Wal-Mart Announces New 24 Hour Roadside Assistance Program

BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 9 For the first time, motorists can buy roadside assistance the same way they buy a quart of oil or a tire gauge, thanks to a cooperative effort between Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and TracFone Wireless, Inc. At nearly 2,600 Wal-Mart stores and Supercenters nationwide, Wal-Mart is featuring TracFone's 24 Hour Roadside Assistance, which covers up to five family members throughout the United States and Canada for only $49.74 a year.

24 Hour Roadside Assistance member benefits include the following free services: flat-tire changes, towing up to 30 miles, battery jump-starts, fuel delivery, vehicle lock-outs and accident/collision assistance. Member families can use these services for all vehicles they own or lease.

"There are more than 132 million registered automobiles in the United States, and fewer than half are covered by roadside assistance," said Ken Reese, director of operations for Wal-Mart's Tire and Lube Express. "By offering roadside assistance memberships in a simple and widely available off-the-shelf format, we're helping our customers enjoy a higher level of travel security at a very affordable price."

Here's how easy it really is to join: Customers buy a TracFone 24 Hour Roadside Assistance card at any Wal-Mart store, then they simply register their membership by calling a toll-free number or visiting the Web site at www.24roadside.com . After the membership is active, whenever a customer needs emergency roadside service, all he or she needs to do is call a toll-free number.

TracFone's roadside assistance provider, Road America, currently serves 3.5 million members nationwide and has 24 years of experience in the motor- club industry. Road America has more than 50,000 service providers throughout the United States and Canada.

With annual sales of $218 billion, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates more than 2,740 discount stores, Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets, and more than 500 SAM'S CLUBS in the United States. Internationally, the company operates more than 1,170 units. Wal-Mart employs 1.3 million associates worldwide. More information about Wal-Mart can be located online at www.walmartstores.com and www.walmart.com . The SAM'S CLUB Web site can be accessed at www.samsclub.com .

TracFone Wireless is the leader in prepaid service. Its prepaid wireless product, TracFone Wireless, has no contracts, credit checks, monthly bills, activation or reactivation fees, deposits, or minimum age requirements, which are commonly associated with traditional wireless plans. TracFone Wireless recently expanded its growing portfolio of prepaid products with the release of 24 Hour Roadside Assistance. TracFone Wireless is an affiliate of America Movil. For more information on TracFone Wireless, visit the Web site at www.tracfone.com .