Bell Atlantic Now Offers Complete Package of Managed Data Network Solutions

Bell Atlantic Now Offers Complete Package of
Managed Data Network Solutions

One Call Can Do It All for Businesses' Data Needs

June 30, 1999

NEW YORK -- Ordering data communications services from Bell
Atlantic will soon be as easy as one, two, thre -- minus steps two and
three.

Bell Atlantic is introducing a new family of integrated data solutions --
Managed Data Network Services (MDNS) -- that enable businesses to
make one call to Bell Atlantic for their data network needs, from ordering
hardware, software and data networking facilities to scheduling
installation, maintenance and management.

Bell Atlantic will also provide end-to-end management of a customer's
data network, including round-the-clock monitoring and maintenance.

"Providing a completely managed data service will make it much
easier for customers to do business with Bell Atlantic," said Ed
McGuinness, vice president of Marketing for Bell Atlantic's Enterprise
Business Group. "In addition, what used to take three or more calls
can now be accomplished in one, and we're committed to making that one
contact an easy and helpful experience for our customers."

On Friday (7/2), Bell Atlantic will launch the first in its family of managed
data solutions, MDNS FrameView, for existing and new frame relay
customers. Later this summer, the company will roll out MDNS for
managed frame relay router services and managed ATM (Asynchronous
Transfer Mode) services such as ATM router and high-speed ATM
switched services.

MDNS Rollout Follows Successful Trial

Since last year, Bell Atlantic has been running a pilot of MDNS involving
several hundred customers in Virginia.

"With MDNS, businesses that don't have the in-house expertise to
manage complex data networks and multimedia applications can rely on
Bell Atlantic to do the heavy lifting and provide a totally managed data
network solution," said Jeff Crowder, program director for
Net.Work.Virginia at Virginia Tech.

"Bell Atlantic's MDNS has provided a cost-effective, fast and
uncomplicated way for us to deploy and support advanced, multimedia
services," said Crowder. "We believe the growth of
Net.Work.Virginia has been greatly enhanced by the availability of this
innovative service."

Net.Work.Virginia is a statewide ATM network created by Bell Atlantic
and Virginia Tech to stimulate online communication among Virginia
universities and state and local government agencies.

Before the introduction of MDNS, business customers had to make
multiple calls to Bell Atlantic and other companies, such as information
technology integration firms, to connect their local data networks to Bell
Atlantic's facilities. In addition, businesses were responsible for
maintaining, monitoring and repairing the data network equipment owned
by them and installed at their location.

MDNS streamlines the process so customers need only make one call to
obtain an end-to-end, managed data solution. Bell Atlantic will coordinate
the effort and be responsible for installation, maintenance, hardware
upgrades, monitoring and management -- all for a single monthly charge.

Bell Atlantic also will provide any additional customer care that's needed -
- answering any questions the customer might have and making sure all
necessary paperwork is completed.

"This is a tremendous advantage for overburdened MIS experts,
especially those that work for expanding companies that need to quickly
establish new branch offices," said Jim Dorsey, project manager
MDNS for Bell Atlantic's Data Solutions Group. The Data Solutions
Group is the Bell Atlantic unit that specializes in the installation,
maintenance and management of data equipment installed at a customer's
location.

Here's how the MDNS approach works: The customer calls Bell Atlantic
to select data network services based on their applications and speed
requirements. Bell Atlantic provides the appropriate high-speed data
service, such as frame relay or ATM, to link the customer's wide area
network. Bell Atlantic also provides the wide area network access
equipment at the customer's location and connects its facilities to the
customer's private data network.

"MDNS is a far more coordinated and efficient way for us to do
business," said Dorsey. "And the more effectively we
manage data solutions for our customers, the more effectively our
customers can operate their enterprise."

MDNS FrameView Leads the Way

MDNS FrameView, Bell Atlantic's first offering in a family of managed
data solutions, provides customers a single point of contact for ordering
frame relay, monthly management of their data networks and round-the-
clock monitoring from a Bell Atlantic network operations center.

In addition, MDNS FrameView offers customers the ability to monitor
and fine-tune their frame relay network using Visual Network's Visual
UpTime System. Through Visual UpTime, Bell Atlantic enables
customers to monitor the efficiency of their frame relay network by
getting service reports via the World Wide Web without interrupting
network performance.

About Bell Atlantic Data Solutions Group
Bell Atlantic Data Solutions Group (DSG) www.ba-dsg.com is dedicated
to providing globally integrated network solutions that seamlessly connect
businesses with their customers, partners and employees. DSG provides
all aspects of data networking from the management and operation of
customer networks and network integration, to network transport and
advanced IP services such as intranets and extranets, virtual private
networks, web hosting and multimedia services.

About Bell Atlantic
Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With 43 million telephone access lines and nine
million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are
premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market
leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory
information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest
investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations
and investments in 23 countries.