"Microsoft Network" customer care outsourcing agreement with MCI; MCI to provide total call center support solution for MSN End Users throughout the Americas.

WASHINGTON, D.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 1995--MCI announced today the signing of a major customer support call center outsourcing agreement with Microsoft Corp. for MSN, The Microsoft Network (MSN), the optional on-line information and Internet access service that is offered to users of the new Windows 95 operating system.

The pact, which spans both North and South America, is MCI's largest call center outsourcing agreement. MCI's Integrated Client Services Division (ICSD) provides integral call center consulting to this contract.

"This agreement with Microsoft is a landmark business win for MCI and a major vote of confidence in our calling center capabilities, outsourcing services and network technology," said Timothy F. Price, president and COO of MCI Telecommunications. "We take great pride in the fact that Microsoft has entrusted MCI with this important role in the product launch of the decade."

"We choose MCI because our companies share a common goal: excellence in customer service," said Toby Suhm, director of MSN Business Operations at Microsoft. "MCI's proven track record in call center operations--for itself and its clients--combined with its technical flexibility, its value and its commitment to serve as the `voice of MSN' placed it at the top of our list."

Under the terms of the agreement, MCI has constructed a dedicated Microsoft Network Call Center, co-located with its won MCI Proof Positive Call Center in Pinellas Park, Fla. In addition to the facilities, MCI will manage the training, performance and motivation of its staff of Microsoft Service Professionals to ensure maximum MSN customer satisfaction.

MSN offers a variety of services that include access to hundreds of special-interest bulletin boards; offerings from over 200 content providers; multimedia reference information; full Internet access including an e-mail account, thousands of newsgroups, and the World Wide Web (Web access where available): as well as up-to-date news and information from the service's news package, MSN News. The Microsoft Network is available in 50 countries and access software is localized into 26 languages.

MCI, headquartered in Washington D.C., has expanded beyond its core long distance business to become one of the world's largest and fastest growing communications companies. MCI offers its customers a range of services including: long distance, local access, wireless, paging, on-line information. Internet access and software, network management and call center outsourcing and systems integration.

CONTACT: MCI Telecom '95 Booth 2.110

MCI News Bureau 1-800-644-NEWS

Mark Petit, 404/668-6012