Bell Atlantic Introduces Name And Number Delivery Service

Bell Atlantic Introduces Name And Number Delivery Service

Callers Can Record Information For Delivery at Later Time

February 11, 1998

NEW YORK -- Bell Atlantic-New York has taken the frustration out of
phone calls that are never answered.

Callers can now leave their name and telephone number for the person
they are calling when their call goes unanswered. This new Bell
Atlantic service, known as Name and Number Delivery Service, is
available to many customers on the east side of Manhattan; Long Island
City and Astoria in Queens; the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx; and
in the Bay Ridge and Canarsie sections of Brooklyn.

Those who use the service will be able to leave their name and
telephone number for most Bell Atlantic customers in the New York
metropolitan area -- Long Island, the five boroughs of New York City,
and Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties.

Here's how the service works:

When a call is unanswered, callers hear a series of simple voice
prompts, or commands, that will enable them to leave their name and
telephone number for the person they are calling. Bell Atlantic's
network will record the information and then call the number every
half-hour for the next eight hours. No attempts to deliver the
message will be made between 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays or 10 p.m. to
9 a.m. weekends.

When the call is finally answered, a recording will announce that
someone was trying to reach them, and that Bell Atlantic is attempting
to deliver that person's name and telephone number. The information is
played twice.

The charge for the service is 75 cents for the caller. There is no
charge for the person receiving the message. The service can be used
by callers with either Touch Tone or rotary service.

"Despite the widespread use of voice mail and answering machines, many
calls still go unanswered," said Rich McCusker, Bell Atlantic director
of Messaging Services "This innovative service takes the hassles out
of trying to reach someone. It's easy to use, providing our customers
with greater control and convenience."

Where available, Name and Number Delivery Service is automatically on
customers' lines. They do not need to call Bell Atlantic to order the
service. If customers want more information about the service, or if
they want the service removed from their line, they should call
1-800-742-2220.

Bell Atlantic - formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX -
is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With 40.5 million telephone access lines and six million
wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier
providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market leaders
in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory
information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's
largest investors in high-growth global communications markets, with
operations and investments in 21 countries.