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Cingular Provides Chicagoans With Hands-Free Devices to Help Comply With Cell Phone Law

Posted on: Thursday, 7 July 2005, 09:00 CDT

CHICAGO, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular, Chicago's Handsfree Headquarters, announces today that it is discounting its most popular hands- free devices to help Chicagoans comply with the city's new cell phone law. Beginning on July 8, the city ordinance prohibits motorists from using cell phones without a hands-free device.

Cingular offers Chicagoans a wide selection of phones to suit every style and need. For the busy executive, Cingular offers the Blackberry 7100g all-in- one data device. Or for the younger consumer, Cingular offers popular camera phones like the Motorola v551 and the Motorola RAZR. By pairing these phones with hands-free headsets, compliance is one easy step away.

Since Alderman Natarus' ordinance was passed, Cingular has seen a dramatic increase in store traffic for its hands-free accessories, particularly for Bluetooth-enabled handsets and headsets. Bluetooth technology -- found in many Palm PDAs, Pocket PCs and about 10% of all cell phones -- wirelessly connects a Bluetooth-enabled phone with a similarly enabled headset. Bluetooth earpieces eliminate the need for wires between phone and earpiece and work as long as you are within 25 feet or so of the phone

"Our Bluetooth products have seen the biggest sales increase among our hands-free devices," said Terry Stenzel, Vice President and General Manager of the Illinois and Wisconsin Market. "People have always liked the convenience of having their hands free, and Bluetooth technology provides a secure, easy way to do that."

Cingular is offering a $20 mail-in rebate on its best-selling Bluetooth- enabled accessories in its Illinois and Wisconsin stores, including the Motorola Bluetooth Headset and the Motorola Bluetooth Car Kit, a speaker that clips to a car's sun visor for extra convenience.

For commuters who want to enhance their phones during their drive, Cingular offers a Motorola SmartDrive Portable Car Kit that acts as a portable speakerphone and an in-car charger. Cingular also offers convenient accessory bundles that include a vehicle power charger and earbud to make it even easier for customers to go handsfree.

Be Sensible

Cingular developed its "Be Sensible" campaign to educate the public about the safe and courteous use of wireless devices. A primary component of that campaign is promoting driver safety.

Cingular offers experienced drivers the following tips: -- Make driving safely your first priority. If making or receiving a call will be distracting in any way, you should wait until your trip is completed to use your cell phone. -- Dial sensibly and keep your eyes on the road. Or, place your call before pulling into traffic. -- Don't take notes, look up phone numbers or text message while driving. -- Suspend conversations during hazardous driving situations. -- Don't engage in stressful or emotional conversations that may distract you from driving safely.

For more information on Cingular's hands-free products, visit our web site at http://www.cingular.com/ .

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 50.4 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corporation , has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVER(SM) network -- and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(R) Minutes, 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 e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://www.cingular.com/newsroom .

Cingular Wireless

CONTACT: Meg Frainey of Cingular Wireless, +1-469-229-7787, or+1-214-497-6072 (Mobile), meg.frainey@cingular.com , or Mike Cummins of DomeHK, +1-312-836-2917, mikec@domehk.com

Web site: http://www.cingular.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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