Mobility Phones - Mobile Phones

Pantech Wireless, Inc., the U.S.-based subsidiary of Pantech Group, Korea’s leading mobile phone manufacturer, today announced the release of the Pantech C3b. The enhanced phone adds Bluetooth functionality to the already popular “world’s smallest camera flip-phone” family of handsets and will be available to AT&T subscribers.The Pantech C3b incorporates the convenience of Bluetooth along with mobile email, multimedia messaging and VGA camera - all in a convenient and compact form factor. The Pantech C3b can also be customized with a variety of changeable color faceplates and is yet another example of Pantech’s belief that a handset should reflect a customer’s personal style.

The Pantech C3b allows users to easily access email on-the-go, send media-rich instant messages and take multi-capture camera shots, allowing up to 9 pictures with the single press of a button. Contained within a form factor that measures 2.72 inches tall, 1.69 inches wide and 0.8 inches thick when closed, the C3b still touts a bright color screen, large fonts and standard size key pad.

Pantech C3b features include:

* Bluetooth

* Changeable faceplates in multiple colors

* Mobile Email services supported for Yahoo! Mail, AOL and MSN Hotmail

* VGA camera with flash and 4x digital zoom in LCD mode

* Multimedia Messaging Services allows users to send pictures, sounds and text with interactive messaging

* Downloadable music ringtones (MP3, MIDI & i-Melody)

* Downloadable wallpapers and screensavers

* Data transmission via GPRS

* Picture and ringtone caller ID

* Predictive text input

* Calendar and reminders

The Pantech C3b is available through all AT&T retail locations or online at www.cingular.com.

The BlackBerry Pearl(TM) and Palm Treo(TM) 680 smart device officially are red hot as AT&T today introduced an eye-catching, dark ruby-colored version of the BlackBerry Pearl and a striking crimson iteration of the Treo 680. The red BlackBerry Pearl is the first wireless handset to be branded for the new AT&T.Both new, colorful models are available immediately and exclusively to AT&T customers at Cingular Wireless retail stores — the Treo 680 initially at select outlets and the BlackBerry Pearl at all stores nationwide — and through www.cingular.com, AT&T’s wireless business-to-business sales organization, authorized dealers and select national retailers.

“The new, red BlackBerry Pearl and crimson Palm Treo 680 are the next ‘gotta have it’ wireless handsets from AT&T,” said Michael Woodward, executive director, mobile professional solutions, for AT&T. “The additional choices of color offer panache and style, and these world-class products boast all of the features that made the original versions very popular among AT&T customers.”

Although the Palm Treo 680 and BlackBerry Pearl from AT&T now come in a choice of colors — AT&T continues to offer the attractive original models — the compelling looks, features and functionality that have given them a broad following remain the same.

The red BlackBerry Pearl’s sleek and stylish exterior measures just 4.2″ x 1.97″ x .57″, weighs only 3.1 ounces and includes the supple and responsive trackball that makes vertical and lateral scrolling fast and easy. It’s packed with such features as a 1.3 megapixel digital camera, multi-media capabilities and an expandable memory slot along with easy-to-use phone, email and browser applications. The unique “push-based” BlackBerry service gives users synchronized access to both personal and corporate email accounts with attachment viewing, and the ability to manage multiple email accounts while on-the-go.

The red BlackBerry Pearl also includes optional services such as Push To Talk and GPS-based wireless navigation services from TeleNav, Inc. — the subscription-based TeleNav GPS Navigator(TM), and the free — and now wirelessly downloadable - TeleNav Maps(TM).

The all-in-one crimson Palm Treo 680 smart device is a compact, full- featured mobile phone with an MP3 player, digital camera, camcorder and video player. The Treo 680 includes a built-in QWERTY keyboard that gives users the ability to easily compose and reply to email, edit documents and use a messaging application that displays text-messaging conversations as “threaded chats,” similar to IM. It supports a variety of email platforms, including Good Mobile Messaging from Motorola Good Technology Group and Cingular Xpress Mail.

TeleNav GPS Navigator also is available on the crimson Treo 680 on an optional, subscription basis.

For GPS capabilities, both the Treo 680 and BlackBerry Pearl require a Bluetooth enabled GPS receiver that can be purchased separately.

Like their siblings, the red BlackBerry Pearl and crimson Treo 680 have quad-band capabilities. Both can be used in more than 13,000 cities and towns across the U.S. and along some 40,000 miles of major highways, as well as abroad in more than 190 countries for phone calls and in over 125 countries to access data.

Both the Palm Treo 680 smart device and BlackBerry Pearl are available for as low as $199.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates.

With all major wireless carriers claiming to offer the fewest dropped calls, wireless management services provider mindWireless used its vast database of call data to tip the scale. Using a sample of more than 80 million calls placed and received between January 1, 2006 and June 30, 2006, mindWireless found Sprint, followed by Cingular’s legacy AT&T Wireless to have the fewest number of dropped calls, nearly 50 percent behind Verizon, the carrier claiming the best, most reliable network. (www.mindwireless.com)Geographic location, topography and population size are all variables in the performance of a wireless network. An independent services provider with no carrier alliances, mindWireless defined a dropped or “duplicate call” as a call from a cellular device to another wireless device or landline placed within two minutes of a prior call to the same destination, with no call between. Additionally, calls to self (voicemail) & Nextel push-to-talk calls were excluded.

Duplicate Call Statistics January 2006 - June 2006

Rank Carrier Average Jan 1 - June 30, 2006

1 Sprint 5.4%

2 Cingular legacy AT&T) 5.7%

3 Verizon 8.0%

4 Cingular (legacy Cingular) 11.3%

5 T-Mobile 13.8%

6 Nextel 14.6%

“We are constantly bombarded with advertising from wireless carriers claiming to offer the fewest dropped calls making it hard to decipher the truth,” said David Wise, managing director of mindWireless. “There was a perfect example of this on a one-mile stretch of Houston highway ????????? where three carrier billboards claimed the fewest dropped calls, one qualified their claim to calls in Houston. Because we manage over 130,000 wireless lines for our clients, with access to detailed call data, we have a very accurate view into actual calling patterns - and the results surprised us.”

mindWireless provides wireless expense management services including enrollment, procurement, monthly optimization, auditing, help desk, administrative outsourcing and wireless management outsourcing

A little over a year after launching its innovative Push To Talk (PTT) service, Cingular Wireless, now part of the new AT&T, today gives customers the option of experiencing the service on a pay-per-use basis.

