DALLAS, Aug 07, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- To make bill paying even easier, AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) today announced an expanded relationship with CheckFree, now part of Fiserv Inc. (Nasdaq: FISV), a leading provider of information technology services to the financial and insurance industries. Customers now have the option to receive and pay their AT&T wireless phone bills through more than 3,000 financial institutions' Web sites.

AT&T's expanded relationship with CheckFree means customers can sign up through their banks' Web sites to receive eBills, or online statements, from AT&T. The AT&T eBill service lets customers access their current statements online, customize payment options and view archived account histories for their service. Through the new alliance, billing and account information is securely delivered to customers online through their preferred financial institutions.

"Customers today are demanding choice and convenience in how they view and pay their bills online," said Brian Daly, director, AT&T Mobility. "They enjoy the simplicity of being able to manage their bills at their individual banking service provider, so they can consolidate their finances in one central location online. Our goal is to provide customers with a variety of billing and payment options so they can choose the method that best meets their needs."

The new addition to AT&T's eBill portfolio also underscores the company's commitment to sustainability initiatives, including its advisory role and membership with the PayItGreen Alliance(TM) -- an alliance of financial institutions and billing companies that encourages consumers to make financial transactions via the Web, rather than through traditional mail. Fiserv and CheckFree are also members of PayItGreen, which is focused on educating consumers and businesses about the environmental benefits of choosing electronic billing, statements and payments instead of paper. Learn more at http://www.payitgreen.org.

According to the PayItGreen Alliance, if 20 percent of U.S. households switched to electronic bills, statements and payments, it would save more that 151 million pounds of paper, avoid the creation of nearly 1.5 billion gallons of wastewater, eliminate the production of nearly 4 billion pounds of greenhouse gases and avoid the use of nearly 103 million gallons of gasoline each year.

A recent Forrester Research survey found that 48 percent of consumers selected "It's better for the environment" as the top reason why they stopped receiving paper bills and opted instead to receive them online.

"Recent research has shown that the majority of consumers now prefer viewing and paying their bills online, as opposed to receiving paper bills in the mail," said Michelle Flint, vice president and group executive, Fiserv Internet Banking and Electronic Payments Group. "We are committed to working with AT&T to further educate the public about the positive impact that online bill payment and eBills can have on the environment."

AT&T customers made nearly 85 million online bill payments in 2006 and more than 92 million online bill payments in 2007, an 8.2 percent increase over just one year. The company expects even more customers to pay their bills online in 2008.

Consumers can learn more about how they can get started receiving and paying their bills online at http://www.ebillplace.com. The CheckFree- sponsored Web site also provides green and money-saving calculators and allows consumers to search for banks and billers that offer online billing and payment services.

About AT&T

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

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update or revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

(C) 2008 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Note: This AT&T news release and other announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. For more information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at http://www.att.com/newsroom.

About Fiserv, Inc.

Fiserv, Inc. (Nasdaq: FISV), a Fortune 500 company, provides information management and electronic commerce systems and services to the financial and insurance industries. Leading services include transaction processing, outsourcing, electronic bill payment and presentment, investment management solutions, business process outsourcing (BPO), software and systems solutions. Headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., the company is the leading provider of core processing solutions for U.S. banks, credit unions and thrifts. Fiserv was ranked the largest provider of information technology services to the financial services industry worldwide in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 FinTech 100 surveys. In 2007, the company completed the acquisition of CheckFree, a leading provider of electronic commerce services. Fiserv reported nearly $4 billion in total revenue from continuing operations for 2007. For more information, please visit http://www.fiserv.com. FISV-G

About the PayItGreen Alliance

The PayItGreen(TM) Alliance was formed in 2007 to educate consumers about the positive environmental impact of choosing electronic bills, statements and payments over paper alternatives. The Alliance is comprised of leaders in the financial and consumer billing industries including representatives from Bank of America, BillMatrix, Capital One, CheckFree, now part of Fiserv, Citi, Citizens Bank, EPN, Harris Bank, the Federal Reserve Banks, Fiserv, JPMorgan Chase, The Regional Payments Associations, SunTrust Bank, U.S. Bank, Wachovia and Wells Fargo. Special advisors to the Alliance are AT&T, Con Edison and Qwest Communications. NACHA- The Electronic Payments Association is coordinating the initiative. Additional information about the Alliance can be found at http://www.payitgreen.org.

SOURCE AT&T Inc.

http://www.att.com

Copyright (C) 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

News Provided by COMTEX