The Car Phone Store Selects Bell Atlantic Mobile As Its Exclusive Retail Wireless Services Supplier

WOBURN, Mass. — The region's leading wireless communications company and the nation's leading franchised wireless retailer are joining forces.

Bell Atlantic Mobile and The Car Phone Store have announced a three- year joint agreement that makes Bell Atlantic Mobile the exclusive provider of wireless services for The Car Phone Store's 13 locations throughout Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.

Bell Atlantic Mobile owns and operates the largest wireless network in the East, covering 112,000 square miles. The Car Phone Store is the largest independent cellular retailer in the country, with more than 80 locations in seven Northeastern states.

"To address the needs of our 5.5 million customers and the increased demand for wireless service, we are continually expanding our distribution channels," said Kathy Gallagher, executive director of retail sales for Bell Atlantic Mobile. "Our agreement with The Car Phone Store helps to meet customer demand. Whether a customer prefers one of our Communications stores or a specialized retail outlet like The Car Phone Store, Bell Atlantic Mobile service is readily available."

"You must have a good product to become a one-stop communications source for customers," said Russ Welden, president of The Car Phone Store. "Our decision to exclusively offer Bell Atlantic Mobile service is due to our confidence in their veteran experience as a carrier, the superior call quality and reliability of their digital network, pricing and outstanding customer support."

Bell Atlantic Mobile has the largest chain of retail outlets devoted exclusively to wireless voice, data and paging. Based in Bedminster, NJ, Bell Atlantic Mobile has 5.5 million customers and 7,000 employees from Maine to Georgia and, through a separate subsidiary, in the Southwest. Through its "Wireless at Work..." community relations program, the company uses its technology to help individuals and communities improve security and emergency communications. Bell Atlantic is one of the world's largest wireless communications companies, with domestic operations in 25 states and international investments spanning Latin America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. For more information on Bell Atlantic Mobile visit: www.bam.com; on global operations visit: www.bellatlantic.com/worldwide.

The Car Phone Store is the largest independent cellular retailer in the country, with more than 80 locations in seven Northeastern states. In January, The Car Phone Store was named the number one wireless communications franchise in America by Entrepreneur magazine. The company expects to have more than 100 franchises by the end of 1998. The Car Phone Store is now in its 10th year, having begun with a single store in 1988. The company is headquartered in Wethersfield, Connecticut.

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