Cingular Wireless Statement & Wireless Network Storm Usage Tips Due to Tropical Storm Gabrielle.

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

LAKE MARY, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 2001

Statement:

In light of recent storm activity, Cingular Wireless is taking steps to ensure that communities and emergency crews impacted by Tropical Storm Gabrielle can depend on their wireless phones to keep in touch. Cingular's Regional Network Operations Center (RNOC) will continue to monitor and maintain the wireless network in order to facilitate our customers' calls.

-- On Friday, September 14th, Cingular Wireless responded to minimal outages in
Florida. During this time, the company can report that over 99% of its wirelss
transmitting capacity maintained normal service operation.

-- Because of Cingular's 24 hour a day, seven day a week RNOC monitoring system
and local response resources, Cingular is able to assess and begin to address
any situation within minutes of taking place.

-- As electrical outages are prevalent during storms, our cell cites are backed
up by high capacity batteries, and further supplied by powerful generators when
needed, ensuring a secure source for power if they are affected.

-- Cingular has already distributed 160 emergency phones to the Florida
National Guard in an effort to help our emergency crews stay connected.

-- Cingular Wireless fulfills a critical communications role during times of
crisis and our highly trained personnel are working tirelessly to maintain the
wireless network, in order to provide these vital services to our communities.

-- Throughout the storm, Cingular Wireless employees maintained normal
operating hours at most of their company owned Florida retail locations, in the
spirit of serving the community. Even Coastal West Florida locations closed
during the peak of the weather event, were reopened latter in the day, to
provide for customer needs. Florida Customer Service Call Center operations
were never affected.

Wireless Network Storm Usage Tips:

During tropical storms, a higher volume of calls can cause network congestion and overload at any one time. People rely on their wireless phones now more than ever to contact loved ones and friends. Network congestion and overload causes the unsuccessful completion of calls from your wireless handset. Customers may even receive a message that says, "Your call cannot be completed at this time."

There are some simple steps that wireless phone users can take to decrease the effects of network overload and congestion:

Use a landline if it is available.

In many instances, landline service may still be available in your area. If it is, opt to use it instead of your wireless phones.

Be savvy about making your wireless call; keep non-emergency calls

to a minimum.

In light of today's events, many people will be attempting to place wireless calls to loved ones and friends. Please be reminded that emergency services personnel are also especially dependent on the wireless network during storm events. And if the landlines are not working, this probability increases. Limit your calls to the most important ones.

Wait 10 seconds before redialing a call.

On many handsets, to redial a number, you simply push "send" after you've ended a call to redial the previous number. If you do this too quickly, the data from the handset to the cell sites do not have enough time to clear before you've resent the same data. This contributes to a clogged network. A good rule of thumb is to end the call, wait ten seconds, then hit send to redial your number.