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SBC Communications Announces New Wireless/Wireline Package Options For Businesses

 


Initial Offerings Deliver Enhanced Mobility And Productivity, 20-Percent Savings On BlackBerry® And GSM Nation Plans From Cingular With Qualifying SBC Local Services Package

New Options Advanc

HostReview.com
Tuesday, June 29, 2004; 12:00 AM

San Antonio, Texas, June 29, 2004 - To address the growing demand for workplace mobility and enhanced productivity, SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) today announced the rollout of new package offerings designed to make wireless and wireline service combinations more effective and affordable.

The new wireless/wireline service packages are a key step in an ongoing SBC initiative to enable businesses to access corporate applications virtually anywhere, anytime, and on any device, using the mobility of wireless to extend the reach of corporate networks and improve employee productivity in the office and on the road.

The initiative will also help SBC companies gain customers and generate new revenue opportunities. Enterprises are expected to spend about $46 billion in wireless services this year (including wireless voice and data services), according to In-Stat/MDR, and the need for mobility and wireless services is expected to continue to grow during the next several years.

Offerings will include SBC services, as well as wireless services from Cingular Wireless, which is 60-percent owned by SBC companies. The initial package offerings, available beginning today, include BlackBerry® -- developed by Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) — service plans from Cingular, SBC local voice service and Cingular GSM Nation plans. Business customers purchasing these options through an SBC sales channel, and with an SBC Connections voice package, will receive savings of up to 20 percent off the recurring monthly charge for new qualifying BlackBerry and GSM Nation plans from Cingular. SBC Connections voice packages include unlimited local and long distance calling plans for small businesses at extremely competitive rates. The unlimited calling plans are for businesses with up to 10 lines.

Later this year, SBC companies look to further expand wireless/wireline service package options to include Cingular DataConnect, SBC PremierSERV Network-Based VPN (virtual private network) service, and SBC FreedomLink Wi-Fi service.

"Businesses today want the reliability of traditional voice and data services in the office, along with the mobility and flexibility that wireless services afford their employees," said Ray Wilkins, president, SBC Marketing and Sales. "We are combining SBC wireline and Cingular wireless services to provide our customers with compelling bundles and integrated services that can help businesses increase productivity, as well as their competitiveness in the marketplace."

BlackBerry/Wireless Voice from Cingular and SBC Local Voice Bundle

Targeted for both small and medium-sized businesses, and available through the SBC business channel, the initial integrated wireless/wireline bundle includes:

  • BlackBerry plans from Cingular. Cingular offers BlackBerry plans to provide customers with a complete integrated phone and e-mail experience. BlackBerry from Cingular integrates with existing corporate and Internet e-mail accounts (up to 10 personal e-mail accounts), offers Internet accessibility and enables users to open and view e-mail attachments. The BlackBerry plans from Cingular require purchase of either the BlackBerry 6280TM or BlackBerry 7280TM.
  • Cingular GSM Nation plans. Plans include monthly Anytime minutes (various packages), Cingular's unique and innovative Rollover voice minutes, roaming, long distance, Night and Weekend minutes, call forwarding, three-way calling, unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes, basic voicemail and caller ID.
  • SBC Connections voice plans. SBC companies offer a complete portfolio of SBC Connections voice plans, including unlimited local and long distance calling plans for small businesses at extremely competitive rates. The unlimited calling plans are for businesses with up to 10 lines.

With a qualifying SBC Connections local voice package, businesses can receive a 20-percent monthly savings off the recurring monthly charges for new qualifying BlackBerry plans and new GSM Nation service from Cingular, with the discounted plans starting at $69.59 for unlimited data usage and 550 Anytime voice minutes (or $57.59 for a plan with up to 3MB of data/month). (Other monthly charges apply, see below**.) The 20-percent savings is also available when a new qualifying BlackBerry plan is bundled solely with a qualifying SBC local voice package, at a discounted price of $39.99 a month for an unlimited BlackBerry plan (or $27.99 for up to 3MB of data/month). (Other monthly charges apply, see below**.) Additional plans and offerings are available. As part of the SBC Connections portfolio of service packages, small businesses can also take advantage of competitive rates on SBC Yahoo! DSL Business Edition and Web Hosting, SBC Long Distance, SBC PremierSERV Dedicated Internet Access, and other services.

