SBC Communications to Add Western Union® Locations for Walk-in Customer Bill Payments across Its Service Territory

Business Wire, Oct 10, 2005

SAN ANTONIO -- SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) today announced that residential and business customers can now or will soon be able to walk in and present bill payments at participating Western Union(R) Agent locations in their states as the result of a recently signed agreement. With the addition of Western Union, the number of authorized locations where SBC customers can present walk-in bill payments is expected to more than double -- to 4,000 -- across its 13-state local service territory by the end of this year.

"We're striving to bring our customers choice, convenience and value not only with our products and services but also in how they can pay for those services," said Scott Helbing, senior vice president, SBC Consumer Marketing. "Teaming up with Western Union greatly expands the locations where our customers can conveniently walk in and present their bill payments."

At walk-in payment locations, consumers can present their bill payments for SBC local phone service and bundled services, which include SBC long distance plans, SBC Yahoo! DSL and Dial Internet services, and SBC|DISH Network satellite TV, as well as present advance payments or deposits to new and existing accounts. Customers should bring a page of their SBC bill to facilitate timely and accurate posting to their account. Customers can visit www.sbc.com for authorized walk-in payment locations, the services provided by each location, their hours of operation, and whether a Western Union processing fee applies.

"Western Union Agent locations are conveniently located in the places where consumers already do business, such as in supermarkets and convenience stores, making it easy for on-the-go consumers to present their bill payments while running everyday errands," said Joe Jackson, president, Western Union Payment Services. "We are a trusted name that offers consumers peace of mind and ease when it comes to paying their SBC bill."

The complete list of authorized walk-in locations to present SBC payments in a state or city is available at http://www.sbc.com/gen/general?pid=6181, or by contacting the local SBC service center.

About SBC Communications Inc.

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 51.6 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 offer satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC products and services is available at www.sbc.com.

About Western Union and First Data Corp.

Western Union Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), is an international leader in consumer money transfer services. Western Union and its subsidiary, Orlandi Valuta, together make up one of the world's largest money transfer networks with approximately 233,000 Agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories.

First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) is a leading provider of electronic commerce and payment solutions for businesses and consumers worldwide. Serving 4.1 million merchant locations, 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers, First Data powers the global economy by making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses around the world to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. The company's portfolio of services and solutions includes credit, debit, private-label, smart and stored-value card issuing and merchant transaction processing services; money transfer services; money orders; fraud protection and authentication solutions; check guarantee and verification services through TeleCheck; as well as Internet commerce and mobile solutions. The company's STAR Network offers PIN-secured debit acceptance at 1.7 million ATM and retail locations. For more information, visit www.firstdata.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: There is a pipe symbol in the company name between SBC and DISH. This symbol may not appear properly in some systems.