Best Buy Expands Broadband Services to Consumers.

Business Editors

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2001

Company Adds DSL and Cable Services from MSN, EarthLink High Speed,

Road Runner, and Comcast; Expands Service from AT&T Broadband

Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) today announced that it now offers consumers DSL and high-speed cable Internet access services from MSN, EarthLink High Speed, Road Runner High Speed Online, and Comcast Cable Communications, Inc., a division of Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:CMCSK, CMCSA). The company also announced that it has expanded the number of stores that carry AT&T Broadband services from 100 to 135.

With today's announcement, 85 percent of Best Buy retail locations now offer DSL, high-speed cable Internet service or a combination of both services. The addition of these broadband technologies will support the existing 449 Best Buy locations that already offer high-speed satellite Internet connectivity services through DIRECWAY.

These new and expanded relationships give Best Buy customers the broadest range of choices for high-speed connectivity to the Internet, and continue to build on Best Buy's ongoing commitment to bring people and technology together through connectivity, content, products and services.

"Our goal with Internet connectivity services has always been to make them easy to understand, compare and purchase so consumers can make informed decisions about which service is best for them," said Phil Schoonover, Executive Vice President of Digital Technology Solutions for Best Buy. "By expanding the choices available to customers, we're helping to ensure that they will find a service that fits their needs."

At Best Buy's in-store interactive displays, customers are able to evaluate availability, cost and comparative speed for these high-speed Internet access services. Using these displays, customers can quickly and easily choose the best broadband technology option for them based on where they live and the choices available. These displays allow customers to learn more about broadband technologies in general, interact with demonstrations that simulate the on-line experience of different broadband services, and determine if they qualify for these types of services. Customers can also initiate an order for the service from the interactive displays or at the tech bench service desk.

"MSN is committed to offering MSN Broadband Internet Access to consumers and delivering the best of the high-speed Internet through advanced technology that enables easy setup and optimized performance, and industry-leading content and services," said Richard Bray, vice president of MSN at Microsoft Corp. "Best Buy is a leader in providing broadband solutions for consumers, and we are pleased to continue our relationship with Best Buy to offer MSN Broadband to Best Buy customers."

High-Speed Advantages

Broadband resolves the most common frustrations of dial-up Internet access--slow access, frequent disconnects and tying up a phone line--by providing Internet connectivity at speeds that are much faster than standard 28.8 modems without using a phone line. And because broadband gives users always-on access to the Internet, there are no busy signals or random disconnections.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.

Minneapolis-based Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) is the nation's number one specialty retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, entertainment software and appliances. The Company operates retail stores and commercial web sites under the names: Best Buy (BestBuy.com), Magnolia Hi-Fi (MagnoliaHiFi.com), Media Play (MediaPlay.com), On Cue (OnCue.com), Sam Goody (SamGoody.com), and Suncoast (Suncoast.com). The Company reaches consumers through more than 1,800 retail stores nationwide, in Puerto Rico and in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.