GTE Business Hosting provides cost effective solution for small and medium-sized businesses wanting a Web presence on the Internet

New service provides management tool that gives customers total control of content while making it easy and affordable to build a web site; Free listing on GTE's SuperPages service further extends market reach of small businesses.

DALLAS, TX--GTE today announced the availability of GTE Business Hosting, http://www.gte-hosting.net, a new service that provides a robust yet affordable solution to small businesses that want to create or maintain a Web presence. GTE Business Hosting service is geared toward businesses who are either just getting on to the web and are looking for a feature rich hosting platform or for businesses who want to further leverage the Internet and build a more complex web site.

"It's estimated that more than 6.5 million small to medium-sized businesses will have a web presence as part of their business strategy, GTE Business Hosting provides the software and easy-to-use management tools that enable businesses to host a professional Web presence. The Web site can be created off-line using separately purchased Microsoft FrontPage Web site creation and management software. Web page files can then be easily transferred and uploaded onto the Internet in minutes," said GTE Product Manager Don Taylor. "A Web-based control panel provides customers with the control and flexibility to set e-mail options, view traffic to the site, and update web content immediately."

GTE offers several hosting plans depending on a customer's required combination of features, bandwidth and disk storage. Plans range from $24.95 per month to $599.95 per month. The six different hosting plans provide customers with the flexibility to choose a plan that meets current needs but allows them to migrate easily to other plans as needs change. Registering for the service is simple and easy. A variety of sign-up methods are available, including online registration, fax, telephone, or through a GTE sales contact.

According to Taylor, "GTE Business Hosting offer is a solution that leverages the Internet for small businesses, allowing them to have a Web presence without making a large capital investment. Whether a business requires shared hosting services, dedicated hosting services or just Internet access, GTE is a one stop shop providing reliable solutions than can meet expanding business needs."

In shared hosting, the hosting platform and associated bandwidth are shared by multiple customers on the same server. The advantage of a shared hosting Web site is that it provides flexibility for building web applications which meet individual business needs such as a dedicated hosting platform delivers, yet achieves it at a lower cost.

GTE Business Hosting includes:

In addition, GTE Business Hosting customers receive a free business listing in GTE's SuperPages on http://www.superpages.com, the Internet's leading online yellow pages service, and marketing guidance to help them promote their sites. GTE supports this service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Customers have the added assurance of knowing that expert security personnel monitor the system continuously and that the system has never been breached.

Customers can order GTE Business Hosting by completing an online registration form on www.gte-hosting.net, fax (972) 518-0822, or by calling 1-888-GTE -4111.

About GTE's Internet services

GTE's Internet services to consumers and small business was launched in 1996. With 700 plus local points of presence nation-wide, its subscriber base has grown from 70,000 to over 850,000 residence and small business subscribers. The increase was driven by GTE's continued success in bundling consumer Internet access with other communications services, as well as the company's success in leveraging distribution relationships with computer manufacturers such as Compaq, Hewlett-Packard Company, Dell Computer, Sony Electronics Inc. and Acer.

For customers who require "always-on" high-speed Internet access, GTE's DSL connection speeds to the Internet boost data transfer rates up to 50 times faster than conventional modems. GTE's DSL service is currently available in California, Florida, Texas, Washington and other states.

About GTE

With 1998 revenues of more than $25 billion, GTE is one of the world's largest telecommunications companies and a leading provider of integrated telecommunications services. In the United States, GTE provides local service in 28 states and wireless service in 17 states; nationwide long-distance and internetworking services ranging from dial-up Internet access for residential and small business customers to Web-based applications for Fortune 500 companies, as well as video service in selected markets. More information about GTE is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.gte.com.

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