World's Largest Chevy Dealer Rides on MCI Solutions

Bill Heard Dealerships Select MCI for Voice and Data Services

ASHBURN, Va., March 9 -- MCI, Inc. today announced that Bill Heard Enterprises, Inc, has selected MCI as its primary provider of voice and data communications. Under terms of the three-year agreement, MCI will help Bill Heard Enterprises continue its rapid pace of expansion by delivering dedicated Internet, frame relay and various voice services to 18 Bill Heard locations in seven states.

MCI will provide Bill Heard dealership locations with a frame relay data network that enables them to verify credit and loan applications, sales orders, access the company intranet and track employee compensation among other business-critical functions. By switching its network services to MCI, Bill Heard Enterprises will be well positioned to consolidate its voice, data and Internet traffic onto its frame relay network resulting in low-cost, streamlined management of its communications services.

"Our data and voice networks are an integral part of running our business," said Cheryl Vasquez, IT Manager for Bill Heard Enterprises. "With the combined technology experience of MCI's tenured account team and its state-of-the-art network services, Bill Heard Enterprises has been able to drive greater efficiencies and higher productivity at our dealership locations and for the overall business."

In 1993, Bill Heard Enterprises was first listed as one of Forbes' 500 largest privately held corporations in the United States, and proudly earned its first $1 billion in annual sales in 1995. Since its modest beginnings in 1919 in Georgia, this family-owned company now serves customers in seven states including Nevada, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Arizona and Georgia, making it the world's largest Chevy dealer.

"Bill Heard is growing year by year and we will grow with them," said Scott Eason, vice president of Sales for MCI Commercial Markets. "Leveraging our voice and data expertise and network footprint, Bill Heard dealerships across the country will benefit from reliable connectivity to their business partners as well as delivering the highest level of customer service that auto buyers have come to expect over the years."

About MCI

MCI, Inc. is a leading global communications provider, delivering innovative, cost-effective, advanced communications connectivity to businesses, governments and consumers.

With the industry's most expansive global IP backbone, based on the number of company-owned points of presence, and wholly-owned data networks, MCI develops the converged communications products and services that are the foundation for commerce and communications in today's market. For more information, go to http://www.mci.com/.