FTE France Telecom Deepens Mobile-Internet ConvergenceWith New Itineris Voice Email Service.

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 1999--France Telecom has launched a new service that lets customers of its Itineris GSM cellular network check email messages from their mobile phones.

This innovative service is extremely simple to use, allowing people to both access messages and send

Designed for people who already have an email address, the service redirects messages from their regular account to the Itineris voice email service (Itineris number@vocal.itineris.tm.fr). Messages in French and English are accurately read thanks to a text-to-speech process developed by France Telecom's CNET research center.

Itineris subscribers are notified that they have new mail with a short message on the handset showing the sender's name, subject, priority and number of attachments. To listen to the message, users dial 840 and can then respond by sending either a standard text message ("Message received, thank you") or by recording a voice message. Users may also filter messages for forwarding to their mobile phone, according to the sender name, keywords in the subject or priority level.

The new service is as easy to use as the standard voicemail application and requires no additional equipment. It costs approximately FRF 30 per month (including VAT), plus the regular cost of the call and a surcharge of approximately FRF 2 per minute (including VAT).

Customers can sign up for this new service from France Telecom Mobiles directly on the Itineris Web site (http://vocal.itineris.tm.fr) by clicking on the "Email Vocal" icon.

By integrating the Internet and wireless phones, France Telecom underscores its position as "The Net Company" and brings Itineris customers an innovative service with real added value. France Telecom is one of the world's leading telecommunications carriers, with 1997 consolidated operating revenues of FRF 156.7 billion, 33.7 million telephone lines in service and operations in more than 50 countries. In addition to wireless services, France Telecom provides businesses and consumers with local and long-distance telephony, data, online, Internet, cable-TV, broadcast and value-added services. France Telecom (NYSE: FTE) held an initial public offering in October 1997. Together with Deutsche Telekom and Sprint, France Telecom created the international joint venture Global One, providing global, seamless voice and data services for businesses, consumers and carriers.