New Business Transforms Consumer Communications Industry New Brand Ushers In New Era of Competition New Product Creates All-Inclusive, Any-Distance Category
ARLINGTON, Va.- April 15, 2002 - The MCI Group (NASDAQ: MCIT), an operating unit of WorldCom, Inc. (NASDAQ: WCOM; MCIT), today launched The Neighborhood built by MCI(SM), a new nationwide phone business that revolutionizes the consumer communications industry. Immediately available in 32 states, and reaching more than 50 million households, The Neighborhood unifies local and long-distance service to create a new era of competition.
The brand's flagship offering, Neighborhood Complete, provides unlimited calling within the U.S., whether across the street or across the country. Plus, it provides a complete suite of calling and messaging features from one company, on one bill for one fixed monthly price.
"The Neighborhood is a revolutionary new product, a compelling new brand and a new MCI mission," said Wayne Huyard, MCI Group Chief Operating Officer. "It is a ground-breaking new business designed to unite historically separate local and long-distance services. The Neighborhood built by MCI(SM) establishes a new all-distance communications category."
ALL DOMESTIC CALLS ARE EQUAL
The Neighborhood Complete is the first and only nationwide service to free callers from the constraints of per minute rates, time of day restrictions, and unnecessary boundaries between local and long-distance service.
Consumers who select Neighborhood Complete will experience the convenience of a single company and a single invoice for all home phone service; the most popular calling features, such as Caller ID, Call Waiting, Voicemail, Three-Way Calling, and Speed Dial; and the ability to take advantage of free partner reward benefits, such as those that earn them frequent flyer miles or free movie video rentals.
For just $49.99 to $59.99 per month, depending on the state, Neighborhood Complete provides all-inclusive, any-distance home phone service, including all local, local toll, in-state and state-to-state calling along with the full package of features. The entire U.S. effectively becomes one local calling area and the entire country becomes one neighborhood.
Beginning today, Neighborhood Complete can be ordered in select areas in 32 states with availability in all remaining states expected by early 2003. Neighborhood Complete is intended for residential voice service only.
WORKING TO ACHIEVE THE VISION OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996
The Neighborhood built by MCI(SM) 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 Neighborhood Complete, consumers will, for the first time, be able to combine their local and long distance calling services into one integrated package at one fixed monthly price.
With the launch of The Neighborhood, MCI is the first communications company to truly fulfill the vision of the "any-distance" future outlined by the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
"The launch of The Neighborhood represents and extends the true competitive benefits originally envisioned and intended in the Telecommunications Act of 1996," said Huyard. "As more and more states take positive steps to reduce the unjustified fees local phone monopolies charge competitive local carriers like MCI to access the public phone network, more and more consumers will begin to experience the long-awaited benefits of competition. The Neighborhood finally extends to Americans the freedoms and choices they never should have been without and ushers in a new era of integrated all-distance communications."
HOW TO JOIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
To join The Neighborhood, customers should call 1-800-285-FREE, available seven days a week, 24-hours a day. Additional information about The Neighborhood and the products and services available to customers is available at http://www.TheNeighborhood.com.
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.