Customers using one of several wireless phones can now use the company’s PTT service, as needed, for $.15 per minute. In addition to having access to the largest PTT network coverage area, a customer can receive several enhanced PTT features unavailable on similar services offered by some other carriers including:

  * Availability- unique icons allow PTT users to see if other PTT customers
    are available before making a PTT call.
  * Convert to Cellular - enables a PTT call to be converted to a regular
    wireless voice call.  Calls with up to 30 participants can be converted
    effectively creating a mobile conference call.
  * Voice Messaging - allows customers to send a voice message to one person
    or a whole group.”Business and consumer customers across the country have been enjoying the enhanced features of our Push To Talk service for more than a year,” said Carlton Hill, executive director of voice products for the wireless division of AT&T. “This offer gives others the ability to easily enjoy interacting with friends, family or business acquaintances using the service.”

Since launching service, AT&T’s wireless unit has sold more than two million PTT capable phones, including the Blackberry Pearl, LG models CG300 CU400 and F7200, Motorola V365, Samsung models D347, D357 and D407 or Sony- Ericsson Z525a can immediately begin accessing the company’s PTT service. Additional devices will be available throughout the year.

Customers who want to activate a PTT phone with the pay-per-use capability can do so by visiting a Cingular retail store or calling customer care.

PTT pay-per-use is charged per minute and begins when the PTT button on the phone is pressed to initiate the session to when the end key is pressed. If the end key is not pressed to end the call, it will automatically time-out after 30 seconds. Minutes round up to the nearest whole minute.

  PTT also offers a number of other features, including:

  * Quick Group Calling - allows users to select individuals from their
    contacts and instantly place a group call.
  * Call Waiting - gives customers the option to accept or decline a second
    incoming call whether currently on a PTT or regular cellular call.
  * Contact Alerts - lets customers receive alerts when a contact becomes
    available.
  * Call Me Alerts - allows a user to urgently let someone know they need to
    talk. A user receiving a “Call Me Alert” can instantly place a PTT call
    back by pressing the dedicated PTT key.The service also uses a single phone number for both cellular and PTT service, eliminating the need to remember two numbers.

Customers of AT&T’s wireless unit who are interested in signing up for an unlimited monthly PTT plan can add service for $9.99 a month per line. Those on Family Plans can select a $19.99 feature that gives up to five family members on the account unlimited access to the service. Businesses can add a PTT service option to each line of service for $9.99 per month.

For more information on wireless services, including Push to Talk, customers can call 1-866-CINGULAR (1-866-246-4852), stop at any Cingular store or authorized dealer, speak with a business sales representative, or visit online at http://www.cingular.com/.

Cingular Wireless Completes $242 Million Investment in West, Central and North Florida During 2006 — Delivers Wireless Innovation

Cingular Wireless, the nation’s largest wireless carrier and now part of the new AT&T, invested $242 million in West, Central and North Florida upgrading and expanding service during 2006. This local investment is part of the wireless company’s $400 million statewide network investment and $6 billion national network capital expenditure program in 2006.

Last year, AT&T’s wireless unit added high-speed 3G (third generation) service in Orlando, Tampa, Lakeland, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee, including the major airports and college campuses in these cities and the Daytona International speedway; built several new cell sites; and added generators. As a result, the ALLOVER ™ network* - the largest digital voice and data network - has grown bigger, better and more powerful in West, Central and North Florida.

“2006 has proven to be an unprecedented year for us in Florida,” said Rudy Hermond, vice president and general manager for AT&T’s wireless operations in West, Central and North Florida. “We completed a major expansion initiative and added our 3G network, and that’s an exceptional achievement that positions us for the future.”

During the last two years, the company has invested more than $13.5 billion nationally in an aggressive program to upgrade and expand wireless service and now gives customers access to some 45,000 cell sites - more than any other wireless carrier in the country.

Hermond added, “And now as part of AT&T, in 2007 we will continue our momentum and focus on delivering a strong network and pleasant in-store customer experience. We are well positioned to deliver on these promises with nearly 3,700 employees and more than 1,300 cell sites in West, Central and North Florida.”

The company’s 3G service is based on High-Speed Data Packet Access (HSDPA) technology and is the first widely available HSDPA deployment in the world. This advanced network allows high-speed access to cell phones designed for the higher speed and processes wireless data over high-speed-capable phones or a laptop. Customers can now more quickly access e-mail, browse the Internet, connect to business applications, or watch video clips while on-the-go.

AT&T’s 3G wireless network allows customers to download at average data speeds between 400-700 Kbps (kilobits per second) on the downlink, with bursts to more than a megabit per second. Nationwide, AT&T’s 3G service is available in more than 160 markets, including most of the top 100 major cities in the country.

* The ALLOVER ™ network covers more than 273 million people. Coverage not available in all areas.

AT&T Inc. announced an unprecedented new offer, which gives subscribers the nation’s largest unlimited free calling community, including wireless and wireline phone numbers.

The AT&T Unity^SM plan, which is available beginning Sunday, Jan. 21, brings together home, business and wireless calling, creating a calling community of more than 100 million AT&T wireless and wireline phone numbers.

AT&T Unity customers can call or receive calls for free from any AT&T wireless and wireline phone numbers nationwide without incurring additional wireline usage fees or using their wireless Anytime minutes.* In addition to free domestic calling to and from AT&T numbers, the AT&T Unity plan includes wireless service with unlimited night and weekend minutes, as well as a package of Anytime Minutes.

