SBC Communications, ASSIA Enter Joint Development and Licensing Pact to Develop ``DSL Optimizer'' for Enhanced Broadband Platfor

SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC), announced today that
its SBC Knowledge Ventures and SBC Network Planning and Engineering
units have signed a three-year agreement with Redwood City, CA-based
ASSIA, Inc. to develop and license technologies and intellectual
property to help manage and enhance the performance of the next
generation of DSL broadband services.
   ASSIA, Inc. (or Adaptive Spectrum and Signal Alignment, Inc.) is a
two-year-old company created to design and build high-performance
telecommunications software tools that help to optimize speed, enhance
applications, and reduce costs for service providers of digital
subscriber line (DSL) services. The company is headed by John Cioffi,
a renowned expert in DSL technology, who also is a professor of
electrical engineering at Stanford University.
   ASSIA and SBC companies, the nation's largest provider of DSL
service, intend to jointly develop a "DSL Optimizer" software tool
with dynamic spectrum management capabilities for implementation in
the SBC network. The new tools will help SBC companies monitor and
automatically allocate spectrum for data transmission to further
enhance DSL performance for customers. DSL Optimizer will complement
SBC's industry-leading Broadband Tools, developed internally, which
have dramatically improved DSL performance and continues to lower SBC
costs.
   Once developed, the new software and intellectual property will be
exclusively marketed by ASSIA to other DSL service providers around
the world.

   Add One/SBC Communications-ASSIA

   "This is very exciting for us," Cioffi said. "SBC Communications
is the leader in DSL delivery in the U.S., and is an ideal association
for us. SBC has extensive experience in managing DSL networks,
lowering operating costs, and continuously improving performance for
its customers. So, to associate with SBC Knowledge Ventures and SBC
Network Planning and Engineering is indeed an honor and a great
opportunity."
   Chris Rice, executive vice president, SBC Network Planning and
Engineering, said this collaboration will help SBC companies further
reduce operating costs across its DSL network, and increase DSL
network data rates.
   "SBC companies are dedicated to delivering new innovations in
broadband, and a key part of that effort is development of tools that
improve our service quality and efficiency," Rice said. "Working with
ASSIA will expand our capabilities to develop and deliver new software
that enhances our DSL platform. We look forward to working with John
Cioffi and his team."

   About SBC

   SBC Communications Inc. is a Fortune 50 company who subsidiaries,
operating under the SBC brand, provide a full range of voice, data,
networking, e-business, directory publishing and advertising, and
related services to businesses, consumers and other telecommunications
providers. SBC holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular
Wireless, which serves more than 52 million wireless customers. SBC
companies provide high-speed DSL Internet access lines to more
American consumers than any other provider and are among the nation's
leading providers of Internet services. SBC companies also now offer
satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC
products and services is available at www.sbc.com.

   About ASSIA, Inc.

   ASSIA, Inc (Adaptive Spectrum and Signal Alignment Incorporated)
is the leading company, providing high-performance software tools, in
an emerging high growth marketplace referred to as DSM (Dynamic Signal
Management). ASSIA's technology and software employ several adaptive
learning methods to characterize each DSL line, the various employed
modem products, and the local and overall DSL network to reduce
operational costs for the Service Provider, increasing DSL network
data rates and thereby raising customer satisfaction. Additional
information about ASSIA, Inc. and its products and services is
available at www.assia-inc.com.