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Bellsouth Long Distance Reduces International Rates, Offers Options With New Calling Plans

Posted on: Monday, 7 March 2005, 09:00 CST

ATLANTA, March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- BellSouth today introduced new international long distance calling plans offering customers lower rates along with new conveniences. The plans are designed for all callers making international calls, whether it's occasional calling or frequent calling to any of more than 225 countries BellSouth serves.

BellSouth is introducing three new plans, including the BellSouth(R) International Savings plan(1) that gives callers making at least $9.95 per month in international calls the company's lowest rates to any country called with no monthly charge. Rates are as low as 9 cents per minute to Mexico and just 5 cents to Canada.

A wide range of customers can benefit from BellSouth's international plans. Customers can choose from plans costing as little as $1 per month and get rates that are on average 75 percent lower than non-plan rates(2). For customers that call more, plans like the BellSouth(R) International Select Value(SM) plan(3) and the BellSouth International Savings plan provide savings that are even greater.

"BellSouth is the leading telecom provider in the Southeast, and we're focused on being a leader in the international calling market," said Paulino R. Barros, Jr., vice president - BellSouth Product Development and Management. "The new line-up of BellSouth international calling plans provides customers with the best options for their individual needs.

"Many customers have seen their long distance charges increase over the past few months, even from carriers that they may have been with for many years," continued Barros. "BellSouth recognizes that affordable international calling is very important to many of our customers to stay in-touch with family far away. In fact, for many customers, they make their selection of a telecommunications provider for all of their services based on low price international rates and quality of service. We recognize this and want to be their provider of choice.

"In addition to making available some of the best rates for international calling, we're offering customers the trusted quality of service and reliability they expect from BellSouth - including local and long distance all on one bill, 'in-language' support through our dedicated multi-lingual center and no hidden fees that other plans and calling cards may charge."

In 2004, BellSouth international long distance customer calling minutes increased by 46 percent over the previous year.

BellSouth Long Distance plans are part of the company's popular BellSouth Answers(R) bundles, which offer local calling plans, long distance, Internet, Cingular(R) Wireless and DirectTV(R) services. Customers can choose the bundle of services they need, which offer a combined savings of up to $500 a year, depending on the services selected.(4)

To see a complete list of international calling rates, or order BellSouth Long Distance, visit http://www.bellsouthcorp.com/longdistance or call 1-866-208-7364. Spanish-speaking customer service representatives are available at 1-888-494-8087. For BellSouth news and information visit http://www.bellsouthcorp.com/longdistancenews .

About BellSouth Corporation

BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., and a parent company of Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless voice and data provider.

Backed by award winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth Answers(R), residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial-up and high speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular(R) Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers online and directory advertising through BellSouth(R) RealPages.com(R) and The Real Yellow Pages(R).

More information about BellSouth can be found at http://www.bellsouth.com/ .

(1) BellSouth(R) International Savings plan requires a $9.95 minimum

monthly commitment to avoid monthly fees. If in a given month, the

customer's actual international usage is less than the minimum, the

customer is billed a Shortfall Fee, which would be the difference

between the actual usage and $9.95. Terms and restrictions apply.

(2) Comparison of BellSouth(R) International Dollar(SM) Plan rates with

the BellSouth(R) International Basic Rate schedule.

(3) BellSouth(R) International Select Value(SM) plan includes a $5.95

monthly recurring charge. Terms and restrictions apply.

(4) Customers can save up to $500 per year by subscribing to BellSouth(R)

Complete Choice(R) plan, BellSouth(R) Unlimited Long Distance plan,

BellSouth(R) Internet services, Cingular(R) Wireless (350 anytime

minutes; 5,000 night and weekend minutes) and DirecTV(R) service.

Wireless and Internet services are available where facilities permit.

Savings compare Complete Choice plan vs. regional average price for

local service and five most popular features plus additional product

savings. Pricing and savings vary by state.

Taxes, fees and other charges, including Universal Service Fund, apply. A Carrier Cost Recovery Fee of 99 cents applies to all international plans. This charge is not a fee or tax mandated by any government. International wireless termination charges may apply. Long distance services are provided by BellSouth Long Distance, Inc.

BellSouth Corporation

CONTACT: Media, Al Schweitzer of BellSouth, +1-404-829-8741, oral.schweitzer@bellsouth.com

Web site: http://www.bellsouth.com/http://www.bellsouthcorp.com/longdistancehttp://www.bellsouthcorp.com/longdistancenews

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/095650.html

Source: PRNewswire

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