"Business Complete" Builds on the Success of MCI's Any-Distance, All-Inclusive Residential Service
ARLINGTON, Va.-June 13, 2002 - MCI group (NASDAQ: MCIT), an operating unit of WorldCom, Inc. (NASDAQ: WCOM; MCIT), today announced The Neighborhood, its revolutionary, any-distance, all-inclusive phone service, is now open to small businesses through the introduction of Business Complete. Available in 18 states and soon reaching nearly half of all U.S. small businesses, Business Complete unites local and long-distance service to create a new era of calling for small businesses across the country.
With Business Complete, small businesses have the option of choosing one reliable company for both local and long-distance service. The Neighborhood's flagship small business offering, Business Complete provides unlimited local phone service or 3,000 local minutes (depending on the state), a low 6.9¢ per minute rate for in-state and state-to-state long-distance, as well as a complete suite of calling and messaging features, all from one company, on one bill.
"The Neighborhood's Business Complete delivers the simplicity small businesses want as well as the reliability and attractively-priced one-stop phone service they need," said Melina Formisano, MCI Group Executive, Commercial Markets. "With this new offering, the Neighborhood now extends its innovative product portfolio to consumers and small businesses across the country."
SMALL BUSINESS PHONE SERVICE MADE SIMPLE
The Neighborhood's Business Complete program eliminates the hassles associated with signing term contracts, evaluating complicated rate plans and ordering calling features separately. For $39.99 to $49.99 per month, depending on the state, Business Complete provides a fully integrated phone service which includes local calling as well as Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, Caller ID, 3-way calling and speed dial and a 6.9¢ per minute rate for in-state and state-to-state long-distance calls. Hunting/rollover, the "feature that rings to the next available phone line", is also included for no extra charge. Competitively priced Voicemail, Toll-Free 800 Service, additional lines and blocks of long-distance minutes are also available upon request.
REWARDING SMALL BUSINESS CUSTOMERS
Business Complete rewards its customers with a variety of exclusive, value added services. The Business-to-Business option allows customers to make unlimited domestic long-distance calls to other Business Complete customers for no additional charge. Plus, Business Complete customers may earn frequent flyer miles with one of eight major airlines partnered exclusively with MCI.
WORKING TO ACHIEVE THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996
With the launch of The Neighborhood, MCI became the first communications company to truly fulfill the vision of the "any-distance" future outlined by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Neighborhood built by MCISM is the communications industry's first large scale, credible threat to the local phone monopolies' lock on the consumer calling market because it is the only enterprise to truly offer a fully integrated service across the country. With Business Complete, small business customers now have a reliable, innovative option for their local and long distance calling services. With Business Complete, The Neighborhood is now open for businesses.
"Business Complete is the first service which extends to small businesses across the country the competitive benefits outlined in the Telecommunications Act of 1996," said Formisano. "With the assistance of state regulators, fair and equitable pricing can be established so all U.S. small businesses have the opportunity to sign up for Business Complete and receive the long-awaited benefits of true competition. By this time next year, we hope to offer Business Complete to the remainder of the U.S."
HOW TO JOIN BUSINESS COMPLETE
To join Business Complete or to learn about other products and services designed especially for small businesses, customers should call 1-800-436-4444. Small businesses can also sign up for Business Complete at www.TheNeighborhood.com/business.
ABOUT MCI GROUP
MCI group (NASDAQ: MCIT), an operating unit of WorldCom, Inc., is a leading provider of residential voice, advanced messaging and commercial communications services. MCI group offers a robust portfolio of products, including local, international and long-distance voice services, advanced messaging, and wholesale voice, dial-up Internet and data services. For more information, go to http://www.mci.com.
