SouthernLINC - Press Releases

SouthernLINC Wireless Becomes First American Wireless Carrier to Offer the Pininfarina-designed Motorola i877 Phone in Red

ATLANTA – July 18, 2008 – SouthernLINC Wireless, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO), today announced it is the sole provider of the Pininfarina-designed Motorola i877 phone for the entire U.S. market.

The ultramodern, hot red Motorola i877 phone features a streamlined, intuitive user interface and a powerful processor, which is up to 30 times faster than previous iDEN handsets. The phone also includes a unique flip-open activation button, stereo Bluetooth® technology, 3D audio and 3D gaming graphics, an integrated 1.3 megapixel digital camera with video recording capabilities, and a music player with a memory expansion slot for additional storage of music files, pictures, videos or podcasts.

“While we all can't drive a fast, luxurious Italian sports car, SouthernLINC Wireless customers can get the look and high performance of one in their wireless phone,” said Bob Dawson, president and chief executive officer of SouthernLINC Wireless. “In fact, we are the only wireless provider in the United States currently selling the new Motorola i877 phone. We're proud to bring the best in design innovation to our customers in the Southeast.”

Pininfarina Extra – a subsidiary of the Italian automotive design house, the Pininfarina Group –led the design process of the Motorola i877 phone. Inspired by a philosophy rooted in elegance, essentiality and innovation, the Pininfarina Extra team looked to the company's legacy of designing some of the world's most iconic automobiles such as Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Maserati.

“Pininfarina Extra ensured the i877 included sleek features and content,” said Julie Pigott, vice president of marketing and customer support at SouthernLINC Wireless. “The i877 delivers a truly immersive experience unlike any other iDEN handset currently on the market. We know that SouthernLINC Wireless customers – particularly those who are design or automobile aficionados – will appreciate the stylish functionality of this new phone.”

Like all SouthernLINC Wireless phones, the i877 uses iDEN technology and provides customers with the company's premier Push to Talk two-way radio feature, which facilitates instant, reliable and private communications.

The Motorola i877 is now available at any of the SouthernLINC Wireless company-owned retail stores, through authorized SouthernLINC Wireless dealers or online at www.southernlinc.com/phones.asp. In-stock availability of the i877 may vary by location.

Editors note: Photography of the Motorola i877 is available upon request.

About SouthernLINC Wireless
SouthernLINC Wireless, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is an Atlanta-based regional wireless carrier covering the major metro and rural areas in Alabama, Georgia, southeastern Mississippi and northwest Florida. SouthernLINC Wireless bundles multiple communication options into one phone including push to talk, cellular service, text messaging, wireless Internet access and wireless data. More information about SouthernLINC Wireless can be obtained by calling 1-800-818-LINC (5462) or visiting the SouthernLINC Wireless Web site at www.southernlinc.com.

About Southern Company
With nearly 4.4 million customers and more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast, one of America’s fastest-growing regions. A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are significantly below the national average. Southern Company has been listed the top ranking U.S. electric service provider in customer satisfaction for nine consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Visit our Web site at www.southerncompany.com.