cellular Service through 7-Eleven is a cellular phone, a Prepaid Starter Kit Card and a Prepaid Calling Card. The addition of 7-Eleven increases Southwestern Bell Wireless' distribution of Start Talkin' Prepaid Service to more than 400 outlets in Dallas/Fort Worth.

"7-Eleven and Southwestern Bell Wireless make a great team," said Lowell Whitlock, vice president/general manager, Southwestern Bell Wireless, Dallas/Fort Worth region. "We both put our customers first, we both lead our industries in innovation, and we constantly strive to provide the best of what our customers want: quality, convenience and hassle-free service."

The Prepaid Starter Kit costs $50 and includes: an authorized start up card, programming and activation of the customer's cellular phone, and a new cellular phone number. To activate Start Talkin' Prepaid Cellular Service, customers call the toll-free Activation Hotline number printed on the back of each start up card.

Once customers have activated their Start Talkin' cellular service, they simply deposit funds into their account with a Prepaid Cellular Calling Card. The prepaid calling cards may be purchased and refilled for a full $50 worth of cellular calling.

Easy activation instructions are printed on the back of each calling card. One call will set up the customer's account (with prompts offered in English or Spanish). The account balance is debited $.59 per minute for local calls, $.79 per minute for long distance calls, and $1.95 per minute for calls made when "roaming" outside the customer's Local Rate Area.

Because Start Talkin' works with any cellular phone, customers can use their own phone or 7-Eleven shoppers can easily arrange to have a low-cost cellular phone delivered to them, programmed and ready for use.

With approximately 16,200 convenience stores worldwide, 7-Eleven is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. More than 5,700 7-Eleven and other convenience stores, serving nearly six million customers each day, are operated or franchised in the U.S. and Canada by The Southland Corporation.

Southwestern Bell Wireless is a wholly owned subsidiary of SBC Communications Inc. (SBC). SBC is now the nation's second largest telecommunications company and a leading company in the global telecom industry. Through its subsidiaries, it provides innovative communications including local and long-distance telephone, wireless, paging, Internet access, cable TV and messaging services, as well as telecommunications equipment, and directory advertising and publishing. SBC (www.sbc.com) and Pacific Telesis Group reported combined 1996 revenues of $23.5 billion.