Telcordia Technologies Extends ALPSS Directory Listings Management and White Pages Publishing Capabilities to Ameritech.

MORRISTOWN, NJ--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 23, 1999--

ALPSS Will Allow Ameritech to Provide Uninterrupted

Service Into the Year 2000

Telcordia Technologies announced today that Ameritech has chosen the Telcordia(TM) Advanced Listing Products and Services System (ALPSS) to automate directory listing management and publish White Pages directories. Ameritech decided to deploy Telcordia ALPSS because ALPSS software is Year 2000-functional and Local Number Portability-ready.

ALPSS is a next-generation directory listing management and White Pages publishing system that enables directory publishers, incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) and emerging competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) to offer customers flexible tailored listings and White Pages services. ALPSS software automates processes that traditionally have been performed manually, allowing companies to save both time and money.

"White pages and directory listings are an important component of our business. It is critical to have a system in place that enables us to move into the new millennium providing uninterrupted service to our millions of customers," said Lynne Szanyi, solutions director at Ameritech advertising services. "An added benefit is that Telcordia participates in the Ordering and Billing Forum (OBF) and incorporates industry standards and guidelines into the ALPSS software."

ALPSS also is intended to enable ILECs and directory publishers to generate significant new revenues from producing White Pages directories that offer colorful logos, distinctive advertising and additional listings information to business and residential customers. It provides CLECs with the ability to assure that their customers will be listed properly in directory assistance and White Pages, a critical assurance for business customers. Southwestern Bell Telephone, Pacific Bell Telephone and Cincinnati Bell Telephone have also deployed ALPSS.

"ALPSS empowers carriers and publishers of all sizes to cost-effectively offer customers automated flexible, tailored listing and White Pages services," said Alice Ann Mason, director of business operations systems at Telcordia. "Moreover, ALPSS can make the White Pages - which often are an overlooked moneymaker - a lucrative business for any incumbent carrier or directory publisher."

ALPSS consists of two separate modules: ALPSS/LIRA and ALPSS/Mozart. Ameritech will use both modules, which can be purchased together or independently. ALPSS/LIRA is a stomer-listing information to White and Yellow Penables ILECs and directory publishers to offer the new White Pages to their customers. ALPSS/Mozart designs and lays out the content of each page automatically, thereby allowing directory publishers and carries to easily create colorful banner advertisements, logos and special fonts to offer to their business and residential customers. Additionally, ALPSS/Mozart simplifies the procedures for including cth most existing publishing systems.

Year 2000 and Local Number Portability 

ALPSS is Year 2000-functional and Local Number Portability-ready, addressing major areas of concern for White Pages and directory service providers. ALPSS meets Local Number Portability requirements because it allows directory publishers and service providers to assign customers to specific directories with criteria other than the customers telephone number prefixes - a capability that many older systems do not have. Local Number Portability allows customers to maintain ownership of their existing phone numbers regardless of relocating their addresses or changing their local telephone service providers.

About Telcordia

Telcordia Technologies (formerly Bellcore) is an SAIC company providing software, engineering, consulting and training services to optimize the performance of communication networks worldwide. Telcordia was created in 1984, employs 6,000 professionals, and has revenues of more than $1.2 billion. Telcordia (www.telcordia.com) is headquartered in Morristown, NJ, with offices throughout the United States, Europe, Central and South America and Asia Pacific.

ALPSS is a registered trademark of Telcordia Technologies.