The AT&T Unity plan is the company’s first major converged product offering since the company’s Dec. 29 acquisition of BellSouth Corp. and consolidation of Cingular Wireless.

“AT&T Unity is the ideal way to introduce our customers to the real power of combining wireless and wireline services into an appealing offering that delivers value, flexibility and convenience,” said Edward E. Whitacre Jr., chairman and CEO of AT&T. “More than two years ago, Cingular Wireless, now the new AT&T, raised the bar by creating the largest unlimited wireless calling community in America — a feat no competitor has been able to duplicate. With AT&T Unity, we are raising the bar even higher by adding unlimited domestic calling to and from AT&T wireline customers.”

To sign up for a new AT&T Unity plan, a customer needs to subscribe to AT&T wireless service and unlimited AT&T local and long distance wireline services. The bundle includes both unlimited local and long distance plans and an AT&T Unity wireless plan. Customers who subscribe to AT&T Unity have the convenience of a single bill for their AT&T wireline and wireless services.

AT&T Unity rate plans are available to new and existing AT&T qualified residential and small business customers in the company’s 22-state service area, which now includes the local service area of the former BellSouth. Domestic calls made from and to any AT&T phone number nationwide are eligible.

AT&T Unity plans are part of the company’s strategy to simplify the process of purchasing and using communications services, while combining wireless/wireline services in ways that provide tangible benefits for customers.

“AT&T is changing how the industry thinks about wireless/wireline convergence, and rewarding consumers and small business owners with simplicity and convenience,” said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chief operating officer. “In just three weeks since the merger closed, AT&T has introduced a revolutionary offer. AT&T Unity is just the beginning.”

Residential
The price points for AT&T Unity wireless plans are identical to current Cingular wireless individual plans. Residential calling plans available include:

Cingular Wireless, part of the new AT&T, is putting thumbs to work by hosting a series of interactive TXT Bees at select high schools throughout the country, with the inaugural event taking place tomorrow, Friday, January 19th at West Orange High School in West Orange, New Jersey. Cingular will be hosting additional TXT Bees in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Florida and Texas over the next couple of months.

To help educate parents on text messaging, the Cingular TXT Bee — a first-of-its-kind grassroots effort — utilizes the spirit of competition to encourage parents to start communicating in the “language” of teens. Cingular TXT Bees put five parent-teen teams to the “text” in a series of wireless communications exercises in a fun game-show style environment. The events are a component of Cingular’s TXT2Connect campaign launched in August 2006.

“Texting has become an entirely new forum for young people to communicate with each other,” said Cristy Swink, executive director of messaging, Cingular Wireless. “To many parents, this new language of text messaging may often seem irrelevant or appear to be unfathomable. Through our TXT2 Connect campaign and TXT Bee events, we are helping parents interact with their kids through text messaging in a fun environment. For some parents, this may be the first time they’ve ever tried to text. Once they see how simple it is, we are hopeful it won’t be the last.”

The teams will be competing for a $5,000 scholarship and a $5,000 donation to their high school from Cingular Wireless.

TXT2CONNECT - A Parent’s Text Tutorial

Together with clinical psychologist and parenting expert Dr. Ruth Peters, Cingular has developed “TXT2CONNECT - A Parent’s Text Tutorial.” The tutorial provides parents with tips from Dr. Peters on how to better communicate with their kids via text messaging and to understand popular text messaging lingo.

Contrary to what parents might think, kids want to communicate with parents - on their own terms. With text messaging, parents can connect with teens in a more convenient way. Text messaging allows parents to get quick answers to important questions, give their teen independence while still staying connected and enter their child’s world by using the child’s preferred mode of communications. Texting gives kids more space and allows parents to keep in touch as often as necessary.

Sixty-three percent of parents who use text messaging believe that it improves their communication with their children, according to a recent Cingular survey on text messaging and parents conducted by Mediathink. In addition, 65 percent of parents who text message say they communicate more frequently with their children when they are away from home and 64 percent said that texting made their kids easier to reach.

According to Dr. Peters, text messaging is a great option for parents and kids to stay in touch because:

   - Parents get a quick answer to their questions. This is good for today’s
     busy kids, who are often in between school and extra-curricular
     activities or hanging out with friends, and might not, or in some cases
     can’t, take the time for a normal conversation.
   - Kids are more apt to respond to text messages when they are with their
     friends.  It is more discreet and their answers don’t have to be as
     detailed as in a conversation.
   - You, or they, don’t have to worry about tone of voice.  Some kids tend
     to become defensive when they hear their parent’s tone of voice, which
     often results in delayed return phone calls or avoidance.  Texting
     helps to take tone of voice and misinterpretation out of the mix and
     can improve response times.
   - Texting allows you to enter your child’s world.  By using text
     messaging, parents can communicate in the style their children are used
     to, and become more hip in their children’s eyes.  An example might be
     a parent who sends a text to her daughter on a blind date to ask her
     how the date is going.  “Is he Mr. Wonderful?” or “Is he a frog or a
     prince?”
   - Text messaging allows parents to compose and edit a message before
     pressing send.  If emotion surrounds an issue, Dr. Peters often
     counsels parents to write things out before actually saying them to
     their kids to help edit their thoughts.  By making parents think about
     it more, texting removes explosive emotions from potentially charged
     communications and situations.
   - Texting vs. calling gives kids more space but allows parents to keep in
     touch as often as necessary.  For instance, it is a good way to double
     check their child’s whereabouts without nagging.
   - Text messaging can also be used to strengthen parent-child bonds, and
     let kids know that their parents are thinking of them.  Send them a
     text wishing them good luck before the school play audition, or let
     them know you are thinking of them if there is something they were
     concerned about such as a difficult test or a grade.

