AT&T Announces Free Technology Classes to Start During Older Americans Month

Briefings on Mobile Phones, Cybersafety for Senior Consumers

SAN ANTONIO, May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In recognition of Older
Americans Month, AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) announced today that the company is
launching free briefings to seniors on how to operate their mobile phones and
on Internet cybersafety in various cities throughout the country. The
briefings will continue through the rest of the year.
"As the No. 1 provider of broadband and wireless service in the country,
we consider it our responsibility to help create a safe environment for all
consumers, including seniors," said Brent Olson, AT&T assistant vice
president, Public Policy. "These briefings are a way for consumers to learn
more about how to wisely use technology, including the benefits as well as the
challenges."
Pilot briefings on mobile phones were hosted by OASIS, a national
nonprofit educational organization for mature adults, with programming in at
least 26 cities in the U.S. Using the OASIS model as a guide, AT&T teams in
various states will reach out throughout the year to other organizations and
facilities that serve mature adults.
In the OASIS pilots, participants received one-on-one coaching from AT&T
volunteers, who answered participants' questions and helped them learn to use
their current phones, regardless of which carrier they were using. More than
300 seniors have learned several functions of their mobile phones, from basic
inbound and outbound call techniques to text messaging functions.
"We are pleased to have launched this important and popular program for
our members, who increasingly look to their mobile phones as a mode of
communication with the outside world," said Marcia Kerz, president of OASIS.
"It's unusual for any company to offer free programs like this, which is a
hit because seniors can learn in a comfortable setting. The participants have
responded very positively to the information they have learned."
The pilot briefings with OASIS were held in a handful of cities, including
Houston, Phoenix, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. Upcoming briefings will
include St. Louis, Chicago, San Antonio and Rochester, N.Y.
In addition, AT&T will hold its first cybersafety briefing for seniors at
an event hosted by the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged (NCBA) in
Chicago on May 29. Cybersafety briefings will become available at various
cities throughout the country.
The briefings will help provide tips to seniors on the challenges of
staying safe on the Internet and on their wireless phone and will cover the
following topics:
-- Spam and scams
-- Fraud and phishing
-- Identity theft
-- Privacy
-- Spyware
-- Social networking sites, including card games such as bridge and other
activities

"Increasingly, the senior population is using the Internet for a wide
variety of applications, including accessing personal health records,
shopping, online learning and managing finances -- far more than just
e-mailing photos of children and grandchildren," said Kristin Fabos, executive
director for SeniorNet, an organization of computer-using adults 50 and older,
with 150 SeniorNet Computer Learning Centers throughout the country. "With
such increased usage comes increased security concerns, so we need to do what
we can to educate our members on cybersafety."
SeniorNet and OASIS are members of AT&T's Advisory Panel on Access Aging,
which meets quarterly with AT&T's key decision-makers and advises on issues
that affect customers and employees who are aging and/or have disabilities.
For more information on these programs and other online safety initiatives
by AT&T, please visit http://www.att.com/safety. See more about the OASIS
program at http://www.oasisnet.org/cities/cellphones.htm and for more
information about SeniorNet visit http://www.seniornet.org.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its
subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of
AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings
are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and
the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services.
In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and
advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM
organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as
communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy,
AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked
No. 1 on Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Telecommunications Company
list and No. 1 on America's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided
by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.

Andrea Brands of AT&T Inc., +1-312-696-3625, andrea.brands@att.com