BLS Bellsouth Cp

Cingular Wireless Launches New Service in Cookeville, TN Leading carrier gives residents and businesses new option in time for wireless local number portability May 24, 2004 COOKEVILLE, Tenn., May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless today announced that Cookeville's wireless users looking to port their number to another carrier will have an additional option come May 24 when Cingular launches its advanced GSM network in Cookeville. Cingular's expansion into the Cookeville market will help meet the wireless needs of this growing Tennessee community. The expanded network will bring the total square miles covered in Tennessee to 42,140 while giving residents and business in the area access to industry-leading voice and data applications from Cingular. Customers will now have access to the latest popular features such as multi-media messaging (MMS), AOL instant messaging, downloadable music, high-speed data connectivity, wireless email and stellar sound quality. "Cingular's new service in Cookeville is part of our continued network investment throughout Tennessee which will deliver the best performance, most comprehensive coverage, largest variety of cool phones and most advanced wireless services," said Jim Thorpe, vice president and general manager of Cingular Wireless Tennessee/Kentucky. "We can now offer the residents of Cookeville the latest in wireless features plus Rollover(SM) - a Cingular exclusive that let's you keep your unused anytime minutes." Earlier this year, Cingular announced plans to invest more than $100 million dollars to enhance its Tennessee/Kentucky network, adding cell sites, switches and new markets to enhance service and expand GSM coverage throughout the region. The expansion into Cookeville not only makes Cingular's reliable GSM network available for local residents, it also enhances services for existing customers who travel between Nashville and Knoxville. "Consumers have become more and more dependent on wireless service for all aspects of their lives, both business and personal," said Thorpe. "Clearer, higher-quality calls, faster data speeds, and comprehensive customer service are essential in meeting consumers' wireless needs today - and that's what we are focused on delivering." To compliment the network enhancements and expansion, Cingular is also rolling out an assortment of compelling new nationwide GSM rate plans with no roaming or long-distance charges, increased minutes and free Mobile-to-Mobile calling nationwide. To celebrate the Cookeville launch, Cingular will offer the first 1,000 customers to activate service in Cookeville a free Nokia 3595 phone with color screen. In addition, customers can choose from 19 GSM phones that come in an assortment of colors, shapes and sizes to complement Cingular's innovative plans and services. GSM phones incorporate everyday conveniences, such as built-in cameras, radios and MP3 players. They also contain SmartChip technology, that lets customers transfer personal profiles and calling information from phone to phone, so there's no need to reprogram phone lists when changing GSM phones. Customers simply take the card out of one Cingular GSM phone and slide it into another Cingular GSM phone. Cingular's Cookeville retail store is located at 512 South Willow Avenue and opens Monday, May 24 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, refreshments and giveaways for visitors. Karen Moody, a Cookeville native, will serve as store manager and can be reached at 931-520-8560. In addition to serving the community through enhanced wireless voice and data products, Cingular will make a donation in the amount of $2,500 to the Cookeville Genesis House, an organization that offers support and protection for victims of domestic violence. For more information on Cingular Wireless please visit http://www.cingular.com/ . To learn about number portability or to switch to Cingular visit http://www.cingular.com/customer_service/LNP or call 1-888-880-6914. ABOUT CINGULAR WIRELESS Cingular Wireless, a joint venture between SBC Communications (NYSE:SBC) and BellSouth (NYSE:BLS), serves more than 25 million voice and data customers across the United States. A leader in mobile voice and data communications, Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Cingular has launched the world's first commercial deployment of wireless services using Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology. Cingular provides cellular/PCS service in 43 of the top 50 markets nationwide, and provides corporate e-mail and other advanced data services through its GPRS, EDGE and Mobitex packet data networks. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/ . DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless CONTACT: Calie Shackleford of Cingular Wireless, +1-615-221-3690, or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://www.cingular.com/customer_service/LNP

Copyright