Apple and Cingular announced that Cingular, the largest wireless carrier in the U.S., will be Apple’s exclusive U.S. carrier partner for Apple’s revolutionary iPhone unveiled today. As part of this multi-year partnership, Apple and Cingular are working together to provide innovative new features to mobile phone users, such as iPhone’s pioneering and unique Visual Voice Mail, a first on any mobile phone in the world.“Apple chose Cingular because they are the best and most popular carrier in the U.S.,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We are thrilled to be offering our revolutionary new iPhone exclusively with Cingular, and look forward to working together with them to create some wonderful new features for our customers.”

“By partnering with Apple, we are continuing our commitment to raising the bar for customers,” said Stan Sigman, Cingular’s president and CEO. “We think the iPhone is one of the most innovative devices ever created, and we look forward to letting our customers be the first in the world to experience the future of mobile phones.”

iPhone’s unique Visual Voice Mail was co-developed by Apple and Cingular. Visual Voice Mail makes voicemail as fast and convenient as email by allowing users to go directly to any of their voice messages without listening to any of the prior messages.

iPhone will be available in the U.S. beginning in June 2007 in a 4GB model for $499 and an 8GB model for $599, and will work in combination with Apple’s iTunes running on either a PC or Mac.

iPhone will be sold in the U.S. through Apple’s retail and online stores (www.apple.com), and through Cingular’s retail and online stores .

Mobile Network Transforms City into Wireless “Hot Spot”

Cingular begins offering its 3G mobile wireless broadband service throughout Frankfort. Nearly the entire Frankfort area-south to Alton, west past Hwy. 127, north past Peak’s Mill, and east almost to Midway-is now a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Cingular 3G not only offers advanced wireless services, such as viewing video clips, it also enhances existing services by making them run faster. Customers can now download a game or ringtone, or access e-mail, in a fraction of the time it used to take. Additionally, Cingular customers using a 3G handset can access all the company’s data services whenever they’re connected to the Cingular network.

“In today’s fast-paced society, people are always on the go and have the need for quick access to information,” said Jim Thorpe, vice president and general manager for Cingular’s Tennessee/Kentucky market. “Our 3G service gives them the ability to watch Thorobreds highlights on their phones while waiting to see a show at the Grand Theatre, or to quickly download a presentation as they enter a meeting. We’re providing customers with an ‘invisible wire’ that extends their broadband experience beyond their office or home.”

Cingular customers can now use its 3G mobile broadband network to rapidly access e-mail, browse the Internet, connect to business applications, or watch video clips while on the go from a concert at Country Place Jamboree to a tour of Buffalo Trace Distillery, while visiting the State Capitol, or while waiting to board a flight at Capital City Airport.

Cingular’s 3G network provides average download data speeds between 400- 700 kilobits per second with bursts to over one megabit. HSDPA/UMTS (High- Speed Downlink Packet Access/Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) technology makes it possible for people to enjoy a wide variety of wireless content and gives Cingular the advantage of offering simultaneous voice and data services to customers based upon the global standard for wireless communications — GSM. Cingular is the only wireless company in the country with that capability. For businesses and consumers, this means more feature- rich services and content, and for Cingular, a more economical method for carrying traffic and more efficient use of spectrum.

PERSONAL MOBILITY - FAST AND FURIOUS

Customers who want to watch video highlights of last night’s big game or view highlights of a number of HBO’s series including “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Entourage” or “The Wire,” can see it all — and more — by signing up for Cingular Video. Cingular Video is an on-demand streaming video service with a large selection of popular mobile content that can be viewed on 3G-capable Cingular phones.

“We’ve tailored Cingular Video so that customers can quickly and easily personalize and access the information that’s most important to them,” said Thorpe. “Imagine the soccer mom getting regular video weather updates, or the business person checking the latest action on Wall Street with headlines from NBC-all from a wireless phone.”

Cingular Video includes local weather forecasts in 100 cities across the country. Basic Cingular Video service includes more options for families from media outlets including ABC TV, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, CMT, CNN, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, Disney Mobile Studios, ESPN, FOX Sports, FOX News, FOX TV, FUEL, HBO Family (premium), HBO Mobile (premium), iFilm, Jayski Alerts, MTV, Music Choice, NASCAR.com To Go (premium), NCAA Championship Sports Content, NBC, Nickelodeon, Richard Childress Racing, SPEED, Spike, The Weather Channel, TV Guide Channel and VH1.

In addition to Cingular Video, customers can download their own music to the phone, transfer the music they purchase from subscription music services such as Napster and Yahoo! Music, and access XM Satellite Radio and MobiRadio music channels-all on their 3G phones.

Cingular currently offers 3G service on the LG CU500 phone, the Samsung Sync, and the Samsung BlackJack and Cingular 8525 PDAs. The company is adding several other handsets to its product line in the coming months. Prices for Cingular 3G handsets start at $49.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate for a two-year service plan commitment. The MEdiaNet Unlimited data package is $19.99. Premium content, such as HBO Mobile, is available on an additional monthly subscription basis, while other content, such as music video clips from Music Choice, is available on a pay-per-view basis for a 24-hour period of time.

MOBILIZING BUSINESS AT HIGH-SPEED

Utilizing its 3G network, Cingular’s LaptopConnect solutions give businesses the ability to use their laptops to access the Internet or e-mail, download large files and attachments, or run corporate business applications at average data speeds between 400-700Kbps (kilobits per second) on the downlink, with bursts to more than a megabit per second.

“Businesses need the same fast, reliable access to information whether they’re working from a desktop in their office or making a presentation to a customer at an offsite location,” said Jeff Bradley, vice president for Cingular’s Business Markets Group. “They don’t want to wait for a large contract to download or access their company’s intranet site to check inventory status. With LaptopConnect, they don’t have to anymore.”

Cingular LaptopConnect combines either an external LaptopConnect card or an integrated modem within a Laptop and Cingular’s Communication Manager to provide access to the 3G network. The service also offers additional security features compared to alternative wireless technologies.

