Bell Atlantic Cuts International Calling Rates By 40% - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, April 10, 2000

Keeping in touch with far-away friends and loved ones is now a lot more affordable for Bell Atlantic customers. The company announced today that Bell Atlantic's International Savings Plan will reduce Bell Atlantic's already low international calling rates by 40 percent to the 33 most often-called countries.

"New York is the gateway to world, making international calling a regular occurrence for many of our long distance customers," said Maura Breen, president and chief executive officer of Bell Atlantic Communications, Inc., the business unit that provides residential long distance service. "This new plan ensures Bell Atlantic's customers get the most competitive rates in the industry -- whether they are calling across the country or around the world."

The plan offers amazingly low rates for direct-dialed long distance calls, including 10 cents a minute to the United Kingdom and 15 cents a minute to France. Calls to Japan are as low as 16 cents per minute. [NOTE: A listing of additional country rates follows.]

"We are proud to serve one of the most diverse customer bases in the country," said Breen. "Since entering the long distance market in January, we have received incredible feedback from our international and ethnic customer base. Our new International Savings Plan delivers on what our international callers are looking for in a long distance company."

All new customers signing up for the International Savings Plan receive 30 free minutes of long distance calls each month for the first three months. The free minutes can be used for either domestic or international calls.

The new International Savings Plan can be added to any of Bell Atlantic's popular long distance calling plans - Bell Atlantic's e-Values Calling Plan, Bell Atlantic's Timeless Calling Plan or Bell Atlantic's Best Times Calling Plan.

The International Savings Plan includes a low monthly fee of $3.00. To commemorate the new International Savings Plan, Bell Atlantic announced that it would waive the service's low $3.00 monthly charge for nine months for all existing customers. The new international rates became effective March 31, 2000.

"Bell Atlantic's International Plan is another example of our commitment to 'surprise-free long distance,"' said Breen. "Many of the other long distance companies play hide-and-seek when it comes to charging customers for international calls -- promoting one price, but delivering a much different bill at the end of the month. At Bell Atlantic, you get up-front pricing and competitive rates, all delivered with premier service -- I guarantee it."

FMI: http://www.callbell.com.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information industry. With nearly 44 million telephone access lines and 12 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.

Country Rate
Argentina            $0.45
Australia            $0.15
Brazil               $0.27
Canada               $0.10
China                $0.35
Columbia             $0.40
Costa Rica           $0.35
Cuba                 $0.69
Dominican Republic   $0.39
Ecuador              $0.45
El Salvador          $0.45
France               $0.15
Germany              $0.15
Hong Kong            $0.17
India                $0.55
Israel               $0.17
Italy                $0.15
Jamaica              $0.57
Japan                $0.16
Mexico           $0.14/.35
Netherlands          $0.15
Pakistan              $.55
Peru                 $0.45
Philippines          $0.30
Poland               $0.28
Russia               $0.31
Singapore            $0.28
South Korea          $0.17
Spain                $0.15
Switzerland          $0.15
Taiwan               $0.17
Thailand             $0.52
United Kingdom       $0.10
Venezuela            $0.30