Saks Wraps Up Deal With MCI

MCI Selected as Primary Provider of Internet, Data and Voice Services

ASHBURN, Va., November 8, 2004 - MCI, Inc. (NASDAQ:MCIP) today announced it has signed a three-year agreement with Saks Incorporated (NYSE:SKS), one of the country's leading retailers, to deliver Internet, data and voice services. As a premier retailer of a wide assortment of quality fashion apparel, shoes, accessories, cosmetics and decorative home furnishings, Saks relies on its network to enhance its business operations and better serve customers. This agreement represents an expansion of an existing long-term relationship between the two companies.

Under terms of the new contract, MCI will become Saks' primary communications provider, delivering the advanced products and services that are helping Saks to efficiently process point-of-sale transactions, quickly obtain credit card authorizations and expedite customer service through MCI's Contact Center Services. In addition, MCI data services will be used to link Saks' corporate headquarters with approximately 250 of its stores.

"Our expertise and knowledge of Saks' business has made our relationship very successful over the past 10 years," said Steve Young, senior vice president, MCI Commercial Markets. "Saks knows they can count on us to provide the right set of products and services that will help to enhance the company's business model and positively impact their profitability."

MCI is supplying Saks with high-bandwidth, high-availability Internet connections to its data center, secure IP VPN Remote Access for its nearly 1,000 traveling and remote associates, a frame relay network and toll-free, local and long distance voice services. To help ensure its communications network is continuously up and running, MCI provides Saks with dedicated resources that help Saks manage its network infrastructure.

"MCI is helping Saks to harness the power of technology to maximize our customer service experience," said Bill Franks, Saks Incorporated's CIO. "Our underlying communications platform is critical to everything we do to serve our customers more quickly and efficiently. What's more, we've been able to streamline our internal communications functions and enhance our day-to-day business operations."

To manage its communications functions easily, Saks utilizes the secure MCI Customer Care (MCC) portal to conveniently perform a number of tasks, including real-time network management and troubleshooting, online ordering, electronic billing and payment options, customer training and real-time network performance reporting.

About Saks Incorporated

Saks Incorporated currently operates Saks Department Store Group (SDSG) with 241 department stores under the names of Parisian, Proffitt's, McRae's, Younkers, Herberger's, Carson Pirie Scott, Bergner's, and Boston Store and 31 Club Libby Lu specialty stores. The Company also operates Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises (SFAE), which consists of 64 Saks Fifth Avenue stores, 54 Saks Off 5th stores, and saks.com.

About MCI
MCI, Inc., (NASDAQ: MCIP), is a leading global communications provider, delivering innovative, cost-effective, advanced communications connectivity to businesses, governments and consumers. With the industry's most expansive global IP backbone, based on the number of company-owned points of presence, and wholly-owned data networks, MCI develops the converged communications products and services that are the foundation for commerce and communications in today's market. For more information, go to www.mci.com.