GTE today introduced two World Wide Web sites designed to help businesses work more efficiently and effectively

IRVING, Texas -- GTE today introduced two World Wide Web sites designed to help businesses work more efficiently and effectively.

The first site, The World Class Network (SM) From GTE, has been redesigned with user-driven interactive features, and simplified to help business customers find solutions right for them.

The new World Class Network site will offer detailed information on GTE's voice, video and data products and services as well as news about promotions on services such as Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and video conferencing. It also features an interactive "concierge" that allows customers to obtain customized case histories that explain how GTE has helped other companies with similar needs.

The second site, GTE Small Business, includes an interactive product guide that makes it easy for small companies to find out how GTE products and services can help enhance their productivity. Customers can get copies of GTE product guides and catalogs through a Fax Center, or by downloading the files. The Small Business site is located at http://www.gte.com/Smallbiz.

"Because our customers are the life-blood of our business, we have developed these two web sites to provide them with a simple, easy and convenient way of obtaining information about the communication tools that will help them win in today's competitive marketplace," said Lew Wilks, president-business markets for GTE Telephone Operations.

New Web Sites Give Helpful Information To Business Customers

To accommodate the growing interest in ISDN, the World Class Network site features a section that allows customers to get ISDN availability and local pricing information by inputting their telephone number. In coming weeks, the site will enable customers to sign up for, and schedule online, videoconferences through GTE's Video Connect (SM) Bridging Service.

Both sites contain hyperlinks to other GTE business units as well as to multiple GTE vendors

GTE's World Class Network, comprised of four key components -- a sophisticated fiber optics and high-capacity switching infrastructure; state-of-the-art voice, video and data products and services; competitive prices; and superior customer service -- offers complete network solutions for business customers.

"Improving both the business and personal lives of our customers is the fundamental fabric of GTE's World Class Network" said Wilks. "We provide network infrastructure backed by more than 750,000 miles of high-speed SONET fiber, a comprehensive mix of voice, video and data products and services, and customer service committed to helping businesses succeed."

With revenues of $20 billion in 1995, GTE is one of the largest publicly held telecommunications companies in the world. GTE is also the largest U.S.- based local telephone company and a leading cellular-service provider -- with wireline and wireless operations that form a market area covering more than one third of the country's population.