America Online and Cingular Wireless Announce Launch of Text-Based Instant Messaging Service.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

DULLES, Va. & ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 2003

New Mobile Messaging and IM Forwarding Features Provide Additional Communication Options for Cingular Subscribers

AOL(R) Instant Messenger(TM) (AIM(R)) Service to be Fully Integrated Into Cingular Wireless Phones By End of Year

America Online, Inc., the world's leading interactive services company, and Cingular Wireless, the second largest wireless carrier in the nation, today announced the launch of a new text messaging service across the Cingular Wireless network. The availability of the AOL(R) Instant Messenger(TM) (AIM(R)) service on Cingular Wireless phones marks the first time Cingular customers will be able to use their phones to instant message with AOL(R) members and AIM users.

Available now across all Cingular text messaging enabled phones, the new "IM-to-Mobile" service allows AOL members and registered users of the AIM service to send instant messages to and receive instant messages from Cingular Wireless phones simply by sending an instant message to the phone number of the person they wish to reach. In addition, AOL members and AIM users who subscribe to Cingular Wireless can forward incoming instant messages to their mobile phones while away from their computers, ensuring that their important instant messages can follow them while on they are on the go.

Additionally, both companies are fully integrating the AIM service into the Cingular Wireless network. Before the end of the year, Cingular users will have access to phone-embedded versions of the popular AIM service, giving them the ability to view their AOL Buddy List(R) feature as well as send and receive instant messages directly from their Cingular phones.

"It is no surprise that wireless voice communications and instant messaging are vital tools for staying connected," said Steven McArthur, Executive Vice President for AOL Messaging. "We are thrilled to be working with Cingular to provide their customers with access to AOL's active instant messaging community, while at the same time providing AOL audiences with yet another way to remain in touch with the people important to them."

"With its ease of use and ability to support multiple real-time conversations at the same time, the growth of instant messaging on handsets has been phenomenal, "said Andy Wilson, Vice President Marketing, Cingular Wireless. "We are excited to be working with American Online to give our subscribers the ability to communicate directly with millions of people using AOL and AIM, providing them yet another way to remain constantly connected. This relationship is a natural fit among both companies, leveraging the huge communities we both offer."

Instant messaging applications within AOL and AIM are used by millions of consumers every day to communicate in real-time with friends, family and colleagues. Instant messaging has become an online phenomenon, and now, by allowing AIM messages to be sent directly to and from Cingular's customers' text messaging enabled phones, America Online and Cingular Wireless are making it even easier for those on the go to keep in touch while away from their computers.

With the "IM-to-Mobile" service on Cingular Wireless, AOL members and AIM users only have to enter the Cingular phone number of the buddy they are looking to reach. The instant message is sent directly to the Cingular customer's text messaging enabled phone, where the recipient can easily respond, even if he doesn't have an AOL or AIM account.

With the new set of features, an AOL member or AIM user can register the number of his wireless phone to have his instant messages automatically forwarded to his Cingular phone when offline, away or idle and he can even respond to incoming messages via text messaging. "IM-to-Mobile" and "IM Forwarding" functionality is available in AOL 8.0+, the new AOL 9.0 Optimized, as well as in the current version of AIM (5.2). Any Cingular phone or PDA with text messaging capabilities can utilize the new service. Use of wireless services may require specific wireless service plans or additional fees.

With the future launch of Mobile Instant Messaging, Cingular has partnered with Openwave to enable open-standards-based instant messaging, using Openwave's Wireless-Village Instant Messaging and Presence Server.

Cingular offers a variety of text messaging packages allowing you to pick the one that Fits You Best. For more information regarding Cingular's Text Messaging package plans visit and order online at www.cingular.com/textnow.

About America Online, Inc.

America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL Time Warner, Inc. Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless, a joint venture between SBC Communications (NYSE - SBC) and BellSouth (NYSE - BLS), serves more than 23 million voice and data customers across the United States. A leader in mobile voice and data communications, Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover, the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Cingular has launched the world's first commercial deployment of wireless services using Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) technology. Cingular provides cellular/PCS service in 43 of the top 50 markets nationwide, and provides corporate e-mail and other advanced data services through its GPRS, EDGE and Mobitex packet data networks. Details of the company are available at www.cingular.com.