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Strategic Move by the #1 Wireless Provider to the U.S. Latino Community PROVIDENCE, R.I., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Bueno? Alo? Diga? Hello?... As part of its growth strategy, Cingular Wireless is answering the call of the Hispanic market in the U.S. by converting ten stores in New England to cater to Hispanic consumers, including its location in the Providence Place Mall. In a move that reflects the company's unwavering commitment to the Hispanic community, Cingular Wireless is creating a new shopping experience by converting signage and collateral in these stores to both English and Spanish. Bilingual sales people will be prepared to serve customers in both languages and will be trained to handle the needs of Latino consumers. The more than 420 stores being converted nationally to the new bilingual concept were selected according to Hispanic population density in the neighboring area. Cingular is the nation's largest voice and data wireless provider and the number one provider to the Hispanic community. "That's a position we intend to keep," said Steve Krom, Vice President and General Manager of Cingular Wireless in New England. "The Hispanic market is one of the fastest growing in the U.S. and is extremely attractive to wireless providers, not just in terms of growing population but also in terms of usage," said Krom. "Hispanics over-index in almost every category: they use more minutes, they make more long distance calls, they text more and they download more ringtones," he added. The new bilingual store concept is part of Cingular's comprehensive strategy to meet the needs of Hispanic consumers and includes products and services, marketing and infrastructure, such as: - Wireless Content. Cingular offers an extensive library of digital content for cellular phones targeted to the Hispanic market. It includes ringtones from top Latin artists, as well as wallpapers, graphics, games, news, sports scores, weather and horoscopes, all in Spanish. - Infrastructure support. Four bilingual call centers for customers who prefer to do business in Spanish. Customers can also request to receive their phone bills in Spanish. - Spanish-language Web site. A Spanish-language Web site (http://www.cingular.com/espanol). - Advertising campaigns and sponsorships. The company also reaches out to the Hispanic market segment through ad campaigns in Spanish, sponsorships of top Hispanic celebrities (such as stars of Univision's national program "El Gordo y la Flaca" and the Mexican National Soccer Team). - Long Distance Rates and Payment Options. These include: - Competitive and, in many cases, the lowest international calling rates to Mexico and other Latin American countries - Broad range of prepaid and postpaid plans Cingular was recently nominated as the best company for Latinos in DiversityInc's 2006 ranking of U.S. companies and has been named one of the best employers for Hispanic women by LATINA Style magazine for the third year in a row About Cingular Wireless in New England Cingular's network in New England covers more than 13.6 million people and extends across 62,000 square miles. Cingular employs more than 700 people in the region. With 84 company-owned stores in addition to authorized local and national retailers, including RadioShack, New England customers have approximately 800 outlets to buy Cingular's products and services. About Cingular Wireless Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 57.3 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVER(TM) network -- and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(R), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases emailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com/. DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless CONTACT: Kate MacKinnon of Cingular Wireless, +1-781-690-5057, or wireless, +1-508-498-5547, or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://www.cingular.com/espanol http://cingular.mediaroom.com/

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