SouthernLINC Wireless - Press Releases

SouthernLINC Wireless Announces New Prepaid Payment Options VIA Western Union

ATLANTA – June 19, 2006 – SouthernLINC Wireless®, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO), will now provide its Prepaid customers with even more payment options. Today, the company announced that it has teamed with Western Union to allow SouthernLINC Wireless Prepaid customers to replenish their Prepaid account at Western Union Agent locations nationwide. With more than 47,000 participating Western Union Agent locations in the United States – and more than 2,000 locations within SouthernLINC Wireless’ footprint – Western Union offers a convenient way for Prepaid wireless customers to replenish their Prepaid account.

The Western Union option allows customers to replenish their Prepaid account with cash at any Western Union Agent location. To complete the transaction, a Prepaid customer fills out a simple three-step form, which requires a valid wireless Prepaid phone number, the cash amount being paid and the service provider’s name.

“Western Union makes replenishing Prepaid accounts hassle-free for SouthernLINC Wireless Prepaid customers,” said Julie Pigott, vice president of marketing and customer support for SouthernLINC Wireless. “Now, our Prepaid subscribers can stop by a Western Union location and replenish their Prepaid account while out running errands, on their way home from work, or after they finish the morning carpool.”

Western Union Agent locations include supermarkets, convenience stores, check-cashers and other locations where consumers already do business every day. SouthernLINC Wireless customers can visit www.westernunion.com or call 1-800-CALL-CASH® to find the most convenient location.

“Western Union provides consumers with convenience and choice for their money transfer and Prepaid service payment needs,” said Royal Cole, senior vice president, Western Union Payment Services. “With thousands of locations throughout the United States, we help companies like SouthernLINC Wireless to get closer to their Prepaid customers than ever before.”

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 4.3 million customers and more than 41,000 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 received the highest ranking in customer satisfaction among U.S. electric service providers for seven consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Visit our Web site at www.southerncompany.com.

About First Data
First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) is a leading provider of electronic commerce and payment solutions for businesses and consumers worldwide. Serving 4.6 million merchant locations, 1,600 card issuers and millions of consumers, First Data powers the global economy by making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses around the world to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. The company's portfolio of services and solutions includes credit, debit, private-label, gift and other prepaid card issuing and merchant transaction processing services; money transfer services; money orders; fraud protection and authentication solutions; check guarantee and verification services through TeleCheck; as well as Internet commerce and mobile solutions. Western Union, together with its affiliates Orlandi Valuta and Vigo, are leaders in global money transfer, providing people with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send money around the world, pay bills and purchase money orders through a network of over 270,000 agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories. The company's STAR Network offers PIN-secured debit acceptance at 1.9 million ATM and retail locations. For more information, visit www.firstdata.com.