SBC Knowledge Ventures Named ''Innovator of the Year for 2005'' by Intellectual Property Management Taskforce

SBC Knowledge Ventures, the intellectual property unit of SBCCommunications Inc. (NYSE: SBC), has been named "Innovator of the Yearfor 2005" by the National Knowledge and Intellectual PropertyManagement Taskforce, the organization announced today.

The Taskforce, coordinated through the Center for AdvancedTechnologies in Dallas, is an eight-year-old, industry-led and fundedconsortium consisting of business, government, and academicinstitutions that are committed to improving the creation,recognition, and economic impact of intellectual capital, intellectualproperty and intangible assets. The award will be presented during theTaskforce's 7th Annual Executive Briefing, which will be held Nov. 8 -9 in Washington, D.C.

San Antonio-based SBC Communications (www.sbc.com) created SBCKnowledge Ventures in 2003 to more effectively and strategicallymanage, commercialize, grow and extract value from its intellectualproperty (IP) assets. Since then, the unit has pursued an innovativelicensing program that has resulted in the commercialization of arange of SBC patents, software and trademarks. At the same time, theorganization has worked to greatly expand the SBC IP portfolio,helping to ensure a robust and valuable asset base for futurecommercialization.

Examples of technologies licensed by SBC Knowledge Ventures haveincluded software developed to manage contract workforces, DSLoptimization systems and caller ID technology. Additionally, SBCKnowledge Ventures has licensed SBC trademarks for use in marketing ofbranded hardware, such as digital photo displays and digital musicplayers.

"SBC Knowledge Ventures' bold initiatives have been rewarded withsubstantial, tangible results over a short period of time," saidHonorary Taskforce Chair Bill Coughlin, president of Ford GlobalTechnologies, Ford Motor Company. "The leadership and execution of SBCKnowledge Ventures demonstrates the speed and agility needed for a'knowledge age' enterprise that assimilates and acts on new knowledgeto create shareholder value and new marketplace opportunities.Programs like this will demand the attention of the financial andinvestment communities, which need to work to build metrics to valuethis kind of business proficiency. The Taskforce is proud to recognizeSBC Knowledge Ventures at its 7th Annual Executive Briefing."

"We are honored by this prestigious recognition from our peers onthe Taskforce," said Abha Divine, president and CEO of SBC KnowledgeVentures, which is based in Austin, Texas. "We have worked hard tofurther develop and enhance the value of SBC intellectual property andto broaden the use and deployment of our innovations in themarketplace through the sale and licensing of our assets."

About the National Knowledge and Intellectual Property ManagementTaskforce

The Taskforce is an eight-year-old, industry-led and fundedconsortium consisting of business, government and academicinstitutions that are committed to improving the creation,recognition, and economic impact of intellectual capital, intellectualproperty and intangible assets. Its mission is to define thecompetencies and set the standards to accelerate the transformation ofknowledge to net worth in the competitive enterprise. More informationcan be obtained by clicking on http://www.km-iptask.org/home.html.