Customers can purchase a Sierra Wireless laptop modem card for $49.99 after a $100 rebate when they sign up for a qualifying voice plan and two-year, Unlimited Data Connect plan. Customers can also purchase a Dell Latitude D620 or Dell Latitude D820 at http://www.cingular.com/dell. Cingular’s Unlimited DataConnect plan is currently $59.99 those customers who sign up for a two- year term and have a qualifying voice plan with Cingular.

Additionally, business customers traveling outside the United States can select one of two international data plans. Cingular DataConnect North America ($109.99 for 100MB) for travel within Canada and Mexico, and DataConnect Global ($139.99 for 100MB), an overseas plan — both include unlimited data usage on Cingular’s domestic data networks. Cingular is the first and only carrier in the world to offer a single card/single rate plan solution for international travelers.

All Cingular LaptopConnect cards and Integrated modems are tri-band HSDPA/UMTS (850/1900/2100Mhz) and quad-band EDGE/GPRS (Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution/General Packet Radio Service) in four bands (850/900/1800/1900Mhz), which means the devices are interoperable between the company’s nationwide EDGE network and its 3G network and can be used in more than 110 countries around the world. With a Cingular LaptopConnect Card, customers can have single-card mobile broadband access to data services in more places worldwide than offered by any other U.S. carrier.

THE TECHNOLOGY: HSDPA/UMTS

HSDPA is the high-speed evolution of GSM/EDGE (Global System for Mobile Communication), which shares a common core network and therefore is backward compatible with EDGE/GPRS. No other wireless company in the nation can offer this service to its customers.

In areas where the 3G network is not available, customers will automatically receive service on the company’s EDGE network. The Cingular EDGE network is available to 270 million people in more than 13,000 cities and towns and in areas along 40,000 miles of highways, providing average data speeds up to 135Kbps. GSM is the world’s most popular wireless technology, which is used by international wireless carriers to serve more than two billion people worldwide, and enabling Cingular customers to make/receive voice calls in nearly 200 countries.

The launch is part of Cingular’s $85 million investment in its Kentucky network last year, adding new cell sites, backup generators and batteries and improving overall coverage and capacity, with the majority of this investment in the eastern portion of the state. Nationwide, the company has spent $13 billion on its network since the company’s 2004 acquisition of AT&T Wireless to more than $13 billion.

Apple and Cingular announced that Cingular, the largest wireless carrier in the U.S., will be Apple’s exclusive U.S. carrier partner for Apple’s revolutionary iPhone unveiled today. As part of this multi-year partnership, Apple and Cingular are working together to provide innovative new features to mobile phone users, such as iPhone’s pioneering and unique Visual Voice Mail, a first on any mobile phone in the world.“Apple chose Cingular because they are the best and most popular carrier in the U.S.,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We are thrilled to be offering our revolutionary new iPhone exclusively with Cingular, and look forward to working together with them to create some wonderful new features for our customers.”

“By partnering with Apple, we are continuing our commitment to raising the bar for customers,” said Stan Sigman, Cingular’s president and CEO. “We think the iPhone is one of the most innovative devices ever created, and we look forward to letting our customers be the first in the world to experience the future of mobile phones.”

iPhone’s unique Visual Voice Mail was co-developed by Apple and Cingular. Visual Voice Mail makes voicemail as fast and convenient as email by allowing users to go directly to any of their voice messages without listening to any of the prior messages.

iPhone will be available in the U.S. beginning in June 2007 in a 4GB model for $499 and an 8GB model for $599, and will work in combination with Apple’s iTunes running on either a PC or Mac.

iPhone will be sold in the U.S. through Apple’s retail and online stores (www.apple.com), and through Cingular’s retail and online stores (www.cingular.com).

Technology Demo Showcased in AT&T Booth at Consumer Electronics Show

As thousands of people stroll through the aisles of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week, those stopping by the AT&T booth (9817) will get a glimpse of what to expect from their wireless company in the near future - that is, if their wireless company is Cingular! (Media and analysts attending the Digital Experience event at Caesar’s Palace on Sunday, January 7 between 7:00 -10:00 p.m. PST can get a sneak preview).

Cingular will be the first wireless carrier in the United States to demonstrate a service that allows wireless phone users to easily make a “live” video share call. The service allows users to send a live video stream to a recipient during a standard voice call. Beginning with a normal phone call, customers can hit one button to add a live video stream, allowing the called party to see what the caller is seeing while they’re talking. The service also allows customers to switch the direction of the video stream during the same phone call.

“In the case of this technology demonstration, seeing is believing,” said Kris Rinne, senior vice president of architecture and planning for AT&T. “Consumers can get a real feel for what 3G wireless can do and what to expect in the future.”

For example, a couple in San Antonio would place a regular voice call to their parents in Miami, and once the call is connected, hit the camera button on the phone to start the video session. The parents receive an invitation asking if they want to view the live video stream, and once accepted, they begin seeing the video shot by the kids in San Antonio. The speakerphone turns on and the proud new grandparents in Miami can see a live video of their granddaughter taking her first steps or saying her first words.

Cingular is showcasing its 3G UMTS/HSDPA (Universal Mobile Telephone System/High Speed Downlink Packet Access) network and recently deployed IMS (Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem) platform to provide the video service. Other companies participating in the demo are Alcatel/Lucent (Las Vegas 3G network and IMS platform) and LG Electronics (LG CU500v phone).

Cingular said it expects to make the video service commercially available in 2007.

The Western States Contracting Alliance (WSCA) has renewed its contract with Cingular Wireless that provides state and local agencies in 50 states with the ability to purchase Cingular’s world- class wireless voice and data services. The new, four-year agreement is expected to generate nearly $2 billion in total revenue for the nation’s largest wireless carrier.

Cingular currently provides services to more than one million WSCA subscribers in various state, county and city agencies, and in public schools and institutions of higher learning across the country. Under the renewed contract, WSCA subscribers will have access to Cingular’s entire portfolio of wireless devices and services with attractive, negotiated discounts, including converged voice/data handhelds and LaptopConnect cards enabled for Cingular’s 3G-based BroadbandConnect service which allows for seamless worldwide roaming on a single LaptopConnect card.

