SBC Communications Announces Five-Year, $59.7 Million Contract with the American Red Cross; SBC Companies to Deliver and Manage Voice and Data Networks for the American Red Cross

Business Wire, April 18, 2005

SAN ANTONIO -- SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) today announced a new contract to manage services for voice and data network requirements of the American Red Cross' Washington D.C.-based corporate headquarters. The American Red Cross manages nearly half of the nation's blood supply, provides relief to victims of disasters, and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

Under the terms of the contract, SBC companies will provide and manage voice, data and wireless transport services, as well as audio and Web conferencing services to the American Red Cross where available. In an attempt to reduce its capital expenses, the American Red Cross sought new telecommunications providers and chose SBC companies.

The agreement will enable the American Red Cross to support its various life-saving missions across parts of the domestic U.S. These SBC PremierSERV(SM) Managed Services will initially be provided to the organization's headquarters facilities, which include several sites in the Washington, D.C. area, as well as all WAN nodes at other locations.

Reliable, high-quality network performance is vital to the American Red Cross' ability to fulfill its lifesaving mission. SBC companies will address those critical needs by managing the American Red Cross network operations on an ongoing basis, providing the voice and data expertise to maximize network performance while enabling the American Red Cross to reduce the need for capital expenditures and in-house management costs.

"The American Red Cross provides life-saving services to millions of Americans, day in and day out," said Bob Ferguson, group president & CEO, SBC Enterprise Business Services. "We appreciate the opportunity to work with the organization on the data and voice networks that play an important role in its ongoing operations."

About SBC

SBC Communications Inc. is a Fortune 50 company whose subsidiaries, operating under the SBC brand, provide a full range of voice, data, networking, e-business, directory publishing and advertising, and related services to businesses, consumers and other telecommunications providers. SBC holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which serves more than 50 million wireless customers. SBC companies provide high-speed DSL Internet access lines to more American consumers than any other provider and are among the nation's leading providers of Internet services. SBC companies also now offer satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC products and services is available at www.sbc.com.

Long distance voice, switched and dedicated data transport, audio, and Web conferencing services are provided by SBC Long Distance LLC. SBC PremierSERV Managed Services are provided by SBC DataComm. (C) 2005 SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P. All rights reserved. SBC, the SBC logo and other SBC product names are trademarks or service marks of SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P. or its affiliates.