New Local Distribution Alliances Inked for SMARTpages.com; Pacts with CBS' Channel2000.com and Cox Interactive Media Expand Leading Online Yellow Pages' Local Reach in Key Markets

Business Wire, Feb 17, 1999

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 1999--Extending its local reach as a leading online yellow pages and information provider, SBC Interactive Wednesday announced that it has signed key distribution pacts for SMARTpages.com (www.smartpages.com) with leading media outlets -- CBS' Channel2000.com and Cox Interactive Media.

These agreements position SMARTpages as the exclusive provider of online yellow pages and city guide content for more than a dozen highly trafficked media Web sites in key SMARTpages markets.

In particular, these agreements give SMARTpages a highly concentrated presence in the Southern California market with Cox Interactive Media (CIMedia) sites KFI640.com and ocnow.com plus Channel2000.com -- CBS's recently relaunched local Internet portal site for the L.A. and Orange County metro market.

Channel 2000.com and its strategic partners are regularly promoted on KCBS-TV in Los Angeles, as well as on the eight CBS L.A.-based radio stations. Collectively, the L.A.-based CBS television and radio stations reach four out of five Southern Californians every day.

"Working with influential local media groups, such as CBS' Channel2000.com and the seven CIMedia City Sites, gives SMARTpages important local distribution channels for our leading Internet Yellow Pages and City Guide content," said Dan Finnigan, president & chief executive officer of SBC Interactive.

"A driving strategy for SMARTpages is to continue to seek out and develop solid relationships with key regional media companies," Finnigan added. "These agreements ensure SMARTpages' stability and growth, and offer greater opportunities for online consumers and advertisers."

Both agreements give SMARTpages prominent banner advertising placements, navigational bar links and search boxes, Finnigan said. SMARTpages will also benefit from inclusion in television, radio and cable broadcast promotions driving traffic to the Channel2000 and COX Web sites

SMARTpages complements the local information offerings provided on Channel2000.com, which CBS relaunched Feb.1 following a redesign that emphasizes Southern California news, classifieds, traffic, sports, local business services and more.

The partnership with Cox Interactive Media extends to seven Web sites in territories served by SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC), including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County and San Diego in California, and Austin and Waco in Texas.

Much more than an "online yellow pages," SMARTpages features local city guides and shopping guides for the seven states served by Southwestern Bell, Pacific Bell and Nevada Bell.

It is an in-depth, easy-to-use online shopping resource that provides current information on products, services and businesses -- and timely product reviews and buying tips -- all which link to the comprehensive local business database. In addition, SMARTpages has content agreements with some of the best names in the publishing industry -- including Zagat Survey for Restaurants and Hotels, Food & Wine and Travel & Leisure.

SMARTpages (www.smartpages.com) is an online product of SBC Interactive, a company of SBC Communications (www.sbc.com), a global leader in the telecommunications industry, with more than 37 million access lines and 6.9 million wireless customers across the United States, as well as investments in telecommunications businesses in 11 countries.

Under the Southwestern Bell, Pacific Bell, SNET, Nevada Bell and Cellular One brands, SBC, through its subsidiaries, offers a wide range of innovative services. SBC offers local and long-distance telephone service, wireless communications, data communications, paging, Internet access and messaging, as well as telecommunications equipment, and directory advertising and publishing.

SBC has more than 129,000 employees and its annual revenues rank it in the top 50 among Fortune 500 companies.