“This contract renewal ensures that over a million WSCA subscribers will continue to have access to Cingular’s broad range of world-class wireless voice and data services for the next four years,” said Chris Hill, vice president, government solutions, for Cingular Wireless. “These wireless services - enabled for the largest digital wireless voice and data networks in the nation - help government entities to keep their highly mobile workforces connected and serve the public more efficiently.”

Cingular’s voice network features the fewest dropped calls of any national wireless carrier. Its super-charged, UMTS/HSDPA-based Cingular BroadbandConnect service is available currently in over 160 major metropolitan areas. This wireless broadband network offers average download speeds between 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps), with bursts to more than one megabit per second (mbps). UMTS/HSDPA is a global standard and natural 3G evolutionary path for GSM providers with 142 UMTS networks in 61 countries and 72 HSDPA networks currently available. Outside of Cingular’s 3G coverage area, users seamlessly connect with Cingular’s nationwide* EDGE network, the largest national high-speed wireless data network in the U.S. with availability in more than 13,000 cities and towns and along some 40,000 miles of major highways.

Cingular Wireless counts some 1,800 federal, state and local government agencies as customers, and provides wireless services to 95 of the Fortune 100 companies and more than 80 percent of the Fortune 500.

* Not available in all areas.

Cingular Wireless wants its customers to know that its Richmond location’s staff is ready and willing to help them with all their wireless needs — but in unusual quarters. The store, formerly located at 830 Eastern Bypass, is moving into a trailer at the old Burger King lot at 470 Eastern Bypass, across from the new McDonald’s, as the new 3,500 sq. foot Cingular store is being built on that same site.Larry Fox, director of sales for the region, says, “We will have a full staff on hand to help our customers and a complete array of Cingular’s innovative phones, PDAs, and accessories for them to choose from. The quarters may be smaller for now, but the service you’ll get will still be the best in the business.”

Cingular’s former Richmond location closed its doors on December 28 and the temporary location will open for business on January 3. Store hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. The new 3,500 sq. foot store, featuring an open, customer-friendly design and Cingular’s cutting-edge wireless products, is expected to open in April.

Cingular is also planning a January 19-21 Grand Opening for its new 3,700 sq. foot Lexington superstore, located at 111 W. Reynolds Rd. between Target and Arby’s. Cingular customers can take advantage of special promotions and sales during the celebration.

For more information on Cingular Wireless’ new Richmond store, please call the store at (859) 623-0403.

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 58.7 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation — the ALLOVER™ network — and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover®, the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases emailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com/.

Throughout this year, when Cingular customers talked, people listened, and talked, and listened, back and forth, on and on and on and on. They talked so much that, for the first time, Cingular today said it expects to carry more than 500 billion minutes-of-use (MOU) on its network this year.That’s a lot of gabbing. But why so much chatter?

Cingular believes the more than $13 billion dollar network investment it made over the past two years to enhance the quality and coverage of its Allover Network is the cause of all the talk by its customers. The network investment gave customers access to more than 45,000 cell sites, resulting in a substantial reduction in dropped and blocked calls as well as improved voice quality.

“It’s common-sense business. If you give customers a quality product, they’ll use it more often,” said Ed Reynolds, president of network services for Cingular. “The investment we made is really paying off for us and our customers. People have noticed the difference and are taking full advantage of our services.”

Cingular, which offers the fewest dropped calls of any carrier, said people are using its wireless service for longer periods — an average of 755 minutes a month, as reported at the end of last quarter. Over the course of the network enhancements, the average length of a wireless call on the Allover Network has increased as much as 15 percent in some markets.

Along with people talking more, there are more people talking. Since the network enhancements began in early 2005, Cingular increased its customer base by nearly 20 percent through the end of October 2006. Additionally, due to the enhanced quality of service experienced by customers, churn also decreased by nearly 20 percent over the same period.

In the past, Cingular announced the busiest calling day of the year, which historically had been Halloween. But today, with all the additional customers and increased talking, the busiest day of the year changes almost weekly as customers increasingly use and rely on their wireless phones more and more.

And while chatter is the main subject matter, data is no pitter-patter.

The network enhancements also provide customers with an exceptional data experience — whether using a laptop to receive broadband wireless connections to corporate and personal e-mail, surfing the Internet, downloading mobile games, or watching some of their favorite clips on Cingular Video. The consistent, fast and reliable network connections, coupled with easy-to-use applications, have driven demand for data services, increasing the average spending by customers more than 45 percent (3Q/05 vs. 3Q/06). The company expects customers to increasingly use data services, especially on its 3G network, which is available in most major markets around the country.

Add a cool device and it’s twice as nice.

Cingular’s quality of service is further enhanced by a wide range of devices that help customers take full advantage of the company’s wireless offers. Exclusive devices such as the Samsung Blackjack and Sync, LG CU500, Cingular 8525, Sierra Wireless 875 PC modem card and others, allow customers to stay connected almost anywhere in the United States or when traveling to 190 countries around the world.

“The network is the foundation of our business, now and in the future,” said Reynolds. “Our focus and investment will continue to be on providing the best possible wireless experience for our customers.”

Other things you could possibly do in 500 billion minutes:
- Listen to the live version of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” 45 billion times  
- Watch nine seasons of Seinfeld without commercials more than 132 million times   
- Make about 57 thousand trips to the moon and back   
- Attend 2.8 billion baseball games  
- Drive round-trip from New York to Los Angeles 92 million times  
- Sleep for 950 million consecutive years   
- Have a truly unlimited wireless calling plan!   
*Estimates based on available information, and uh, best guesses.   
About Cingular Wireless 

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 58.7 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture of AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation — the ALLOVER™ network — and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(r), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases emailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com/.

Next-Generation Headset Combines Advanced, Award-Winning Technology and Industrial Design for Clearer, More Comfortable Conversations

Noise is nothing with the new Jawbone Bluetooth headset, which is available exclusively from Cingular Wireless–just in time for the holidays.

