As The Mountain Region Braces For Winter, Verizon Wireless Offers Wireless User Tips For Braving Extreme Weather

DENVER, CO — The forecast is calling for freezing temperatures across the Mountain states, so as the temperature drops and the snow begins to fall, Verizon Wireless, owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, offers Mountain Region residents tips on using wireless to stay safe — from safeguarding wireless devices from extreme conditions to staying abreast of weather changes while on the go.

"In addition to investing more than $4 billion annually in our wireless network, Verizon Wireless works throughout the year to prepare the network for extreme weather and other natural disasters, to help ensure network reliability and accessibility for our customers during winter storms," said Verizon Wireless Mountain Region President Jeff Mango.

And there are things consumers can do to ensure their wireless device delivers peak performance in frigid and wet conditions. Tips for winter wireless performance include:

• Avoid extreme cold or prolonged exposure to cold — Do not leave your wireless phone in an unheated car or out in the elements. Extreme cold or prolonged exposure to the cold can drain the charge from a wireless phone battery and affect performance.
• Keep your phone well insulated from the cold — To help ensure optimum performance while outside in the cold, keep your wireless phone close to your body, ideally in an inside jacket pocket or on a belt loop.
• Stay Dry — Keep phones, batteries and other equipment in a dry place. If carrying your wireless phone during outdoor activities, like shoveling snow or sledding, where it could get wet, place it in a plastic bag for protection.
• Be prepared — Two accessories can help--a vehicle power adapter and an extended battery. Keep wireless phone batteries and extra batteries charged in case of emergency. If power and wire line phone service are down, your wireless phone becomes a crucial tool for communicating. To that end, make sure friends and family know your wireless number so they can reach you. To conserve battery life, stay connected by using TXT messaging— it typically uses less battery power, and you can TXT several people at one time. Enter important wireless numbers now to speed the process.

Weather Updates-Multiple Options to Choose
For Verizon Wireless customers who are out and about throughout the winter, whether on the ski slopes or just commuting to work each day, it is helpful to stay on top of the ever-changing winter weather conditions. Verizon Wireless enables customers to receive up-to-the-minute weather updates through Mobile Web 2.0^SM , TXT Alerts and Get It Now®.

Mobile Web 2.0
Verizon Wireless' Mobile Web 2.0 customers can: receive current conditions and exclusive extended forecasts from The Weather Channel® for 98,000 locations around the world; access current and future weather conditions from Weathernews, including weather information for over 60,000 forecast locations around the world; and access live local weather information and alerts — including photo images — from WeatherBug®, from its exclusive network of over 7,000 local neighborhood WeatherBug Tracking Stations. Customers can register for any or all of these services right from their Mobile Web 2.0-capable handsets.

TXT Alerts
Verizon Wireless customers can also have weather forecasts delivered right to their TXT Messaging-capable phones by signing up to receive TXT alerts from The Weather Channel. To register, Verizon Wireless customers simply log on to www.vtext.com, Verizon Wireless' TXT Messaging companion Web site, select TXT Alerts, click on The Weather Channel icon under the Travel and Weather category. Once customers enter their zip code, they can select how often they would like to receive alerts. (Added charges of .02 apply to each TXT Message received.)

Get It Now
Verizon Wireless customers with select Get It Now-enabled phones can also stay informed about weather conditions by visiting the getGOING shopping aisle, which offers access to weather information from the nation's most trusted weather sources. Download charges for Get It Now applications vary and airtime charges apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled handset and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 42.1 million voice and data 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. To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.

####