CUC International selects MCI managed service solution for frame relay network; MCI Hyperstream Frame Relay shortens order entry/sales cycle from weeks to days.

leading provider of membership-based discount consumer services has selected MCI to fully manage a frame relay network for its subsidiary, Entertainment Publications, Inc.

Under a new three-year agreement, MCI's Professional Services Organization, a business unit of MCI Integrated Client Services Division (ICSD), will provide a complete managed services solution for the Entertainment Publications network including hardware, software and 24-hour network management.

MCI managed service includes installation and maintenance of network routers; management of customer premise equipment including configuration, fault, performance and security management; and 'round the clock network monitoring and trouble management support through a network management center dedicated exclusively for MCI's managed services customers.

Entertainment Publications, Inc., a leading publisher of consumer entertainment coupon books, will use MCI Hyperstream Frame Relay to replace overnight shipping and fax to transfer coupon pre-production copy and artwork at high speeds among its 103 sites in the U.S. and Canada. There are currently 60 nodes operating on the network with plans to implement more than 100 this Fall.

MCI's Hyperstream Frame Relay supports high bandwidth applications such as bulk file transfer, imaging and electronic transaction processing.

"Coupon pre-production that used to take 24 days now takes just six," said Jonathan Beyman, senior vice president of CUC International. "In addition, total management of the network by MCI Professional Services allows us to do what we do best -- merchandising our customers' businesses, while MCI does what it does best -- managing technology for its business customers."

"Since day one, MCI has put technology to work for our customers," said John Todd, vice president of Professional Services for MCI Integrated Client Services Division. "We've created managed services to empower our customers by providing customized end-to-end solutions for their growing local and wide area networking requirements. The application developed for CUC is just one example of how MCI can provide value added services to meet our customers' individual needs."

MCI, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing diversified communications companies. With annual revenue of more than $13 billion, MCI offers consumers and businesses a broad portfolio of services, including long distance, wireless, local access, paging, outsourcing, Internet software and access, information services, business software, and advanced global telecommunications services.

CONTACT: MCI Business Markets

Debbie Caplan, 610/660-7974

or 1-800-644-NEWS