The Value of Integration

The new bundles compliment an ongoing SBC effort to deliver advanced, integrated service offers for business customers that streamline communications by removing the distinction between wireless and wireline services, networks and devices.

For instance, the SBC IP (Internet protocol) portfolio includes a powerful, flexible range of voice and data networking services for businesses. SBC IP services allow organizations to integrate voice and data applications onto a single platform, resulting in cost efficiencies and powerful tools that can increase employee productivity. Additionally, SBC companies offer hosted VoIP (Voice-over-IP) and VPN offerings that deliver the benefits of IP-based services without significant up-front equipment costs.

SBC companies plan to soon offer additional integrated services that utilize its world-class voice network and the Cingular wireless network.

"SBC companies are seeking to create a new category of integrated products and services that deliver greater value, simplicity and productivity for customers," said Wilkins. "The end game is to provide businesses with seamless access to voice and data applications anytime, anywhere, whether an employee is at headquarters, a remote site, using Wi-Fi at an airport, checking e-mail on a BlackBerry handheld, or at home using DSL service," said Wilkins.

For additional information on the new bundles, please contact SBC companies: California and Nevada - 1-800-750-2355; Southwest and Midwest - 1-800-660-3000; Connecticut - 1-877-706-3375.

SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) is a Fortune 50 company whose subsidiaries, operating under the SBC brand, provide a full range of voice, data, networking, e-business, directory publishing and advertising, and related services to businesses, consumers and other telecommunications providers. SBC holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which serves more than 24 million wireless customers. SBC companies provide high-speed DSL Internet access lines to more American consumers than any other provider and are among the nation's leading providers of Internet services. SBC companies also now offer satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC products and services is available at www.sbc.com.

Additional terms and conditions apply. Visit sbc.com or call (California and Nevada - 1-800-750-2355; Southwest and Midwest - 1-800-660-3000; East - 1-877-706-3375) for additional information.

Cingular. **Cingular also imposes the following charges: a Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee of up to $1.25 to help defray its costs incurred in complying with obligations and charges imposed by State and Federal telecom regulation, a gross receipts surcharge, and State and Federal Universal Service charges. The Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee is not a tax or a government required charge. Limited time offer. Other conditions and restrictions apply. See contract and rate plan brochure for details. Credit approval and new service commitment on eligible Cingular calling plan required. Offer cannot be combined with any other special Cingular offers. Up to $36 activation fee applies. Phone Return Policy/Early Termination Fee: no early termination fee if service canceled within 15 days of purchase; $150 thereafter. Billing: Airtime and other measured usage are rounded up to the next full minute at the end of each call for billing purposes. Non-Rollover plans: Unused minutes are forfeited. Cingular Nation/Preferred Network: Cingular reserves the right to terminate your service if less than 50% of your usage over three consecutive billing cycles is on Cingular-owned systems. Customer must (1) use phone programmed with Cingular Wireless' preferred roaming database; (2) have a mailing address and live in the area in which subscription is made. Rollover Minutes: Unused anytime minutes expire after twelve months. Minutes will not roll over until after the first month's billing. Night and Weekend and Mobile to Mobile Minutes do not roll over.

SBC long distance services provided by SBC Long Distance. PremierSERV portfolio requires term commitment, possible early termination charges, installation charges and other associated requirements. May not be available to all customers in all areas.

SBC Yahoo! DSL is an information service that combines DSL transport, Internet access and applications from SBC Internet Services, with customized content, services, and applications from Yahoo! Inc.

Cingular is a registered trademark of Cingular Wireless LLC. The BlackBerry is a registereand RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademark s of Research In Motion Limited. Yahoo! logos are the trademarks of Yahoo! Inc.

SBC, SBC logos, PREMIERSERV, and FREEDOMLINK are trademarks of SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. © 2004 SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P. All rights reserved.


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