Nynex, Sprint Strike Long-Distance Deal

Highlighting the furious pace of change in telecommunications, newly engaged Nynex has unveiled a deal with Sprint Communications that puts it into the long-distance business.

Nynex announced Tuesday that it has signed a two-year contract to sell long-distance service, delivered over Sprint’s network, under the Nynex name. Nynex plans to begin offering long-distance in some states outside its own Northeast territory within three months.

Though other regional phone companies also intend to provide long-distance by reselling service provided by others, Nynex’s deal is noteworthy given its merger with Bell Atlantic, announced Monday.

“You’ve got Sprint coming up with what appears to be a very nice deal,” said Scott Wright, a telecommunications analyst at Argus Research. The creation of a combined Nynex and Bell Atlantic gives Sprint a line into a huge and potentially lucrative phone market.