Verizon Wireless Opens New Store In Fort Smith, Arkansas

FORT SMITH, AR — To continue providing the best wireless experience to the growing number of customers in the Fort Smith, Ark. area, Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless company with the most reliable voice and data network, including the nation's largest 3G broadband network, recently announced the opening of a new evolutionary communications store in Fort Smith, Ark. The telecommunications giant will celebrate the grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce on Friday, October 16 at 10 a.m. Customers can enjoy a weekend full of free food, fun and special promotions including free phones and significant discounts on accessories.

In the new store located at 7723 Rogers Ave., high-tech meets hands-on with a dedicated demo zone with more than 55 working models of handsets, PC cards and other devices. Customers can explore, experiment and learn using interactive touch-screens or be guided by knowledgeable and friendly wireless professionals.

"Fort Smith is a growing community and we are thrilled to see so many residents choosing Verizon Wireless for wireless service," says Brian Kimes, district manager for Verizon Wireless. "Verizon Wireless is committed to providing the best technology, network and customer service and will continue that commitment here in Fort Smith."

During the ribbon cutting ceremony and in conjunction with the company's HopeLine® domestic violence prevention initiative, Verizon Wireless officials will present a $1,000 donation to Fort Smith's Crisis Intervention Center, in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness month. This weekend and year round, customers are encouraged to donate their old wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any service provider to support HopeLine.

Phones donated to HopeLine that can be refurbished are sold for reuse, and those that are not salvageable are recycled in an environmentally sound way under a zero landfill policy. Proceeds generated from the phones collected by HopeLine are put toward wireless phones and service for survivors of domestic violence as well as financial grants to local non-profit domestic violence advocacy agencies.

Since HopeLine's national phone recycling and re-use program was launched in 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected more than six million phones and awarded more than $6.3 million in cash grants to domestic violence agencies and organizations throughout the country.

The Fort Smith store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about Verizon Wireless please visit www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving 87.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 87,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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