AT&T Accused of Profiting at Expense of GIs in Iraq The Prepaid Press Uncovers $48 Million Monopoly Jan 12, 2005 MIAMI, FL (January 12, 2005) The Prepaid Press is publishing an investigative report in its January 15, 2005 issue alleging that AT&T has monopolized prepaid calling services in Iraq, generating at least $48 million a year. Senior editor Gene Retske reports that AT&T established payphones in Iraq are blocking access to other carriers, selling its services for prices that are three to four times those charged by competitors. The report says that AT&T would not be permitted to monopolize access on its payphones under US laws. US payphone operators can charge alternate carriers a fee for the use of their payphones, but cannot block them. "AT&T is doing something in Iraq that would be banned in any shopping mall, airport or street corner here in the States," said Retske. NetworkIP, a Dallas-based leader in stored value solutions, developed the CallMe Card, a prepaid toll-free service, to enable connections between service personnel in Iraq and their families, and then donated 10,000 cards to service personnel and their families to make it easier for them to maintain connections with their loved ones. AT&T blocked the use of the CallMe Card by service personnel. Pete Pattullo, Network IP CEO and president, added, "It is unfortunate that restrictions from AT&T are resulting in more hardships for our troops. Companies should do all they can to enable communications -- not restrict them." Retske added that he hopes that by exposing this, some action may be taken to offer GI's a more economical alternative for staying touch with family back home. About The Prepaid Press The Prepaid Press is the most current source of news and information about the prepaid communications industry - an industry that has reached nearly $10 billion in revenue in less than a decade. Visit The Prepaid Press online at www.prepaid-press.com. Contact: Gene Retske, Senior Editor The Prepaid Press 866.203.2334 ext. 502 gretske@prepaid-press.com