AT&T Announces New Contract with Genesis Financial Solutions; Financial Services Specialist Taps AT&T for Business Network Services.

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) today announced a new contract to provide integrated network and voice services to Genesis Financial Solutions, a diversified financial services company with headquarters in Oregon.

Under the terms of the two-year contract, AT&T will deliver AT&T Business Network (ABN) integrated services, and a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network solution, customized for disaster recovery and data security.

Targeted toward midsize business customers, AT&T's ABN solution bundles data, Internet, local, long distance and international voice services in a discounted package. ABN customers can make service changes and monitor network performance online.

MPLS enables creation of an IP virtual private network, thus assuring the privacy and integrity of data as it travels across the network. Unique network ID labels are added to Genesis' data packets as they enter the IP network and are removed as the data packets reach their destination -- where Genesis routers read the data.

The disaster recovery feature of the solution enables AT&T to recover data and voice service network elements for customers in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. Using automated tools such as Real Time Network Routing (RTNR) and FASTAR(R) (fast automatic restoration), AT&T's disaster recovery experts can route telecommunications traffic around an affected area, provide communications access to the affected area and ensure rapid recovery of communications service through restoration and repair.

This solution not only provides increased network reliability and security, but aligns with AT&T's customer-focused convergence strategy, enabling Genesis Financial to seamlessly integrate future applications and communications services.

"We are excited about the flexibility offered by MPLS. It will allow us to quickly create connectivity with our external partners. When we add partners, office locations or disaster recovery sites in the future, it will be much easier to integrate them with our existing network," said Jim Snell, vice president of IT, Genesis Financial Solutions.

About Genesis Financial Solutions

Genesis Financial Solutions, of Beaverton, Ore., is a privately held diversified consumer financial services company that originates credit card accounts and consumer loans across the credit spectrum. Genesis also acquires performing and nonperforming consumer debt portfolios. Genesis' growth is realized through establishing partnerships with retailers, service providers and other lenders, as well as through direct marketing to consumers. Senior management has extensive consumer lending and banking experience, and bases decisions on sophisticated analytical systems and models. Learn more about the company by visiting the Web site at www.genesis-fs.com.

About the New AT&T

AT&T Inc. is one of the world's largest telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high-speed DSL Internet, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with more than 54 million wireless customers. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at www.TheNewATT.com.

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For more information and detailed disclaimer information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at www.sbc.com/newsroom.