Verizon Wireless Holds Virtual Tournament With Cash Prizes for Lord of the Rings Fans

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Verizon Wireless customers can join the Battle for Middle-earth Tournament and win up to one thousand dollars by playing The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Game, available exclusively on Get It Now^SM. The nation's largest wireless provider is holding a virtual tournament to celebrate the launch of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the final movie in the popular trilogy. From now until February 1, 2004, Lord of the Rings fans can battle (just as Aragorn, Frodo, Gandalf and other characters) to try to achieve the highest score, then upload their scores to compete with other players.

To take part in the virtual tournament, customers must download The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Game on their Get It Now handset and then register a username and password. Get It Now is a virtual store, with applications that can be downloaded over the air, without hooking up to a PC or going into a Verizon Wireless Communications Store.

The entrant with the highest score each week wins $100, and the highest overall scorers can win one of several cash prizes including a first place prize of $1000. The excitement will build as players submit their scores weekly for each level they complete. For the first eight levels, $100 is awarded to each weekly winner. The Tournament concludes on February 1, 2004 at 11:59 pm ET, grand prizes are awarded for the Top 10 cumulative total scores from level one through level eight. One first place winner will receive $1000; one second place winner will receive $500; one third place winner will receive $350; and seven fourth place winners will receive $200. Customers can enter as many times as they'd like, but must be 18 or over. The game is void in certain states including, North Dakota, Maryland, Arkansas, Iowa, Tennessee, Louisiana and Vermont.

The Lord of the Rings fans can also visit www.VerizonWireless.com/LOTR for a number of exciting offerings including TXT message alerts, games, ring tones, wallpaper images, discounts and more.

Download charges for Get It Now applications vary and airtime charges apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications. Customers need a "select" Get It Now-enabled handset and Verizon Wireless' digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store. Get It Now customers can download The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Game for a $2.99 monthly subscription.

Get It Now phones are available in more than 1,200 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, at participating RadioShack and Circuit City locations, or on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.  For more information about Get It Now, visit www.verizonwireless.com/getitnow.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 36 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.  

About Get It Now
Get It Now from Verizon Wireless puts a virtual software store inside a wireless phone. Customers with Get It Now-capable phones can download applications over the air and purchase them from their phones. getTXT, getIM and getEMAIL help customers stay in touch and communicate with others. getGAMES keeps customers entertained, while getGOING applications, made for today's mobile lifestyle, offers restaurant location services with maps, directions and more. View and share digital photos with getPIX, check out Web cams with getFLIX or identify incoming callers by assigning a unique ring with getTONES. getALERTS keeps customers informed while getBROWSING lets them access the Web from their wireless phone.

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