Testing, Testing, One, Two, Three: Verizon Wireless Test Men And Women Prove Relentless in 2004

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ST. LOUIS, MO — Verizon Wireless, owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, has brought new meaning to the phrase "going the extra mile," when it comes to ensuring the quality and reliability of its nationwide network. Last year, Verizon Wireless' cross-country team of real-life test men and women traveled more than 1,000,000 miles, testing the Verizon Wireless network on the most frequently traveled roadways covering 49 states.

The nationwide Test Man program, combined with the company's more than $4 billion investment in the network last year, has paid off.

One of 60 local test men and women across the country, Jerry Wildermuth, has driven about 52,000 miles in 2004 in his specially equipped test vehicle built to analyze the performance of Verizon Wireless' network. The ultimate road warrior, Wildermuth, traveled across Missouri and Illinois roadways with test equipment making more than 11,250 calls in 2004-conducting 8,160 test calls in the St. Louis area alone-to check the network for call completions and call quality across metro St. Louis areas like Alton and Columbia, Illinois, and St. Charles, Oakville, Ballwin and Spanish Lake, Missouri.

With his Ford Taurus station wagon packed with more than $300,000 worth of testing equipment, Test Man Wildermuth, uses his mobile laptop computer to generate phonically diverse "conversations" that simultaneously test the Verizon Wireless network and the networks of as many as 4 other wireless providers. The data gathered from these calls are used to analyze Verizon Wireless network quality and help the company in targeting improvements in its network. Verizon Wireless invested $91 million in network improvements in its Kansas/Missouri Region in 2004 as part of its $4 billion annual investment in its national wireless network.

Editor's Note: Test Man Ride-Along Program
Verizon Wireless monitors its network year round so the company's local test man, Jerry Wildermuth, is on the road daily-driving, testing, calling and analyzing. Members of the media interested in scheduling a ride-along test drive with Wildermuth, please contact Cheryl Bini Armbrecht at 314-920-4922.

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 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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