GTE Directories purchases publishing contracts for more than 200 directory titles from Associated Directory Services, Inc.

DALLAS/FORT WORTH -- GTE Directories today announced that it has purchased the directory-publishing contracts for more than 200 telephone directory titles from Associated Directory Services, Inc. Terms of the agreement were not released.

The directories cover former Contel Corp. service areas in 20 states. Associated Directory Services held the contracts with Contel and then with GTE, following the merger of GTE and Contel in 1991. With the purchase of these contracts, GTE Directories now is the publisher of all telephone directories for GTE Telephone Operations.

"The acquisition of these contracts obviously is a good strategic fit for us," said GTE Directories President Earl A. Goode. "We are excited that we will be serving approximately 116,000 new advertisers across 20 states."

GTE Directories will open sales offices in Virginia, Missouri and California to serve some of the new customers associated with these directories. Other operations, including sales, production, marketing, printing, delivery and staff support will be provided by existing GTE Directories offices.

The directories serve advertisers and consumers in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington.

GTE Directories is one of the world's largest telephone directory companies. It annually publishes or provides sales, consulting and other services relating to 2,200 directory titles throughout the United States and in Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America. The company was named a 1994 winner of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which recognizes U.S. companies that have outstanding quality management systems. GTE Directories is a unit of Dallas/Fort Worth-based GTE Information Services, a part of GTE Corp.,Stamford, Conn.