Bell Atlantic Rewrites the Book on Network Management

Bell Atlantic Rewrites the Book on Network Management

Offers New Services to Help Business Customers Maximize Performance of Data Networks

September 29, 1998

NEW YORK -- Bell Atlantic is radically changing its approach to
customer network management to help businesses boost the performance of
their data networks and better serve customers.

The company is the first in the industry to develop network
management solutions that specifically focus on the network's impact on a
customer's strategic business objectives. It is also enhancing its existing
line of network management services to maximize the performance,
availability and reliability of specific network applications critical to a
company's success, including those that support customer service, finance,
billing and electronic commerce.

"We're changing our focus to align with the customers' view of how
data networks drive their business," said Joe Farina, president and chief
executive officer - Bell Atlantic Data Solutions Group (DSG). "Our
emphasis has shifted from solely managing the transport of data to
delivering a total network solution that will help our customers meet their
financial and competitive targets."

The newly formed DSG offers end-to-end networking solutions for
business customers, including advanced applications, integration and
transport. Network management services are available through Bell
Atlantic Network Integration (BANI), a unit of DSG.

The first new offerings, available now, are WAN Circuit
Management and Remote Network Monitoring Services.

WAN Circuit Management enables customers to easily and cost-
effectively manage the performance of wide area networks by providing
real-time information about data traffic flow. The service uses
measurement platforms from Visual Networks, Inc. and other industry
leading manufacturers to provide customers with instant access to reports
and information about their WANs.

Remote Network Monitoring Services provide complete and
continuous surveillance of data networks and their components, 24 hours a
day, seven days a week. Customers are quickly alerted to potential
problems.

Both services lower a customer's operating and capital costs by
eliminating the need to build expensive in-house systems or hire and train
staff.

"Our new approach to network management will empower
customers with the information they need -- anytime, anywhere, via the
Web -- to plan for future network demand," said Vin Costello, president -
BANI. "Access to this valuable information offers customers
unprecedented flexibility, greatly improving a business' overall efficiency
and productivity."

Kathryn Weldon, senior analyst for data communications at the
Yankee Group, said, "Bell Atlantic is the first company to meet a growing
customer challenge -- optimizing the network to reflect its role in supporting
critical business functions. BANI has designed a portfolio of services that
enables customers to better leverage their networks to achieve their financial
and competitive objectives."

Other new services will be packaged to support specific
applications, including Internet and corporate applications. Beginning next
year, the company plans to offer bundled network management services for
leading business and electronic commerce applications.

BANI engineers will oversee the day-to-day management and
operations of a customer's data network, leaving companies free to run their
business and serve the needs of their own customers. Companies can view
information on network performance, as well as analyses and
recommendations from the engineers, via secure Web access.

For example, a company might receive feedback on how a new
application is affecting network performance or how peaks in activity are
impacting communications with customers. The company can use this
critical information to avoid potential problems and improve network
performance.

The Data Solutions Group is dedicated to providing globally
integrated and comprehensive data, voice and video solutions -- through a
single source -- that seamlessly connect businesses with their customers,
partners and employees.

Bell Atlantic Network Integration provides integration services that
cover the full "network lifecycle" from planning and implementation to
management and support. BANI is one of the first U.S. network integrators
to achieve company-wide ISO 9001 certification.

Visual Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: VNWK) designs, manufactures
and sells WAN service level management systems for statistically
multiplexed technologies such as frame relay, IP/Internet and ATM. Visual
Networks' Visual UpTime system combines WAN access functionality with
innovative software for performance monitoring, troubleshooting and
network planning.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With more than 41 million telephone access lines and
more than seven 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 23 countries.