Authentix Network, The Nation's Leader in Roamer Fraud Protection, Announces Contracts with Five Wireless Carriers for its Roamer Verification and Reinstatement (RVR).

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 1998--

Authentix distributor, Illuminet, signs new carriers allowing

them to deliver the promise of cellular: anytime, anywhere communications while decreasing roaming fraud losses by 95 percent.

Authentix(R) Network Inc., a leading provider of enhanced roaming solutions for wireless service providers, is providing Roamer Verification and Reinstatement services to five new wireless carrier customers from across the country. Allegan Cellular L.P., Cellular Plus, Cellular XL Associates L.P, Illinois Valley Cellular and Union Cellular have contracted with Authentix to provide their markets with Authentix Network Inc.'s Roamer Verification and Reinstatement (RVR) services. Illuminet, Authentix' SS7 partner and its authorized distributor and agent for the Authentix RVR solution was responsible for implementing these new contracts.

The five new Authentix RVR customers represent over 850,000 POPs covering markets in the mid-west, mountain states and southern state regions of the United States in both A and B bands. Authentix will deploy its RVR solution to ensure that these carriers' subscribers can enjoy the promise of cellular: anytime, anywhere communications.

"Authentix provides wireless carriers solutions that restore and enhance nationwide and international roaming by eliminating roaming fraud through the pre-call verification of subscribers," says William W. Erdman, President & CEO of Authentix Network Inc. "With the protection provided by Authentix RVR service these carriers will not have to resort to "brown-outs" to protect themselves against the financial liability of roamer cloning expenses."

"Authentix RVR service is the perfect solution for a carrier looking to head off roaming fraud and protect its customers away from home," says Ray Beck of Cellular Plus. "The service can be quickly and easily deployed, and gives us the flexibility to proactively customize the verification of customers based on our travel patterns. We view RVR as a customer service tool as much as a fraud prevention tool. With RVR we no longer need to resort to brown-outs and the negative impact that results from denying our customers roaming privileges in markets in which they desire service. Since incorporating the Authentix RVR solution, we've seen our roaming fraud losses decrease by 95 percent."

"Roaming fraud makes victims of all carriers - not just carriers operating in the major markets," says Rick Jorgenson, of Cellular XL Associates L.P. "We're a customer service oriented company willing to take the steps today to protect our customers from what we see as a growing trend in rural service areas - roamer fraud. We chose Authentix RVR because it will protect our subscribers from roaming fraud."

Illuminet provides advanced signaling network technology and enhanced applications, including local number portability, wireless fraud management, SS7 network usage measurement and billing services to more than 1,000 local, interexchange and wireless telecommunications providers throughout North America and in parts of Asia.

Authentix Network Inc., formed in 1995, is a provider of worldwide, enhanced roaming services and fraud solutions to the wireless industry. A cited pioneer in Roamer Verification and Reinstatement (RVR) technology, Authentix develops solutions that eliminate roaming fraud, enhance the roaming process and deliver anytime, anywhere communications.

CONTACT: Authentix

Richard B. Cahill

520-320-4167