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BellSouth National Directory Assistance Ranks Highest Among Major Industry Telecom Providers Rankings for 'Customer Fulfillment' and 'Customer Care' ATLANTA, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The national directory assistance (NDA) of BellSouth ranks highest among the industry's major local and long distance telecom providers, according to a recent industry survey conducted by the Paisley Group. Paisley, an independent directory assistance and operator services consulting company based in Denver, said BellSouth's NDA had the highest scores among local and long distance companies in both survey categories of "customer fulfillment" and "customer care." Paisley's customer fulfillment, or calls fulfilled, measures how often customers receive correct listings. The category of customer care, or calls cared for, shows the extent to which operators and directory assistants leave customers with the favorable impression they are engaged on the customers' behalf and are advocates for their customers. "We are extremely proud of our operators and directory assistants in reaching the highest level of service for local and long distance customers," said Dee Butler, president of BellSouth Operator Services. "We aim for top customer service by focusing on listening, clarity and showing interest. It's an effort that never stops." In its most recent semiannual survey conducted in September, Paisley measured 11 directory assistance providers. BellSouth scored 94 percent in calls fulfilled among all the major local service carriers. This compared with 92 percent for the next highest ranking local carrier and a 92.3 percent average for all the major local carriers. In the same category for the industry's major long distance carriers, BellSouth's 94 percent was 0.3 percent higher than the highest long distance carrier, while the long distance carrier average in this category was 91.0 percent. In the second category of customer care, BellSouth scored 93.7 percent. This compared with 91.7 percent for the next ranking major local carrier and 86.3 percent for the local carrier average. The highest ranking long distance carrier in customer care scored 92 percent, while the long distance carrier average in customer care was 87.7 percent. BellSouth Operator Services is part of Interconnection Services ( http://www.interconnection.bellsouth.com/ ), the wholesale business unit of BellSouth that provides wholesale solutions for five core product families: transport, switching, intelligent network services, packet data and professional services. Interconnection Services customer segments include Interexchange Carriers (IXCs), Wireless Service Providers (WSPs), Integrated Communication Providers (ICPs), Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs), Resellers, Independent Telephone Companies (ICOs) and Payphone Service Providers (PSPs). About BellSouth Corporation BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications services company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth serves more than 45 million local, long distance, Internet and wireless customers in the United States and 14 other countries. Consistently recognized for customer satisfaction, BellSouth provides a full array of broadband data solutions to large, medium and small businesses. In the residential market, BellSouth offers DSL high-speed Internet access, advanced voice features and other services. BellSouth also offers long distance service throughout its markets, serving both business and residential customers. The company's BellSouth Answers(SM) package combines local and long distance service with an array of calling features; wireless data, voice and e-mail services; and high-speed DSL or dial-up Internet service. BellSouth also provides online and directory advertising services through BellSouth(R) RealPages.com(SM) and The Real Yellow Pages(R). BellSouth owns 40 percent of Cingular Wireless, the nation's second largest wireless company, which provides innovative data and voice services. MEDIA CONTACT: Al Schweitzer BellSouth 404-529-5046 DATASOURCE: BellSouth Corporation CONTACT: Al Schweitzer of BellSouth, +1-404-529-5046, or Web site: http://www.bellsouth.com/ http://www.interconnection.bellsouth.com/

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