EarthLink to Become First ISP to Offer Wireless Data and Voice Solutions [March 22, 2004]

ATLANTA, Mar 22, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- EarthLink (ELNK) , one of the nation's leading ISPs, today announced that it will begin selling its own brand of converged wireless data and voice devices. As the first ISP to offer an end-to-end wireless data and voice solution, EarthLink plans to debut its first product this spring with a complete bundle of applications on a handheld device including email, voice calling and Internet browsing, all sold, supported and provisioned by EarthLink.

Email on EarthLink's new line of handhelds will be an extension of the EarthLink experience and will be protected by EarthLink spamBlocker, which blocks virtually 100 percent of all unwanted email messages. The company predicts that mobile spam will soon become a problem for users of converged devices as wireless access becomes more commonplace. In Japan, where mobile email is more prominent, the leading provider, NTT DoCoMo, processes 800 million wireless spam messages daily.

"Mobile professionals rely on wireless email to make them more productive. Spam, if unchecked, has the potential to eliminate the very reason for having a wireless device in the first place," said Brent Cobb, vice president, EarthLink Wireless. "We are looking at voice the same way we have looked at wireless email and Internet, as an application our customers want as a part of a complete wireless solution."

EarthLink is responding to its wireless data customers who are looking for an experienced provider to let them take advantage of the convergence of applications on next generation devices. EarthLink has served the data- focused mobile professional for the past four years with wireless services on a variety of platforms, utilizing several data networks including Mobitex, ReFLEX, DataTAC and CDMA 1xRTT.

EarthLink's new wireless offering will debut with an integrated handheld data and voice device, featuring a full QWERTY keyboard and bundled with state-of-the-art PDA functionality that allows the user to access data from a calendar or address book while on a voice call. Pricing and service plans for the EarthLink Wireless Email and Voice will be announced this spring and will feature service and price bundles with EarthLink's other access products. Later this year, EarthLink will add to its converged wireless data and voice product line with additional devices. For more information customers can visit www.ctia.earthlinkwireless.net .

About EarthLink

"EarthLink revolves around you(TM)." Celebrating ten years as a leading national Internet service provider (ISP), Atlanta-based EarthLink has earned an award-winning reputation for outstanding customer service and its suite of online products and services. According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM), EarthLink is ranked highest in customer satisfaction among high-speed Internet Service Providers. Serving more than five million subscribers, EarthLink offers what every user should expect from their Internet experience: high- quality connectivity, minimal drop-offs and ISP-generated intrusions, and customizable features. Whether it's dial-up, high-speed, Web hosting, or wireless Internet service, EarthLink provides the tools that best let individuals use and enjoy the Internet on their own terms. Learn more about EarthLink by calling (800) EARTHLINK or visiting EarthLink's Web site at www.earthlink.net .

SOURCE EarthLink

David Blumenthal, +1-404-748-7316, or
blumenthald@corp.earthlink.net, or Deisha Galberth, +1-404-748-7146, or
galberth@corp.earthlink.net, both of EarthLink