Southwestern Bell Launches New Wireless Service in Tulsa

Digital Network and Handsets are first of their kind in the United States

Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 22, 1997

Southwestern Bell today took another step toward becoming the premier single-source telecommunications provider in Tulsa by launching a state-of-the-art wireless service, called Digital PCS.

Using the first commercially available network and "smart" handsets of their kind in the United States, Southwestern Bell is providing Tulsans with leading-edge, on-the-go communications.

"For many years, consumers and businesses in Tulsa have known and trusted Southwestern Bell for high-quality local phone service," said Mary T. Manning, president and chief executive officer of Southwestern Bell Wireless. "Now, we're launching a wireless service that provides overall value and meets the wants and needs of Tulsans'.

Southwestern Bell's Digital PCS service in Tulsa employs the first commercially available 1900 MHz IS-136 TDMA network in the United States. The service offers Tulsans several distinct advantages, such as:

• Improved sound quality with no static or cross talk;
• A handset that can be used virtually anywhere in the United States;
• Increased network capacity, resulting in fewer dropped calls;
• Greater privacy and a reduced risk of fraud;
• Small, lightweight handsets that easily fit into a shirt pocket;
• Handsets that let batteries operate up to three times longer than those in traditional wireless phones;
• Features such as Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, Three-Way Calling, Message Waiting Indicator and CallNotes (voice mail); and
• Future capabilities such as short messaging and paging.

Southwestern Bell is the first wireless carrier in the country to offer "smart" handsets that allow customers to talk virtually anywhere in the United States - regardless of whether they are calling from a PCS or cellular market. The handsets automatically switch between digital and analog radio frequencies depending on a customer's location when placing a call. The handsets also are equipped with Intelligent Roaming Database software. When consumers make calls outside the Tulsa area, the software automatically searches for the wireless provider that offers the best value.

Southwestern Bell's wireless service includes an 85,000-square-mile home calling area, which runs from Tulsa to Oklahoma City to Dallas and includes most of Arkansas. Depending on the rate plan, consumers do not pay long distance or roaming charges when calling in this area.

"We are delighted to enter the Tulsa wireless market with a wireless service that provides these remarkable features and sound quality," said Adam Vital, vice president and general manager of Southwestern Bell's wireless operations in Tulsa. "Southwestern Bell has a long history of doing business in Tulsa, which gives us a unique understanding of the needs of the local marketplace. We will continue to focus on serving Tulsans and, as always, continue to serve the communities in which Southwestern Bell does business."

Southwestern Bell opened a regional office in Tulsa and hired more than 50 people to help launch its Digital PCS service. In addition, a Southwestern Bell store opened recently in the Woodland Hills Mall.

Southwestern Bell makes wireless simple by including "anytime" minutes on all consumer rate plans. With anytime minutes, customers do not have to plan their telephone calls around "peak" and "off-peak" times of the day. In addition, Southwestern Bell is offering a variety of affordable rate plans and value-added features. Some packages are available without a contract.

Customers who want more information about Southwestern Bell's wireless service in Tulsa should call the Southwestern Bell store in the Woodland Hills Mall at (918) 461-1329 or the service center at (918) 461-2400.

Southwestern Bell Wireless is a leader in providing superior wireless communication services to consumers and businesses nationwide. Together with its affiliates, Cellular One and Pacific Bell Mobile Systems, Southwestern Bell Wireless offers local and long-distance wireless and paging services to 4.7 million customers in 78 markets nationwide.

Southwestern Bell Wireless is a subsidiary of SBC Communications Inc., an international leader in the telecommunications industry, with more than 31 million access lines and 4.7 million wireless customers across the United States, as well as investments in telecommunications businesses in eight countries. Under the Southwestern

Bell, Pacific Bell, Nevada Bell and Cellular One brands, the company, through its subsidiaries, offers a wide range of innovative services, including local and long-distance telephone service, wireless communications, paging, Internet access, cable TV and messaging, as well as telecommunications equipment, and directory advertising and publishing. SBC (www.sbc.com) has approximately 110,000 employees. SBC and Pacific Telesis Group reported combined 1996 revenues of $23.5 billion.