Bell Atlantic Mobile Expands Digital Coverage To Six Counties In Southwest North Carolina

Bell Atlantic Mobile Expands Digital Coverage To Six Counties In Southwest North Carolina

Company's aggressive wireless network build-out and pricing
strategies now benefit digital customers from Hendersonville to Charlotte

June 1, 1999

GREENVILLE, SC -- Leading wireless service provider Bell Atlantic
Mobile announced today its advanced digital cellular service is now
available in six counties in southwest North Carolina, including
Henderson, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell, Rutherford and Polk - - a
large expanse covering just west of Hendersonville, east to Shelby, and

Bell Atlantic Mobile's DigitalChoice® wireless service delivers to
customers increased reliability, greater voice clarity, and an array of
advanced features. Through a multi-million dollar investment to upgrade
analog cell sites to digital, the company has brought CDMA, the most
advanced digital technology, to cities such as Shelby, Rutherfordton,
Marion and Lincolnton.

"With this significant digital expansion into southwest North
Carolina, Bell Atlantic Mobile has positioned itself as the wireless carrier
with the largest digital coverage in the area," said Jerry Fountain,
Bell Atlantic Mobile's vice president -- Southeast region. "The
combination of our high-quality digital network and attractive pricing
options means customers can enjoy the many benefits of digital wireless
service in more places than offered by any other wireless provider."

In addition to coast-to-coast coverage and digital-analog (dual-mode)
capability, customers who subscribe to DigitalChoice will receive a
feature-rich package that includes Caller ID service; voice mail with
message notification; three-way Calling, Call Waiting and Call
Forwarding; built-in fraud protection; and, the first incoming minute free
on local calls.

Customers also can take advantage of Bell Atlantic Mobile's popular
DigitalChoice SingleRate^SM all-inclusive pricing plans with no roaming
and no long distance charges that offer the benefits of reliable, high
quality digital service at an affordable and predictable price.

Bell Atlantic Mobile's digital customers can expect superior call quality,
greater battery life, enhanced privacy, and flexible, economical calling
plans throughout the company's extensive digital network. This includes
all of southwest North Carolina, Asheville, Charlotte, Hickory,
Spartanburg, Greenville, Columbia, plus all major interstates connecting
those areas.

"And, customers also can use their phones virtually anywhere in the
U.S., because Bell Atlantic Mobile's service can switch seamlessly to the
analog network in geographic areas where a compatible digital network is
not available," said Fountain.

Other DigitalChoice options include:

• a $2 per month digital phone rental plan;

• an Unlimited Weekend Airtime Plan for $5 per month;

• a $10 per month Unlimited Nights and Weekends Local
  Airtime Plan;

• three versions of text messaging/e-mail to your handset;

• TalkDial®, Bell Atlantic Mobile's exclusive voice-
  activated dialing service, for a $3.95 monthly fee; and,

• an all-you-can-use mobile-to-mobile pricing plan for an
  additional $10 monthly access.

# # #

Editor's Note: Bell Atlantic Mobile owns and operates the largest wireless
network in the East, covering 120,000 square miles, and the largest chain
of retail outlets devoted exclusively to wireless voice, data and paging.
Based in Bedminster, NJ, Bell Atlantic Mobile has 6.4 million customers
and 8,000 employees from Maine to Georgia and, through a separate
subsidiary, in the Southwest. Through its "Wireless at
Work..." community service program, the company uses its
technology to help individuals and communities improve security and
emergency communications. Bell Atlantic Mobile's parent, Bell Atlantic
Corporation (NYSE:BEL) is one of the world's largest wireless
communications companies, with domestic operations in 25 states and
international investments in Mexico, Europe and the Pacific Rim. For
more information on Bell Atlantic Mobile visit: www.bam.com; on global
operations visit: www.bellatlantic.com/worldwide.