`Beauty and the Bell'; Former Miss Universe Promotes Bell Atlantic's Call Management Services to Hispanics.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 25, 1999--Bell Atlantic has teamed up with the beautiful Latin celebrity Barbara Palacios in its new "Tips de Barbara" ad campaign for Hispanic households, illustrating the benefits of Caller ID and other call management features.

The campaign and the services address the importance of uninterrupted quality time at home as well as the opportunity for customers to choose when to take the calls that are most important to them, even while on the phone or engaged in other activities.

Crowned Miss Universe in 1986, Palacios has been conquering the hearts of the Latin community for more than a decade as an international media celebrity. Gracious and charismatic, she embodies the modern Hispanic woman, having mastered the demanding roles of mother, wife and career woman.

As spokesperson for Bell Atlantic since 1995, Palacios shares the benefits of the latest telecommunications services to Hispanics throughout the New York tri-state area, explaining the technology that can make their lives easier to manage. Bell Atlantic's call management features help customers spend more free time with their families and less time trying to organize the increasing amounts of information coming to their homes.

The "Tips de Barbara" campaign, spearheaded by the nationally known Hispanic advertising agency La Agencia de Orci & Asociados, will utilize a multimedia approach consisting of television, radio and direct mail to highlight the call management features like Caller ID, Call Waiting and Home Voice Mail.

Additionally, Bell Atlantic is providing Hispanic households with money-saving offers on all of its call management features:

--   Value Pack/Big Deal: This introductory offer gives customers
     access to more than 10 popular calling features, including Caller
     ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, (star symbol) 69, Three-Way
     Calling, Voice Dialing and Call Block, for less than $20 a month.
     In addition to the savings the package represents, the first
     month is free. Customers also receive a free Call Waiting ID
     display unit, discounts toward local phone service, or a price
     break on a special phone that lets one use all the services in
     the package.

--   Call Manager: Customers ordering this combination of Caller ID,
     Home Voice Mail and Call Waiting for the first time receive a
     free Call Waiting ID display unit or discounts toward local phone
     service with the purchase of any two of the three products. Most
     setup charges also are waived.

--   Caller ID: Customers who haven't had Bell Atlantic's Caller ID
     before receive a free display unit or a discount on an upgraded
     Call Waiting ID box. Customers who order Caller ID and one
     additional service will receive a free Call Waiting ID box or
     discounts toward local phone service. Setup charges are waived.

--   Additional Lines: Bell Atlantic is offering a $20 savings on
     connection charges through April 3.

--   Home Voice Mail: First-time subscribers pay no monthly fee for
     the first month of service. Some setup charges are waived.

--   Call Waiting: Existing Caller ID customers can receive a $10
     rebate on their local phone bills if they order now.

"Hispanic customers have consistently told us that their lives are busier than ever," said Carlos Santiago, Bell Atlantic vice president for Ethnic & Premium Markets. "With so many activities to juggle, it's the communication that helps to keep their lives in order.

"Bell Atlantic products and services help the members of these busy households stay in touch and manage their communications more efficiently. And there's no better time than now to take advantage of the savings."

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information industry. With 42 million telephone access lines and 8 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory information.

Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.

La Agencia de Orci & Asociados has operated independently since 1986 and represents clients such as Allstate Insurance, American Honda, California Commerce Bank, The Economic Development Council of Sonora (Mexico), Hormel Foods, Shell Oil Co., UC Lending and Washington Mutual Bank. Based in Los Angeles, La Agencia is a founding member of The Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA).