Bell Atlantic launches dial-up internet access service

RESTON, VA -- Bell Atlantic.net, a dial-up Internet access service, is now available to consumers and businesses in the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore metropolitan areas. For a limited time, Bell Atlantic will offer new subscribers 30 days of free, unlimited Internet access.

The dial-up service augments the high-speed, private line Internet access and World Wide Web services for businesses and governments that have been available from Bell Atlantic in these markets for the last several months.

Bell Atlantic.net makes using the Internet as easy as making a phone call. Its simple-to-use navigation and information directories link customers to useful resources, events, organizations and services in their local community. It also provides easy access to the best of global resources, places and information in hundreds of interest areas.

"There are hundreds of interesting and informative Web sites right in our own backyards ," said Bob Beran, president-Bell Atlantic Internet Solutions. "Bell Atlantic.net subscribers --whether experienced users or novices --will find our service gives them easy access to this local information, as well as to millions of other global sites on the Internet."

Bell Atlantic.net features the Netscape Navigator*browser and will add the Microsoft** Internet Explorer browser later in the year, to provide increased customer choice. Bell Atlantic.net subscribers will also have access to Cyber Patrol***, a tool that enables parents to manage and control their children's Internet access, at a sharply discounted rate. Communications services for staying in touch with family, friends and colleagues are also readily accessible, including e-mail, chat and newsgroups. The service includes superior customer service and technical support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the high reliability customers have come to expect from Bell Atlantic.

Designed to meet both personal and business needs, Bell Atlantic.net will help business users find information and resources to start, run and/or grow their business. It will provide access to news, market, networking and technology information necessary for a business to stay competitive. Communication among workers, suppliers and customers will also be simplified.

There are three pricing plans for Bell Atlantic.net, all of which include browser software. Users can access the Internet as much as they wish with Bell Atlantic's unlimited access plan of only $17.95 a month. They can realize a monthly savings greater than 10 percent by signing up for one year of unlimited access for $198. Under the hourly plan, users can pay $4.95 a month for five hours and $1.95 for each additional hour. These prices do not include the fee for a Global Service Provider, which can run as low as $2 a month for unlimited access.

Rates apply for analog modem access, as well as for ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) access, which is available from Bell Atlantic. ISDN provides the fastest dial-up connection to the Internet with end-to-end digital connectivity.

The minimum system requirements for Bell Atlantic. net are a 386 Intel-equipped, IBM-compatible PC, 8 megabytes of memory, 6 megabytes of free hard disk space, a 14.4 kilobits per second modem, and a three and one-half inch floppy disk drive. Bell Atlantic. net currently works with Microsoft Windows** 3.1, 3.11 and Windows 95**. An Apple****Macintosh version of the software will be available shortly.

Customers interested in ordering a free copy of Bell Atlantic. net software and subscribing to Bell Atlantic's Internet access service can call 1-800-NET-2026. They will receive a copy of the software within two weeks of placing their order. For more information on the service, customers can visit the company's Web site at http://www.bellatlantic.net. For information regarding Bell Atlantic's ISDN Internet service, customers can call Bell Atlantic InfoSpeed on 1-800-204-7332.

Bell Atlantic Internet Solutions is a new unit of Bell Atlantic created to develop and deliver a full range of Internet services to businesses, governments and consumers -- from Internet access to electronic mail to World Wide Web site production and hosting.

Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new communications, entertainment and information industry. In the mid-Atlantic region, the company is the premier provider of local telecommunications and advanced services. Globally, it is one of the largest investors in the high-growth wireless communication marketplace. Bell Atlantic also owns a substantial interest in Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and is actively developing high-growth national and international business opportunities in all phases of the industry.

1 Excluding Global Service Provider charge.

* Trademark of Netscape Communications Corp.
** Trademark of Microsoft Corp.
*** Trademark of Microsystems Software, Inc.
**** Trademark of Apple Computer Inc.