Discount tire san antonio

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 2004

SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) today announced a new nationwide long distance voice contract with Discount Tire Company.

Under the terms of the three-year contract -- which represents a move by Arizona-based Discount Tire Company to consolidate all of its data and long distance voice services with SBC companies -- SBC Long Distance will provide inbound and outbound long distance voice services to all 566 Discount Tire Company store locations across the United States.

SBC Long Distance currently provides nationwide data networking services for Discount Tire Company, using SBC PremierSERV(SM) Frame Relay Service to provide connectivity to all Discount Tire Company store locations over a dedicated Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network. SBC PremierSERV Frame Relay is a nationwide data service that provides high-speed performance and reliability through the use of advanced packet-switching technology and digital transmission facilities.

"As the largest independent tire dealer in the United States with locations in 18 states, we need a telecommunications provider that can streamline the ordering, provisioning, and servicing of our current network and voice applications, and grow with us to meet future needs," said Trevor Sears, network support supervisor for I.T. Operations, Discount Tire Company. "We've been extremely pleased with how the SBC team has been able to meet our needs, first through the Frame Relay network and now with long distance voice services."

SBC companies deliver a comprehensive range of voice, data and IP services to meet the telecommunications needs of businesses of all sizes. SBC PremierSERV managed service offerings provide businesses with the design, delivery and ongoing management of telecommunications services -- local, long distance, Internet, data transport, equipment and eServices.

With SBC PremierSERV, SBC technical consultants actively manage and monitor a customer's network and services 24x7x365, to ensure the highest levels of reliability, availability and efficiency. SBC companies offer four levels of SBC PremierSERV network management (Basic, Essential, Complete and Customized), providing businesses with flexibility to choose the solution that best complements their staff, budget and monitoring requirements.

"We are very excited about the opportunity to expand our relationship with Discount Tire Company, and to further demonstrate our expertise in meeting the needs of our large business customers with complete, flexible and high-quality communications solutions," said Bob Ferguson, president, SBC Global Markets.

Discount Tire Company is the largest independent tire dealer in the United States with 20 regional sites, more than 566 retail stores and 9,300 employees. Some West Coast stores operate as America's Tire Co. Founded in 1960 by owner Bruce Halle and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, the company sells leading brands, such as Michelin, Goodyear, B.F. Goodrich, Pirelli, Yokohama, and private-label tires, as well as custom wheels and suspension products. Discount Tire Company sells tires online giving customers their choice of having tires or wheels shipped directly to their homes, or soon, the ability to have them installed with an appointment at any store location. Discount Tire Co.'s employees are committed to providing innovative, timely and quality service that exceeds customers' expectations. Computerized sales and inventory systems help to provide those customers the right answers quickly. For further information about Discount Tire, please visit www.tires.com.

SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) is a Fortune 50 company whose subsidiaries, operating under the SBC brand, provide a full range of voice, data, networking, e-business, directory publishing and advertising, and related services to businesses, consumers and other telecommunications providers. SBC holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which serves more than 24 million wireless customers. SBC companies provide high-speed DSL Internet access lines to more American consumers than any other provider and are among the nation's leading providers of Internet services. SBC companies also now offer satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC products and services is available at www.sbc.com.

InterLATA SBC PremierSERV(SM) Frame Relay Service is provided by SBC Long Distance. IntraLATA SBC PremierSERV Frame Relay Service is provided by SBC Advanced Solutions, Inc. (SBC-ASI) throughout the SBC local service areas and by SBC Telecom, Inc. outside the SBC local service areas. Network design, equipment staging, installation, and maintenance are provided by SBC DataComm. SBC DataComm, Inc. is a Delaware corporation. "SBC DataComm" is a d/b/a name registered to Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, LLP, in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, and registered to Pacific Bell Telephone Company in California. SBC, the SBC logo, SBC PremierSERV and other product/service names are trademarks/service marks/registered trademarks of SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (c) 2004 SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P. All rights reserved.