Businesses Lining Up For New '877' Toll-Free Calling Code

    BRIDGEWATER, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 1998--AT&T said   today that tens of thousands of businesses are lining up to request  one of the 7.9 million new toll-free '877' numbers.  The Federal  Communications Commission is expected to order the opening of the new '877' code as the latest sibling
to the '800' and '888' toll-free  codes for April 5.

    The seemingly insatiable demand for toll-free numbers by both   businesses and consumers is driving the need to launch a third  toll-free area code.  To put the consumption of toll-free numbers in  perspective, consider that the original toll-free  exchange-'800'--lasted 27 years after AT&T invented this new way of  calling in 1967.  In barely two years since the introduction of toll-free '888', the supply of numbers is already dwindling.

    Toll-free 877 numbers will be assigned to customers on a "first   come, first served" basis by a central database that services the  entire industry to ensure requests for specific numbers are treated  in a fair and neutral manner.  No preferences will be given to  customers that currently have '800' or '888' vanity numbers.  AT&T  has been accepting 877 reservation requests on behalf of its  customers since February.  When the 877 exchange is officially opened by the FCC, AT&T will submit a compiled list of requests through the industry toll-free reservation system.  The company expects to be  able to advise customers of the status of their 877 requests within a few days after processing is completed.

    AT&T customer Call Interactive, the Omaha-based interactive voice services provider that handles millions of toll-free calls for direct marketing and sales promotion campaigns is eagerly awaiting their 877 numbers. "The new toll-free codes are a great way for people to get  the personalized
numbers they need," says Dan Baylor, director of  sales.

    "Toll-free service is a powerful symbol for business and has become  the virtual front door for the buying public," says Ken Sichau, vice president of AT&T's Business Markets Division.  "There's a very  simple reason why the AT&T network handles more than 20 billion  toll-free calls a year: Toll-free
numbers are a proven way for  businesses to connect with their customers. Even small and  home-based businesses are using toll-free service to compete with the big guys nationally.  And the marriage of toll-free service and the Internet gives businesses of any size a global cyber storefront."

    AT&T hardly envisioned revolutionizing business when it invented   toll-free service more than 30 years ago.  Toll-free calling was   originally designed to relieve the burden of operators handling  collect calls to businesses.  But almost overnight it became smart  business to include a toll-free number in national television or  print advertising.  Mass advertising fueled consumer awareness of  toll-free numbers and created an expectation that companies would  provide numbers that were toll-free for callers.

    Toll-free service has created whole new industries, including   catalog shopping and direct marketing.  Once a tool only for  corporate giants, today's toll-free numbers deliver calls to the  Fortune 500 as well as the proverbial butcher, baker and candlestick  maker.  Even families craving communications simplicity have signed  up for their very own toll-free number.

    AT&T expects the 877 exchange to meet the industry's growing need   for toll-free number resources into 1999.  At the current rate of   toll-free number consumption, the projected deployment of 866, the  fourth toll-free code, is expected to occur in late 1999.  Customers  interested in requesting an '877' number should talk to their AT&T  account executive or call 1-800-222-0400.  For more information on  AT&T toll-free service, visit our website at www.att.com/tollfree

    AT&T is the world's premier communications and information services company, serving more than 90 million customers, including consumers, businesses and government.  The company has annual revenues of more  than $52 billion and 130,000 employees.  It runs the world's largest, most sophisticated communications network and is the leading provider of long- distance and wireless services.   AT&T operates in more than  200 countries and territories around the world.

    The company also offers on-line services and access to home entertainment, and has begun to deliver local telephone service.  In addition, AT&T offers outsourcing, consulting, systems-integration  and
customer-care services to large businesses and manages one of the world's largest credit card programs.   -0- Visit Call Interactive at www.callit.com

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