SAN ANTONIO, TX–(HISPANIC PR WIRE)–Oct. 6, 2003–For decades, the SBC family of companies has continued to recognize the distinct communications needs of Hispanic customers, embrace Hispanic employees’ contributions to the growth and success of the company, and support Hispanic businesses and organizations in serving their community and thriving.
“At SBC Communications Inc., we know that the commitment to diversity makes our company more responsive to employees, customers and communities,” said Nelson Balido, SBC diversity marketing director. “As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we reflect on the Hispanic heritage and renew our commitment to continuing to provide leading customer service and product options, opportunities and support to Hispanics in all the regions where SBC services are available.”
Since the 1980s, SBC customer service has provided customers the option to receive information and assistance. Today, through more than 10 call centers with Spanish capabilities and more than 1,600 customer service representatives who speak the language across the company’s 13-state territory, Hispanic customers can access customers service and receive technical assistance for DSL in Spanish, and also can set up in-language content on their personalized SBC Yahoo! DSL portal.
In addition, products and services such as SBC Long Distance’s Mexico plan options are designed with the distinct needs of Hispanic customers in mind. SBC Long Distance offers compelling calling plans to Mexico — one of the top three most-called countries among U.S. residents — in the form of buckets of minutes that deliver calling options for a flat monthly fee. SBC Long Distance plans also have flat fee options to Central and South America and to other international destinations through SBC International Saver options.
Hispanic consumers make up approximately 25 percent of the SBC customer base. The SBC service area includes three of the top five Hispanic population clusters in the nation: Texas, California and Illinois.
SBC Communications Inc. has a long history of providing services and products to serve the needs of our Hispanic consumers. For example, the first SBC bilingual service center opened in California in the 1980s, and the first Spanish-language SBC ad appeared on a newspaper in El Paso touting the opening of a new Spanish support call center which created an unprecedented amount of calls from customers who were looking for this option. SBC companies also have a long tradition of providing consumer education information to Spanish-speakers across its 13-state territory, as a way to help prevent fraud and phone scams.
In addition, the SBC tradition of leadership is focused on investing in the people and communities it serves through a variety of philanthropic and volunteerism initiatives. The company supports the educational progress and achievement of Hispanics and currently contributes to 30 organizations with educational programs or scholarships supporting Hispanics. Hundreds of minority organizations have benefited from the company’s outreach. This year, 98 Hispanic-serving organizations received funds through the SBC Foundation’s SBC Excelerator annual program. In 2002-2003, the SBC foundation and companies contributed more than $7.2 million to Hispanic or Hispanic-focused organizations throughout the company’s 13-state region.
From its workforce diversity to its philanthropic efforts, SBC Communications Inc. has a legacy of understanding, embracing and promoting diversity providing employment and leadership opportunities to employees and Hispanic businesses. In fact, the company is recognized nationally as one of the Best Companies for Diversity by Fortune Magazine, one of the best companies for supplier diversity by DiversityInc.com, and also has been named as one of the best companies for Latinas by LATINAStyle magazine.
For assistance in Spanish, SBC residential customers can call: 1-800-870-5855 in California; 1-800-559-0050 in Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma; 1-800-621-4533 in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin; and 1-800-5CONTIGOor 1-866-772-6932 in Connecticut. Business customers in California can call 1-800-300-2733 for assistance in Spanish. In Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri, business customers can call 1-800-908-9232 for assistance in Spanish.
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SBC Communications Salutes Hispanic Employees, Customers and Community Partners; Emphasizes Commitment to Serving and Supporting Them in Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 2/2
SBC Communications Inc. (http://www.sbc.com) is one of the world’s leading data, voice and Internet services providers. Through its world-class networks, SBC companies provide a full range of voice, data, networking and e-business services, as well as directory advertising and publishing. A Fortune 30 company, SBC is America’s leading provider of high-speed DSL Internet Access services and one of the nation’s leading Internet Service Providers. SBC companies currently serve 56 million access lines nationwide. In addition, SBC companies own 60 percent of America’s second-largest wireless company, Cingular Wireless, which serves 23 million wireless customers. Internationally, SBC companies have telecommunications investments in 25 countries.
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Maribel Ferrer, 214.665.1308
