BellSouth Internet Service Celebrates Sixth Year with New Improvements and Expansion into 50 New Markets.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2002

Regional ISP Nationally Recognized For Fast, Reliable Connections

Continues to Improve the Customer Experience

BellSouth(R) (NYSE:BLS) Internet Service, which launched in August 1996, is marking its sixth year of providing Internet access by introducing new features and expanding its footprint to provide customers with local dial in numbers in 50 new markets.

BellSouth has also launched a new, quick and simple registration process that doesn't require a CD or download, and a new customer promotion which continues to make BellSouth Internet Service one of the least expensive ISPs available. In addition to receiving the Top Regional ISP award from Network World Fusion, BellSouth Internet Service has outperformed the industry average and earned top marks for dial connection availability by eTesting Labs Internet Benchmark Report (www.etestinglabs.com). Customers also enjoy an award-winning home page, which is now available in Spanish.

"BellSouth is happy to celebrate its sixth year of being one of the top ISPs in the industry and these new features are designed to maintain that standing," said Bill Story, vice president of sales and marketing for BellSouth. "We are looking forward to serving new business and residential customers in these new markets and are certain they will enjoy the reliability they expect from a BellSouth product, along with the convenience of a single bill for telecommunications and Internet services."

Two of the new free services include BellSouth MailGuard and BellSouth Messenger service. BellSouth MailGuard service intercepts annoying junk e-mail (spam) before it ever lands in the customer's main mailbox. The new BellSouth Messenger Service gives customers instant messaging capabilities that allow them to have conversations real-time with their friends. Message encryption helps to make communications more secure and registering is easy and free for BellSouth customers.

BellSouth has expanded its dial-up footprint by expanding service to 50 new markets. Customers in the new cities receive the same expert customer care, fast connections, and pricing that's available in other BellSouth Internet Service cities. In addition, existing BellSouth(R) FastAccess(R) DSL customers in these cities will now have a local dial-in number for their back-up dial account. With the addition of these new cities, BellSouth Internet Service will have one of the most expansive coverage areas in the Southeast, with over 180 markets.

BellSouth Internet Service is now available in the following 50 new markets: Danville, KY; Union, SC; Brookhaven, MS; Clarksdale, MS; Corinth, MS; Greenwood, MS; Nachez, MS; Oxford, MS; Picayune, MS; Starkeville, MS; Morristown, TN; Lexington, TN; Ripley, TN; Union City, TN; Jesup, GA; Eatonton, GA; Statesville, NC; Newberry, SC; DeRidder, LA; Abbeville, LA; Shelbyville, KY; Sandersville, GA; Dublin, GA; Belle Glade, FL; Demopolis, AL; Winchester, TN; Shelbyville, TN; Fayetteville, TN; Lawrenceburg, TN; Lewisburg, TN; Chipley, FL, Thomson, GA; LaGrange, GA; Paintsville, KY; Whitesburg, KY; Winchester, KY; Pulaski, TN, Donaldsonville, LA; Barnwell, SC; Copperhill, TN; Boone, NC; Chiefland, FL; Dunnellon, FL; Laurinburg, NC; Waynesboro, MS; Crowley, LA; Eufaula, AL; Tuskegee, AL; Bogalusa, LA; Rose Terrace, KY.

New residential dial-up customers with the BellSouth(R) Complete Choice(R) plan receive free activation and a special promotional price of only $9.95 per month for the first three months. Thereafter, service is only $15.95 per month. Customers without the Complete Choice plan receive free activation and the first three months for only $14.95 per month, and $20.95 per month thereafter.

Along with its new features, BellSouth Internet Service customers have access to other premium features such as, Web mail to access e-mail from any Internet connection while at work or traveling, and easy to use templates to build Web pages to share photos and interests. For convenience, customers receive five separate e-mail accounts with different addresses so each household member can enjoy a private e-mail address to stay in touch with family and friends. Customers also can customize their start pages for easy access to news, weather, financial or sports information on BellSouth's award winning home page, www.home.bellsouth.net.

In addition to dial-up Internet access, BellSouth provides high-speed Internet access, BellSouth FastAccess DSL for both residential and business customers. To order BellSouth Internet Service, customers can call 1-800-4DOTNET or log on to www.bellsouth.net.

About BellSouth Corporation

BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications services company headquartered in Atlanta, GA, serving nearly 45 million customers in the United States and 14 other countries.

Consistently recognized for customer satisfaction, BellSouth provides a full array of broadband data and e-commerce solutions to business customers, including Web hosting and other Internet services. 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 Georgia and Louisiana.

BellSouth also provides online and directory advertising services, including BellSouth(R) Real Pages(SM).com. BellSouth owns 40 percent of Cingular Wireless, the nation's second largest wireless company, which provides innovative wireless data and voice services.