BELL ATLANTIC EXPANDS MARKETING ALLIANCE WITH CISCO SYSTEMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 1996

BELL ATLANTIC EXPANDS MARKETING ALLIANCE WITH CISCO
SYSTEMS

Bell Atlantic All@once(sm) Solutions
That Provides Comprehensive, End-to-End Applications
for Large Businesses Is Improved With Cisco Upgrades

ARLINGTON, Va. - Bell Atlantic customers who use Cisco
routers in
their host networks will now be able to maximize their investment and
provide cost-effective remote access from their regional and branch
offices easily. Cisco Systems, Inc. has enhanced Bell Atlantic's®
growing suite of All@once(sm) Solutions by providing high-speed routers
for customers with remote LAN access and teleworking needs, Bell
Atlantic announced today.

Cisco and Bell Atlantic provide applications to improve the way data
is shared between locations. For example, a hospital can easily add
Cisco routers at remote locations and doctors' offices to transmit
data, including billing, scheduling and registration information,
between offices and hospital locations. Other industries that are
ideal for remote LAN access and teleworking applications include
education, finance and state and local government.

"Our alliance with Cisco Systems continues to add new dimensions to
our comprehensive approach to meeting our customers' internal and
external communications needs," said Becky Siman, application
manager
for Bell
Atlantic Large Business Services. "By including
Cisco as part of the All@once alliance of best-in-class companies, Bell
Atlantic can provide the latest benefits of headquarters and branch
office connectivity, using ISDN to help our customers improve
efficiencies and maximize their capital investment."

Cisco Systems is an industry leader in router deployment and a pioneer
in the development of fast packet services. Bell Atlantic has already
used Cisco products extensively in its All@once(sm) fast packet and wide
area network (WAN) solutions. Now Cisco will provide routers for Bell
Atlantic's networked desktop solution packages developed specifically
for remote LAN access and teleworking applications using ISDN.

Through Bell Atlantic, customers can easily and cost-effectively add
to their existing networks with scalable routers that can accommodate
a full range of data traffic. Branch offices can now be linked to
their host ISDN networks with a Cisco 1000 or 2500 series router at
the remote site. Additionally, customers who currently use a Cisco
4000 or 7000 series host router can link individual telecommuters to
the main network by simply adding a PRI card to the host router and a
Cisco 750 series router at the home.

"Through the All@once alliance, Bell Atlantic has positioned itself
as
the leader in comprehensive remote access products and services,"
said
Jon Shantz, vice president of Service Providers at Cisco Systems.
"Cisco is proud to support Bell Atlantic's customers with the
products
needed to establish successful and cost-effective remote access
solutions."

All@once Solutions is a system that provides integrated voice, video
and data communication services and multi-dimensional professional
service that includes consultation, implementation and project
management. The All@once approach provides complete, end-to-end
solutions by teaming Bell Atlantic with best-in-class companies like
Cisco Systems. Cisco supplies routers for solutions that include the
highest-rated teleworking products and services, such as remote LAN
access, desktop video conferencing, network security, management and
professional services and network configuration expertise.

Other All@once companies include Ernst & Young LLP, Gandalf Systems
Corporation, Intel, J&L Information Systems, PictureTel Corporation,
RTI, Inc., and 3Com Corporation.

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the leading global supplier of
internetworking solutions for corporate intranets and the global
Internet. Cisco's products, including routers, LAN and ATM switches,
dial-up access servers and network management software, are integrated
by the Cisco IOS software to link geographically dispersed LANs, WANs
and IBM networks. Company news and product/service information are
available at World Wide Web site http://www.cisco.com. Cisco is
headquartered in San Jose, Calif.

Bell Atlantic Corporation is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, the company is the premier provider of local
telecommunications and advanced services. Globally, it is one of the
largest investors in the high-growth communication marketplace. Bell
Atlantic also owns a substantial interest in Telecom Corporation of
New Zealand and is actively developing high-growth national and
international business opportunities in all phases of the industry.

The company's Large Business Services organization offers customers
Bell Atlantic® All@once(sm) Solutions:
integrated voice, data and
video applications and the professional consulting and support
services that add up to a precise solution that fits and evolves to
meet customers' specific communications needs.

####

Media contacts:

Bell Atlantic, Shannon Fioravanti, 703-974-5455
shannon.l.fioravanti@bell-atl.com

Cisco Systems, Inc., Michael Hakkert, 408-526-4794
mhakkert@cisco.com

Hill and Knowlton, Inc., Aaron Graham, 212-885-0300
agraham@nyc.hillknowlton.com