Southwestern Bell Offers South Texas Customers Added Value With Wireless Rewards

No fooling Customers In Competitive Wireless Market

San Antonio, Texas, April 1, 1998

It's not an April Fools Day prank: Southwestern Bell Wireless customers now will be rewarded simply for talking on their wireless telephones.

The Wireless Rewards program, which debuts in South Texas today, will give customers points that accrue for each dollar spent on airtime charges. Customers who enroll in the program can exchange those points for products and services ranging from additional airtime to free wireless long-distance to paging services.

This program is unique among industry frequent caller plans because it is does not limit program participation to top tier consumer accounts.

"Southwestern Bell has always focused on meeting the customer's needs, and the creation of this program is in answer to customers who want more from their wireless provider," said Brad Brown, regional vice president/general manager of Southwestern Bell Wireless/South Texas Region.

"In this environment of heightened wireless competition, customers are looking for value, and Wireless Rewards gives them something extra for the money they spend," Brown said. "This program sets us apart from other carriers in the increasingly competitive South Texas market."

Wireless Rewards customers who have been with Southwestern Bell Wireless for two years earn double points for every dollar spent and triple points after five years of service.

Customers who participate will receive quarterly statements on their "rewards" balance and can call a toll-free number to redeem points for wireless merchandise or services.

The added value available to a broad base of customers eligible to enroll in the Wireless Rewards program sets Southwestern Bell apart from other South Texas cellular and digital carriers.

"The Wireless Rewards program gives our customers the advantage of being able to get something extra that they can't get from other wireless carriers," Brown said.

Participation in the Wireless Rewards program is available on a self-enrollment basis to all Southwestern Bell consumer accounts.

To enroll in the program and start earning Wireless Rewards points, visit any Southwestern Bell Wireless store or authorized agent, or contact a Wireless Rewards representative at 800/615-0627.

Southwestern Bell Wireless, together with SBC's other wireless affiliates, is a leading wireless provider, serving more than 5.5 million customers and seven of the top ten markets nationwide. It is a company of SBC Communications Inc., a global leader in the telecommunications industry, with more than 33 million access lines, as well as investments in telecommunications businesses in 10 countries. Under the Southwestern Bell, Pacific Bell, Nevada Bell and Cellular One brands, SBC, through its subsidiaries, offers a wide range of innovative services, including local and long-distance telephone service, wireless communications, paging, Internet access, and messaging, as well as telecommunications equipment, and directory advertising and publishing. SBC (www.sbc.com) has more than 116,000 employees and reported 1997 revenues of $25 billion. SBC's equity market value of $67.3 billion (as of December 31, 1997) ranks it as one of the five largest telecommunications companies in the world.