From Zero to Billions: Verizon Wireless Turns Six

BEDMINSTER, NJ — As the wireless industry prepares for this week's CTIA Wireless 2006, the most important wireless technology event of the year, Verizon Wireless is celebrating an important event of its own: the company's six-year anniversary.

Verizon Wireless first opened its doors on April 4, 2000 when text messages numbered zero and customers still had "car phones." Since that time, the company has grown both internally and externally, adding more than 25,000 employees, 28 million customers and 900 Communications Stores.

Verizon Wireless also has expanded its product line-up to meet the changing needs of wireless customers, offering text messaging, picture messaging, mobile internet access, downloadable music and other data services that capitalize on the company's premier wireless network. Today, Verizon Wireless customers send and receive 3 billion text messages a month and use their wireless phones everywhere, including in the car and walking down the street.

Denny Strigl, CEO of Verizon Wireless, said, "From the beginning, providing the highest quality and best value in wireless has guided everything we do. As a result, we have seen phenomenal growth in the Verizon Wireless family, both in our dedicated employees and loyal customer base. We will continue to build on that foundation as we bring the next generation of wireless services to market."

Since opening its doors six years ago, Verizon Wireless has invested $30 billion to enhance its network, the nation's most reliable. As a result, the company has been at the forefront of innovative wireless technology and lifestyle-changing services, including:

• the nation's first wireless wide-area broadband service (2003)
• the first nationwide wireless broadband network (2004)
• the first consumer multimedia service (2005)
• the world's most comprehensive mobile music service (2006)

A snapshot of some company statistics — then and now — offers a view of the growth that has taken place at Verizon Wireless since its formation, as well as the popularity of new services customers now depend on as part of their on-the-go lifestyles:

THEN (on 4/4/00)
Employees: 30,000
Customers: 23 million
Churn: 2.5%
Communications Stores: 1,100
Text Messages Sent & Received: 0
Picture Messages Exchanged: 0
Get It Now® downloads: 0

NOW
Employees: 56,000
Customers: 51.3 million (12/31/05)
Churn: 1.2% (12/31/05)
Communications Stores: 2,000 +
Text Messages Sent & Received: > 3 billion a month
Picture Messages Exchanged: > 55 million a month
Get It Now® downloads: >12 million a month

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 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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