AirTouch Cellular Launches Mobile Web; Washington and Oregon Markets First In Expanded Roll-out.

Business Editors

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2000

AirTouch Cellular today introduced its first phone-based wireless Internet service, Mobile Web, in digital markets throughout Washington, Oregon, Ohio and Michigan, ahead of an expanded launch planned for second quarter.

AirTouch's Mobile Web, which includes information and services provided by local powerhouses Microsoft and Amazon.com, offers AirTouch digital customers in western Washington access to Internet content, e-mail, e-commerce, mobile-originated messaging and address book and calendar functions through mobile Internet-ready phones.

Now the wireless phone truly becomes a communications hub by providing access to both voice and data communication. It will bring a new level of freedom from the traditional desktop computer, with customers able to get news, sports scores, stock quotes, travel information, movie schedules and more by simply pressing a few buttons on their phone. Users can customize their preferences from the phone or a PC at http://my.airtouch.net.

AirTouch's Mobile Web is bundled with digital wireless voice service and is totally unique from other wireless Web services in several ways:

-- There is no need for customers to call or visit a store to sign-up for Mobile Web. All digital phones with minibrowsers have access to the Mobile Web service. Additionally, there is no activation fee.

-- There is no incremental monthly access fee for Mobile Web. Voice and Internet minutes are billed at the same low rate.

-- All AirTouch customers have a free, personal home page which includes e-mail at http://my.airtouch.net The home page can be used to personalize the service from a phone, desktop or laptop PC.

-- Mobile Web customers can send short text messages from the phone to other AirTouch customer phones or digital pagers.

"In today's fast-paced environment, Mobile Web gives consumers the ability to remain connected by getting a wealth of Internet information on their wireless phones," said Brian Shay, executive vice president of AirTouch's Western Region. "All indications are that Mobile Web with its wireless Internet access is just scratching the surface of what's ahead in wireless."

Mobile Web works with new Mobile Internet ready digital phones, including the Samsung 850, Qualcomm 860 and Neopoint 1600 (available in late spring). Other phones will be available shortly from Motorola and Audiovox.

AirTouch's Mobile Web includes access to Hotmail, Expedia, Money Central and other high-quality content through Microsoft's MSN Mobile Service. Mobile Web also features Amazon.com for 1-click purchasing from the mobile phone.

"AirTouch's Mobile Web has the winning combination of features: simple pricing with Internet minutes priced the same as voice, easy set-up, great content, and the ability to customize the service from a phone or PC. Further, AirTouch has demonstrated a greater concern for customer privacy by not passing the customer's phone number to web sites," said Andrew M. Seybold, editor-in-chief of Andrew Seybold's Outlook.

This new service is the second Mobile Internet offering from AirTouch Cellular. The first, Net Access, provides a wireless, digital connection to the Internet or a business network through a laptop computer or PDA.

AirTouch serves nearly 10 million U.S. cellular and PCS  customers on a proportionate basis. Its ventures operate in 25 states and 22 of the top 30 U.S. markets, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle. AirTouch is part of Vodafone AirTouch Plc, the world's largest wireless communications firm, based in the United Kingdom. It has mobile operations in 24 countries on five continents, with more than 35.5 million proportionate cellular customers. For more information, visit the AirTouch web site at www.airtouch.com. For more information about Mobile Web, go to www.airtouch.com/mobileinternet.