Ameritech Is First Major Local Communications Company to Compete
                            in $2.2 Billion Market

    CHICAGO, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Extending its reach in international long
distance, Ameritech (NYSE: AIT) today introduced a new service that gives its
calling card customers competitive rates and the ability to know what they'll
pay when calling home from abroad.
    Ameritech's new Global Calling Service protects its 7-million calling card
customers from being gouged when calling home from abroad or when calling
between foreign countries.  Starting today, the service is automatically
available to all Ameritech calling card customers -- no sign-up or extra fees
are required.
    With the service, Ameritech becomes the first major local communications
company to enter the $2.2 billion international, "country-direct" calling
market.  Global Calling Service is the latest addition to Ameritech's
portfolio of international long distance services.  In July, Ameritech
launched Global Gateway Services, a subsidiary that provides wholesale
international transport services to other carriers.
    "With Global Calling Service, Ameritech is giving customers the benefits
of new competition in a market that up until now has been dominated by the
major long distance carriers," said Bruce Chatterley, vice president of
marketing at Ameritech Consumer Services.  "Now, we can carry customers' calls
from Paris to Chicago.  We hope to take the next long distance step soon, so
we can carry calls from Detroit to Chicago or Milwaukee to Indianapolis."

    Gouging Protection
    For the 20 million Americans expected to travel internationally this year,
being gouged for calls home remains a major risk.  In fact, American consumers
unknowingly spend millions of dollars in excessive phone charges when calling
from foreign hotels and pay phones, according to Amanda McCarthy, an analyst
for the Yankee Group, a telecommunications consulting firm.
    "Global Calling Service protects our customers from phone gouging because
customers control who handles their calls," said Chatterley.  "This is
especially important during the upcoming holiday season, when many customers
will be traveling and using their cards abroad."
    Global Calling Service protects customers from gouging because users dial
an access code to avoid high-priced foreign carriers.  The code links them
directly to an English-speaking Ameritech operator, who places their call.
    For more information on how to use the Global Calling Service, or to
obtain a free  wallet card with dialing instructions and country access codes,
customers can call 888-988-8977.
    Ameritech (NYSE: AIT) serves millions of customers in 50 states and 40
countries.  Ameritech provides a full range of communications services,
including local and long distance telephone, cellular, paging, security
monitoring, cable TV, electronic commerce, on-line services and more.  One of
the world's 100 largest companies, Ameritech (http://www.ameritech.com) has 68,000
employees, 1 million shareowners, and more than $23 billion in assets.
                                  Fact Sheet
                      Ameritech Global Calling Service

    Key Benefits:

    *  Competitive rates:  Using country-direct calling services like
Ameritech's Global Calling Service can save customers between 25 and 60
percent off the rates charged by some high-priced foreign carriers.
Ameritech's rates are competitive with the major U.S. long distance carriers.
Ameritech's surcharge fee is also 30 percent less than those charged by the
major carriers for operator-assisted calls ($2.50 instead of $3.50).

    *  Easy-to-use service:  To place their call, customers dial a toll-free
access code which  links them to a live, English-speaking operator who can
give customers the rate for their call -- no recordings and automated
processes. Customers simply give the operator the number they're trying to
reach, as well as their calling card number and four-digit PIN, and the
operator connects the call.  Charges are billed in U.S. currency on customers'
monthly Ameritech bills.

    *  Most popular destinations covered:  The service is available in 51
foreign countries, including Americans' most preferred travel destinations.
Ameritech will continue to add countries to the service monthly.

    *  Convenient 800 number:  Customers can call 888-988-8977 for more
information, or to obtain a free wallet card with dialing instructions and
country access codes.

    Ameritech Tips:  How to avoid being gouged when calling home from abroad.

    *  If you're calling from a foreign country hotel room, don't ask the
hotel operator to help connect your call and don't dial "0" for an
international operator.  If you do, you could be gouged for your call.

    *  If you're at a foreign country pay phone, don't make direct coin or
collect calls because many foreign public phones assess high fees for these
calls.

    *  To place your call, use a calling card that links you to your card's
carrier.  You could save between 25 and 60 percent on your call.  For example,
with Ameritech's Global Calling Service, customers avoid high-priced foreign
carriers by dialing an access code that links them to an Ameritech operator.

    *  If you have to recite your calling card number to an operator, do it
softly so people nearby can't hear the number.  This is one way calling card
numbers can be stolen and used illegally.

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