Aliph, a leading developer of mobile audio products that deliver exceptional quality in any environment, and Cingular Wireless, the nation’s largest wireless carrier, today introduced the new Jawbone headset for Bluetooth mobile phones. Jawbone^™ is the first adaptive Bluetooth headset with Noise Shield^® technology, which virtually eliminates background noise so calls are clearer. Jawbone’s audio performance is further enhanced by an award-winning design by internationally acclaimed product designer Yves Béhar, which maximizes comfort and functional simplicity.

Ambient noise is often an issue with many headsets and can make conversations difficult in noisier environments. The Jawbone Bluetooth headset with Noise Shield technology uses an advanced, military-grade noise-canceling system that continuously adapts to users’ changing environments to deliver unparalleled audio quality.

The Noise Shield technology was originally developed by Aliph for DARPA (The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to enhance communications in the most hostile and rugged environments. This technology includes an intelligent system of sensors and software, which continuously adjusts—at a rate of 500 times per second—to improve audio quality based on what it knows about the environment. In doing this, the Jawbone headset will:

1. Identify and isolate your speech: Jawbone is the only headset that has a proprietary voice activity sensor. Its ability to determine precisely when you are speaking is what drives the headset’s superior sound quality. Unlike other headsets, Jawbone can easily separate your speech from other sounds nearby.
2. Subtract the unwanted noise: Jawbone’s proprietary software continuously samples the sounds in your environment, and then subtracts those sounds from your speech signal. This allows you to speak normally in any environment while still being heard clearly when placing calls.
3. Automatically enhance your audio: Jawbone constantly adapts, allowing you to hear your caller better by boosting the frequencies that increase voice intelligibility to stand out over your environment.

“We endeavored to build the first headset all users will actually want to wear,” said Hosain Rahman, Aliph CEO and co-founder. “We’ve always led the industry from a technology perspective, now we’ve integrated that adaptive technology into a Bluetooth headset that is simple, intuitive, and easy to use – the total product experience has been designed around how consumers actually use wearable technology. As an innovator in wireless communications, Cingular is the perfect partner to bring the new Jawbone to market.”

“Jawbone is the first Bluetooth headset that adjusts and optimizes both incoming and outgoing sound so you can conquer the problems of a noisy, unpredictable world,” said David Christopher, Vice President, Product Management, Cingular Wireless. “Today’s consumers may often find themselves having conversations in less than ideal environments. With Jawbone, our customers can now make phone calls comfortably in high-traffic, high noise locations. We are pleased to be the first wireless carrier worldwide to bring this unique, best-in-class product to market.”

Jawbone has a perforated shield that curves to match the outline of the face, while the soft and smooth underside provides a comfortable feel on the skin. Only 14 grams, Jawbone feels very light on the head and can be worn on either ear. Earloops in four different sizes and shapes ensure a customized fit and feel while also maximizing stability on the ear.

“With Jawbone, we set out to transform a technology product into a personal accessory,” said Yves Béhar, who joined Aliph as vice president and creative director while continuing to lead fuseproject, the San Francisco-based design studio he founded. “Jawbone’s ergonomic and clean design enhances all aspects of the product experience: visual, tactile and auditory.”

The Jawbone Bluetooth headset was awarded an International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award and an iF Product Design Award. An earlier generation of the Jawbone headset was honored with the 2005 CES Innovations Award, the BusinessWeek Industrial Design Excellence Award, and a DEMOgod(tm) award from the DEMO industry conference group in 2004. The first version of Jawbone has also been exhibited at both the New York Museum of Modern Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Jawbone is currently available exclusively at select Cingular Wireless retail stores nationwide for $119.99 and is compatible with all Bluetooth-enabled handsets. Consumers can also visit www.jawbone.com.

About Aliph
Aliph was founded in 1999 by Alex Asseily and Hosain Rahman, two young engineering entrepreneurs who met as Stanford undergrads. The pair shared a belief that voice would be the dominant interface for mobile devices and that creating a noise-free environment was critical to delivering an improved mobile communications experience. Aliph is committed to ensuring that mobile users have the best possible experience anywhere, anytime. Since 2002, Aliph’s technology has been optimized for DARPA to maximize communications clarity in the most hostile conditions. Aliph’s first consumer product, the Jawbone headset, debuted in 2004 to critical acclaim for its marriage of performance, design and comfort. Headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., Aliph is funded by private investors and the Mayfield fund. For more information about Jawbone, please go to www.jawbone.com.

About Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 58.7 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation — the ALLOVER^™ network — and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover^®, the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com. Get Cingular Wireless press releases emailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com.

Cingular today said its 3G mobile broadband network now extends from San Francisco to New York, and from Chicago to Dallas, making advanced wireless services available in more than 160 markets, including most of the top 100 major cities in the country.The company’s 3G network offers advanced wireless services, such as viewing video clips, and enhances existing wireless services by making them run faster. Customers can now download a game or ringtone, or access e-mail, in a fraction of the time it used to take. Additionally, Cingular customers using a 3G handset can access all the company’s data services whenever they’re connected to the Cingular network.

“We’re delivering on a commitment we made to our customers to enhance our core network and extend our 3G services nationally,” said Ed Reynolds, president of Network Services for Cingular. “We will continue investing in and building out our 3G network so that customers across the country can experience all the benefits that wireless communications can deliver.”

Cingular customers can now use its 3G mobile broadband network to rapidly access e-mail, browse the Internet, connect to business applications, or watch video clips while on-the-go whether standing under the Space Needle in Seattle or partying along Miami’s South Beach.

Cingular’s 3G network provides average download data speeds between 400- 700 kilobits per second with bursts to over one megabit. HSDPA/UMTS technology makes it possible for people to enjoy a wide variety of wireless content and gives Cingular the advantage of offering simultaneous voice and data services to customers based upon the global standard for wireless communications - GSM. For businesses and consumers, this means more feature- rich services and content, and for Cingular, a more economical method for carrying traffic and more efficient use of spectrum.

