AT&T takes the noise out of international calls.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 3, 1995--AT&T today announced a breakthrough in speech technology that virtually eliminates noise on direct-dial international long distance calls, making the voices of those called sound clearer and closer. The exclusive AT&T development using patented AT&T Bell Laboratories' technology is comparable to that used to transform scratchy old recordings into ones of CD-sound quality with virtually none of the original noise but all the vibrant music.

Offered only by AT&T, the service, called AT&T TrueVoicer Plus, will be available in September on international, direct-dial calls to Mexico from the homes of customers who subscribe to the new service. AT&T will make the service available for other international call destinations in 1996.

AT&T customers can benefit from AT&T TrueVoice Plus to reduce noise during an international call. AT&T TrueVoice Plus represents the most advanced use of digital signal processing technology ever employed in the switched network. It is the result of dozens of patented or proprietary Bell Laboratories innovations, including a new speech processing algorithm, and the combined efforts of researchers in such disciplines as digital signal processing, control software, hardware design, and network and signaling technology.

When noise is detected, AT&T TrueVoice Plus puts computing power equivalent to as many as seven of today's advanced personal computers to work reducing the noise on each international voice call. The built-in intelligence learns about the characteristics of the noise and speech and, in the blink of an eye, the AT&T speech processing algorithm instructs its "smart" filter to remove the noise.

"Today, thanks to the technological innovation of AT&T Bell Laboratories, AT&T is the only long-distance company to offer customers sound quality which is virtually free of static and interference on their international calls," said Shaun Gilmore, AT&T's vice president, global markets and services. "AT&T TrueVoice Plus reduces distracting noise on telephone calls to make those special people in our customers' lives sound clearer and closer no matter how far away they may be. In fact, four out of five people who call Mexico and have tried AT&T TrueVoice Plus prefer its sound clarity to that of MCI and Sprint."

The $3 monthly fee for AT&T TrueVoice Plus will be waived for AT&T customers who subscribe to the service and who make at least one international call every three months.

AT&T TrueVoice Plus will be available pending Federal Communications Commission tariff effectiveness.

"AT&T was the first U.S. long distance company to offer service to every country in the world," said Gilmore. "We want to continue our tradition of `firsts' with innovations that make anytime, anywhere communications natural and easy."

AT&T TrueVoice Plus service is part of AT&T's "world without limits" strategy. Last year, AT&T fully deployed AT&T TrueVoice service, a patented enhancement that dramatically improves the sound quality of long-distance calls. Earlier this year, AT&T also introduced AT&T International RedialSM service, which automatically redials incomplete calls to any of 66 countries. AT&T International Redial service is available in 32 languages.

AT&T is the world's leading telecommunications company, with operations in more than 200 countries. AT&T Bell Laboratories has been awarded more than 25,000 patents -- an average of one per day since its founding.

Consumers interested in subscribing to AT&T TrueVoice Plus should call 1-800-333-6360 to hear a free demonstration and to speak to a customer service representative in English. Those who prefer may call 1-800-828-1234 to speak to a Spanish-speaking representative.

CONTACT: AT&T

Dick Gundlach, 201/564-3263 (NJ office)

718/533-9020 (NYC office)

or

John Skalko, 908/221-8413 (office)

201/729-8202 (home)