Tuesday night's jump in text messaging volume smashed previous spikes intext messaging reported by AT&T. For example, the peak transactions persecond following Tuesday's announcement was significantly higher than the peaktransactions per second logged for the most recent New Year's Eve, a day thatconsistently ranks among the busiest texting days for AT&T.

"The spike on Tuesday night rang true for us," said Mark Collins, vicepresident of Voice and Data Services, AT&T Mobility & Consumer Markets."Texting has become so valuable a communication tool that it is how people aresharing thoughts and information and connecting with each other in even themost important moments."

Text messaging became the ubiquitous language of politics for young peoplethis election cycle. Throughout the election, AT&T worked to advance publicdiscourse through text messaging and mobile technology, teaming up with Rockthe Vote to drive voter registration and turnout among young adults ages18-29, in particular. For example, the two organizations launched a short codethat let youth opt in to receive election information and reminders via text.

A recent Nielsen study reported that U.S. consumers now use their cellphones for text messaging more often than for talking. In third quarter 2008earnings, AT&T reported that more than 64 billion text messages crossed itsnetwork. The company also recently launched a new line of quick messagingphones that are designed to make texting faster and easier.

For more information on AT&T's messaging plans and quick messaging phones,visit http://www.att.com/textmessaging.

The percentage increase in text messaging traffic for election night wascalculated by comparing day-of peak messages per second with the averagemessages per second peak for the previous five days.

About AT&T

AT&T (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Itssubsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers ofAT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offeringsare the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services andthe nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services.In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing andadvertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COMorganizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields ascommunications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy,AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again rankedNo. 1 on Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Telecommunications Companylist and No. 1 on America's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list.Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services providedby AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/.

SOURCE AT&T Inc.