BellSouth Enables Burger King Corporation to `Have It Their Way' with Customized Communications Network at New Miami World Headquarters.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2002

Burger King Corporation Focuses on Innovative

Technology for Employees at its New Home

BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) today announced that it is providing the robust communications infrastructure for Burger King Corporation's new World Headquarters buildings in Miami.

Burger King Corporation, founded in Miami in 1954, recently moved from its former headquarters location to the new facilities, and used the transition period to modify its communications capabilities simultaneously.

BellSouth's communications solution at Burger King Corporation's new World Headquarters includes an integrated, multi-purpose network system, which enables data, voice and video to travel over one network. The technology will enhance Burger King Corporation's ability to communicate effectively with all franchisee partners, its restaurants around the world and key suppliers. The system also equips the company's call centers with automatic call distribution capabilities, maximizing the efficiency of handling incoming calls and provides employees wireless access to the corporate data network, removing limitations of hard-wire connections.

"BellSouth believes that understanding its customers business needs is the key to providing world class solutions," said Fred Shaftman, president of BellSouth Business. "By combining BellSouth's network, equipment and broadband services, Burger King Corporation will enable enhanced productivity for its entire headquarters operations, from human resources and internal communications to sales and marketing."

Burger King Corporation's complete communications infrastructure features advanced products and services including:

-- Cisco AVVID equipment - Through BellSouth's strategic alliance with Cisco, the company provides ongoing maintenance and support of next generation equipment, enabling integrated routing of voice, video and data over a single, open standards-based IP (Internet Protocol) network.

-- SMARTRing(R) Service - BellSouth's high capacity fiber transport is backed by industry-leading Service Level Agreements and provides redundant switching in less than one second in the event of a disaster, ensuring business continuity for Burger King Corporation's voice and data traffic.

-- BellSouth(R) FastAccess(R) - BellSouth's premier DSL broadband service gives efficient, high-speed Internet access to headquarters staff.


-- Virtual personal assistant - Allows Burger King Corporation executives, using a Web interface, to send voice calls to specific numbers based on personal schedules and caller ID, ensuring critical messages are received immediately.

-- Speech recognition - This innovative service gives executives freedom to verbally dial numbers from personal and corporate directories and establish conference calls while still performing other job functions, providing crucial time savings.

In addition to providing a customized solution that meets the business needs of Burger King Corporation's headquarters staff, BellSouth is offering the company the ability to realize tremendous savings by utilizing cost effective technology.

"As a result of BellSouth's integrated solution for the headquarters, Burger King Corporation will save approximately $5 million in communications costs over the life of the contract," said Rafael Sanchez, Burger King Corporation's vice president and chief information officer. "BellSouth is making it possible for Burger King Corporation to operate more efficiently and compete more effectively in an increasingly aggressive marketplace."

Burger King Corporation's World Headquarters facilities span two buildings in Miami. The company occupies 170,000 square feet at the World Headquarters building in the Waterford Office complex and 45,000 square feet of additional space in Dadeland Towers. In contrast to the company's expansive South Dade campus where Burger King Corporation was located away from the road and hidden from the view of traffic, the new World Headquarters building and its signs are visible from the Dolphin Expressway, giving the company a strong corporate presence close to Miami's city center.

"Burger King Corporation has been a vital contributor to Miami-Dade County's community and corporate culture for nearly 50 years," said Frank Nero, CEO of the Beacon Council. "The Beacon Council is pleased that the company is choosing to remain headquartered in Miami-Dade, continuing to lead economic growth and diversity in the county."

The Beacon Council is Miami-Dade County's official economic development partnership, charged with bringing new jobs and investments to the community. The organization was formed in 1986 and works with a number of companies such as Burger King Corporation to maintain positive corporate growth and investment in Miami-Dade.

About Burger King Corporation

Burger King Corporation was founded in 1954 and created the American icon, the HOME OF THE WHOPPER(R), in 1957. The company and its franchisees operate more than 11,450 restaurants in all 50 states and 58 countries and territories around the world, with 91% of BURGER KING(R) restaurants owned and operated by independent franchisees. Since the company's founding in Miami in 1954, the BURGER KING(R) brand has become recognized for great flame-broiled taste and HAVE IT YOUR WAY(R) food customization. BURGER KING(R) restaurants were recently voted "Best Place for Burgers"(a). In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, the BURGER KING(R) system had system-wide sales of $11.3 billion. Burger King Corporation is a part of Diageo (NYSE: DEO), the international food and drinks company. To learn more about the BURGER KING(R) system, please visit the company's website at www.burgerking.com.

About BellSouth Corporation

BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications services company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, serving more than 44 million customers in the United States and 14 other countries.

Consistently recognized for customer satisfaction, BellSouth provides a full array of broadband data solutions to large, medium and small businesses. In the residential market, BellSouth offers DSL high-speed Internet access, advanced voice features and other services. BellSouth offers long distance service for both business and consumer customers in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. The company's BellSouth(R) Answers package combines local and long distance service with an array of calling features; wireless data, voice and e-mail services; and high-speed DSL or dial-up Internet service. BellSouth also provides online and directory advertising services through BellSouth(R) Real Pages(SM).com and The Real Yellow Pages(R).

BellSouth owns 40 percent of Cingular Wireless, the nation's second largest wireless company, which provides innovative data and voice services.

(a) Based on a June 2002 nationwide telephone survey conducted by an independent research firm of adults 18 and older who have eaten in fast food hamburger restaurants in the previous 30 days.