HSDPA is the high-speed evolution of GSM/EDGE (Global System for Mobile Communication), which shares a common core network and therefore is backward compatible with EDGE/GPRS.

In areas where the 3G network is not available, customers will automatically receive service on the company’s EDGE network. The Cingular EDGE network is available to more than 270 million people in 13,000 cities and towns and in areas along 40,000 miles of highways, providing average data speeds up to 135Kbps. GSM is the world’s most popular wireless technology, which is used by international wireless carriers to serve more than two billion people worldwide and enabling Cingular customers to make/receive voice calls in nearly 200 countries and access data services in more than 115 countries. With select 3G devices, customers traveling internationally can receive mobile broadband connections in more than two dozen countries.

Consumers can use Cingular Video to watch video highlights from media outlets including ABC TV, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, CMT, CNN, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, Disney Mobile Studios, ESPN, FOX Sports, FOX News, FOX TV, FUEL, HBO Family (premium), HBO Mobile (premium), iFilm, Jayski Alerts, MTV, Music Choice, NASCAR.com To Go (premium), NCAA Championship Sports Content, NBC, Nickelodeon, Richard Childress Racing, SPEED, Spike, The Weather Channel, TV Guide Channel and VH1. They can also view highlights of a number of HBO’s series including “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Entourage” or “The Wire.”

Business customers can use Cingular’s LaptopConnect solutions to access the Internet or e-mail, download large files and attachments, or run corporate business applications. Cingular LaptopConnect combines either an external LaptopConnect card or an integrated modem within a Laptop and Cingular’s Communication Manager to provide access to the 3G network. The service also offers additional security features compared to alternative wireless technologies.

For more information on Cingular’s 3G services, coverage maps, devices and more, please visit http://www.cingular.com/3g.

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 58.7 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture of AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation — the ALLOVER™ network — and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(r), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases emailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com/.

Wireless Users Protected Against Connection Losses on Wireless Devices

Cingular Wireless today introduced NetMotion Wireless’ Mobility XE™, which ensures that handheld and laptop- based mobile applications remain available for data input and activity even if the user travels outside a wireless coverage area or across diverse networks. The innovative solution then resumes the wireless session automatically once the mobile device regains contact with the wireless network.

The solution, which is available through Cingular’s direct sales organization, is a mobile virtual private network (VPN) that is easily installed on the mobile user’s Windows-based device. It provides an encrypted tunnel for wireless data, and allows applications to remain in operation even if the connection to the wireless network is interrupted. When connectivity is regained, the mobile user can resume their work without the need re-start the application, or their VPN. This enhances the productivity of mobile workers needing access to critical data on wirelessly-enabled notebooks and handhelds, such as law enforcement and fire personnel, paramedics and home healthcare nurses.

NetMotion Wireless’ Mobility XE™ also features data compression and optimization capabilities that give customers the ability to extend even more internal processes and legacy applications into a wireless environment. The solution allows customers to mobilize applications that otherwise would not function well in a wireless environment by reducing protocol overhead and chattiness, and compressing data and Web images. Customers can do so without modifying their applications or upgrading them to special, wirelessly enabled versions, or performing expensive development work.

“Cingular’s new Mobility XE™ solution from NetMotion Wireless eliminates the risk of having applications interrupted and data lost, particularly when responding to emergency situations,” said Laura Johnson, senior director, enterprise solutions, for Cingular Wireless. “Mobile workers are able to pick up where they left off even if they temporarily travel out of coverage. This ability to maintain continuous and secure application access will provide our government customers with an even higher level of comfort and confidence when working in a mobile environment. And the same benefits apply to the enterprise.”

“Reliable and continuous mobile access to mission-critical information is imperative for our customers who depend on accurate data and applications without fail,” said Tom Johnston, senior vice president, products and marketing for NetMotion Wireless. Mobility XE™ is invaluable to any government agency or business where mobile communication plays a role in the organization’s success.”

NetMotion Wireless’ Mobility XE™ scales from a pilot program with a few mobile workers to a production installation supporting thousands with ease, making it a viable solution for organizations of varied sizes and demands.

Cingular Wireless counts some 1,800 federal, state and local government agencies as customers, and provides wireless services to 95 of the Fortune 100 companies and more than 80 percent of the Fortune 500.

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 58.7 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation — the ALLOVER™ network — and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover®, the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases emailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com/.

About NetMotion Wireless, Inc.

NetMotion Wireless is the industry leader among mobile VPN solution providers, with over 1,000 customers. Mobility XE™, the company’s flagship product, enables hundreds of thousands of mobile workers to get connected and stay connected to critical business applications over wireless networks. Because of its outstanding technology, Mobility XE has received more than 20 product awards, including an Editor’s Choice designation from Network Computing. For more information about NetMotion Wireless or its products, please visit http://www.netmotionwireless.com/, or call (206) 691-5500.

NetMotion and NetMotion Mobility are registered trademarks of NetMotion Wireless, Inc. Mobility XE is a trademark of NetMotion Wireless, Inc.

Leading Insurance Industry Franchisor Rolls Out Wireless Voice and Data Services To Enhance Agent Productivity and Customer Service

Brooke Franchise Corporation has selected Cingular Wireless to make voice and data services available to its network of more than 700 franchise locations in a highly competitive insurance industry. The two-year national contract gives franchisees access to a variety of devices and services, including those based on Cingular’s UMTS/HSDPA technology.

In addition to voice-only handsets, Cingular will provide Brooke Franchise Corporation and its franchisees with access to a portfolio of integrated voice/data devices, including the EDGE-based Cingular 8125 Pocket PC, Cingular 2125 Smartphone and HP iPAQ 6500 Pocket PC, and Cingular LaptopConnect cards enabled for Cingular’s 3G-based BroadbandConnect service.

According to Shawn Lowry, president of Brooke Franchise Corporation, Cingular’s wireless voic