AT&T Unit Expands Internet Capabilities for Credit Card Customers

Business Wire, Oct 23, 1997

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 1997--AT&T Universal Card Services (UCS), AT&T's credit card unit, said its business customers can now access their latest company and employee statements over the Internet and download them for convenient accounting.

The company said Thursday that cardmembers of the AT&T Universal Business Card can view their previous statements through the company's Business Account Online service and download them into the qif format. The format allows users to organize financial data for easier analysis.

Cardmembers also can use AT&T's Business Account Online to access their account information 24 hours a day. Information such as unbilled charges, available credit and payments, and employee statements are immediately available.

To use Business Account Online, cardmembers need Netscape 1.2.2 or higher, or a Netscape-compatible browser. Additional security is provided by a password registration process known only to the cardmember.

"Our objective is making the Internet a full customer service channel," said Patrick Savage, UCS vice president-Marketing. "A recent study shows nearly one-third of small businesses in the U.S. have Internet access."

The AT&T Universal Business Card is a MasterCard(r) card designed specifically for the small business market that provides credit, calling and cash on a single card with no annual fee. Introduced in April, 1997, there are already more than 150,000 cards issued.

"This enhancement to AT&T's Business Account Online service truly complements the wide array of benefits provided by the MasterCard BusinessCard," said Steve Abrams, senior vice president of U.S. Corporate Products at MasterCard International. "A key feature of the card is to help businesses better track and manage spending. And this clearly offers small businesses the opportunity to become more efficient in these areas."

Customers interested in applying for the AT&T Universal Business Card can call 1-800-68-APPLY or apply at the company's home page at www.att.com/ucs .

CONTACT: AT&T Universal Card Services, Jacksonville

Mitchel Montagna, 904/954-8896 (office)

904/519-9863 (home)

or

Bruce Reid, 904/954-7455 (office)

904/285-7686 (home)