AT&T Launches New Video E-Mail Feature

AT&T WorldNet(R) Service Only Leading ISP to Offer Streaming Video E-Mail Capability Marion Jones, 'Fastest Woman on Earth,' Takes Service for a Test Run

June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T (NYSE: T) today announced a free trial offer of AT&T WorldNet(R) Service Internet Video E-Mail, an innovative feature that enables AT&T WorldNet subscribers to create and send Internet video e-mail. AT&T is the only leading ISP to offer Internet video e-mail that doesn't require the user or receiver to load extra software for viewing, or hassle with large video files. Talkway Communications, a multimedia delivery content service provider, delivers the streaming capability and hosts the video content on its servers.

AT&T WorldNet Service subscribers with a basic windows-based Pentium-class computer, an Internet Web camera and a microphone can create and send audio/video messages to anyone with an Internet connection and Windows operating system. Once the message is recorded, the video content is compressed and sent to a server where it is then streamed on demand across the Internet to the recipient.

A confirmation message lets the sender know the message has been successfully sent. If the recipient has a computer equipped with a camera and a recorder, a video reply can be easily returned.

Recipients' e-mail boxes are never overloaded with bandwidth-hogging audio/video file attachments. The video e-mail messages are stored on the server and available for viewing for 30 days. A sample video email created by Gold Medallist track and field athlete Marion Jones is available at http://www.att.com.

"AT&T WorldNet Internet Video E-Mail is a simple way to create and send truly personalized voice and video messages to friends and family. It's fun, it's easy-and AT&T WorldNet Service is the only ISP that offers it," said Ed Chatlos, vice president and general manager of AT&T WorldNet Service. "It's a great way to really 'see' your college kids while they're away at school, send video greetings to parents and grandparents and, if you're Marion Jones, display your medals and trophies."

During the trial, AT&T WorldNet Service will offer subscribers up to 60 free minutes a month per account of video e-mail usage until July 31.

"The highly competitive nature of the ISP industry is driving providers to find compelling differentiators for their service," said Rob Lancaster, Internet Market Strategies Analyst at the Yankee Group. "AT&T's video e-mail is a simple yet effective way for consumers to improve their level of personal interaction and further increase their overall satisfaction with their ISP."

Minute usage is tallied for both recording and viewing video e-mails. For example, recording a one-minute message and sending the message to two people uses three minutes of a subscriber's allotted minutes. Minutes used for subsequent sessions or viewing of forwarded video e-mails also count toward the subscriber's total allotted minutes.

AT&T WorldNet Service will offer its subscribers the opportunity to purchase a Logitech QuickCam(R) Express(TM) camera and microphone for a special price of $29.95. Comparable cameras have a retail value of $49.95.

More information is available online at http://att.net. Consumers also can call 1-800-WORLDNET to sign up for AT&T WorldNet Service.

About AT&T WorldNet Service:
Launched in March 1996, AT&T WorldNet(R) Service (http://www.att.net) is one of the leading Internet Service Providers (ISP) in the United States. Its dependable Internet connection provides access to the vastness of the Internet including news, people finders, search engines, travel specials and much more. An award-winner for its quality customer care, AT&T WorldNet Service has consistently been rated among the most reliable ISPs (in Smart Money, PC World and PC Magazine).

In J.D. Power and Associates latest survey, AT&T WorldNet ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among the largest national Internet Service Providers. AT&T earned its top position of overall customer satisfaction based on seven factors, including speed/availability, cost/billing/image, suitability of services/content, customer care/technical support, e-mail services, navigation/access to other portals and ease of use. In November, PC World gave AT&T WorldNet Service their Best Buy award, noting AT&T's outstanding dial-up speed, high connection success rate, great extras like multiple e-mail boxes, and superior support.

About Talkway Communications
Talkway Communications is a multimedia content delivery service provider that leads the industry in delivering audio/video content to and from virtually anyone, anywhere. Talkway's communications and e-marketing services enable companies to simply and easily incorporate audio and video content into a variety of Internet applications. Talkway Communications is headquartered in Fremont, California, and maintains additional offices in Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY and Paris, France. For more information, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.talkway.com.

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SOURCE AT&T