AirTouch Cellular introduces Prepaid Cellular Service; Pay as you go service doesn't require credit check or monthly contract.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 1, 1997--AirTouch Cellular today launched Prepaid Cellular Service, a pay as you go option that allows customers who have been denied cellular service due to past credit, customers who want a defined monthly spending limit or customers who simply want seasonal or temporary service to have access to cellular for the first time.

"Even though AirTouch Cellular has enjoyed record growth the last several years, we still turned away 30 percent of potential customers because of their credit history, their need for temporary service, or their desire to control cellular costs," said Bill Bettencourt, vice president and area general manager for AirTouch Cellular in Washington.

"AirTouch's Prepaid Cellular service doesn't require a credit check and there's no annual contract. Customers can establish service for a day, a month or a year. By pre-purchasing a fixed amount of service parents finally can provide the safety and security of cellular to their children without worrying about out-of-control bills," Bettencourt said.

To take advantage of Prepaid Cellular service, customers with their own cellular phones simply purchase a $30 AirTouch Prepaid Cellular calling card which is good for up to 30 days. To establish a Prepaid account, customers pay a one-time fee of $40 and must activate each card before use. Cards can be purchased from local AirTouch Cellular retail partners in the greater Puget Sound area including Car Toys, Cellular Networks, Consolidated Communications, Mobile Music Unlimited, North Pacific Supply, Tall's Camera, Smart Wireless and Sound Advice.

Prepaid cellular customers can receive up to 35 minutes of local airtime before needing to add minutes to the card or activate a new card. Airtime rates vary for local, long distance and roaming calls. Local rates apply to calls placed within the home zone area. The home zone area covers most of Western Washington, including Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, Olympia, Bremerton, Everett and Bellingham. Additional long distance and roaming rates will apply.

An automated greeting notifies customers of the minutes remaining on their prepaid accounts prior to connecting calls. In addition, customers can check the status of their prepaid accounts by staying on the line for 10-15 seconds after a call has ended and a voice response unit updates them on the dollar amount of their account balance. In addition, a recording alerts customers when they are approaching their monthly spending limit. Once the prepaid balance has been used, customers have up to 30 days to activate a new card.

"Prepaid Cellular is another example of AirTouch's continuing effort to offer customers easy to use services that simplify their lives and help them stay in touch," Bettencourt said.

AirTouch Cellular is the brand name for U S WEST NewVector Group Inc. Based in Bellevue, Wash., NewVector has cellular operations in 12 Midwestern, Western and Southwestern states and serves more than 2 million customers. The company is part of the U S WEST Media Group (NYSE:UMG), which is involved in domestic and international cable and wireless networks, directory publishing and interactive multimedia services.

CONTACT: AirTouch Cellular

Lisa Bowersock, 425/603-7427