June 18, 1996

NYNEX CONTACT: Bob Varettoni, (212) 395-0500

NYNEX Introduces 1-800-54NYNEX For New, Easy-to-Use Calling Cards

NEW YORK CITY -- NYNEX today announced a major enhancement to the NYNEX Calling Card: the addition of an 800 number that will provide new calling choices for NYNEX customers.

Through a three-year contract with Sprint, NYNEX customers will be able to make calling card and collect calls by dialing 1-800-54NYNEX (1-800-546-9639) from any location in the U.S. and Canada. Local and regional calls within the NYNEX calling area will be handled by NYNEX. Other 1-800-54NYNEX calls, including long distance and international calls, will be handled by Sprint -- all at affordable rates. Customers can access this new service beginning July 1.

1-800-54NYNEX is a new option with several advantages over traditional dialing patterns. For regional calls within the NYNEX calling area, dialing 1-800-54NYNEX enables customers to continue to enjoy low NYNEX rates even from telephones programmed to route "0+" calls to carriers other than NYNEX -- a condition that will increase with the growth of local competition. And for long distance and international calls, dialing 1-800-54NYNEX allows customers to avoid the unexpectedly high rates that some companies charge for "0+" calls. If customers wish, they may still make NYNEX Calling Card calls by dialing "0" plus the number they are calling, and still choose any long distance carrier as they do today.

"Dialing 1-800-54NYNEX will give customers easy, one-stop access and the assurance of low NYNEX rates for local and regional calls from any phone in our service area," said Joan Lawlor, managing director for NYNEX's People-in-Motion market. "It is also a way for customers to protect themselves from being unwittingly gouged by some 'no-name' long distance companies that charge exorbitant rates and calling card surcharges."

"When using 1-800-54NYNEX, calling card customers can rest assured that their long-distance calls will go through on the Sprint network at competitive rates," said Jerry Rhodes, vice president of Sprint's Consumer Services Group. NYNEX will be the first Baby Bell to provide customers with "1-800" calling cards. New NYNEX Calling Cards will be distributed at no charge throughout the Northeast to replace current NYNEX Calling Cards and for new orders.

"Customers will have nothing new to memorize since they will still be using their existing calling card numbers," Lawlor said. Generally, this is the customer's main telephone number, plus PIN (Personal Identification Number). "To make a calling card or collect call, simply dial 1-800-54NYNEX and follow the easy directions."

Lawlor added, "NYNEX is making things simple for its customers. This new NYNEX Calling Card provides customers with continuity as the market becomes cluttered with a proliferation of calling cards." Discounts and Special Offers:
To introduce the new card, Sprint will offer a 50 percent discount on all 1-800-54NYNEX long-distance minutes of use for three months to all customers. In addition, NYNEX will encourage inactive residence and business NYNEX Calling Card customers by offering a $10 calling certificate, good towards payment of their NYNEX phone bill, when they make at least 10 NYNEX-handled calling card calls over a specified two-month period.

An advertising campaign will accompany the card's introduction.